Northwest Division Preview
We finally come to the most important division in the Western Conference. While not many question whether Oklahoma City will repeat as division champs there have been kinks showing up in the Thunder’s armor and the Blazers may be poised to make a run at them, especially with the short absence of the injured Kevin Durant. As for the rest of the division, you have two of the worst teams in the conference and one team stuck in the middle. Here’s how it will all shake out.
5. Utah Jazz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL4cEH2JdQQ
The above clip is the exact attitude the Jazz need to have for the coming year, giving unsuspecting teams a nice big shit burger. While those burgers will be handed out very infrequently, it’s an attitude the Jazz need to employ for those rare wins as they journey back to the lottery. I like Gordon Hayward but I think the Jazz massively overpaid him but I can understand why they wanted to keep him. Derrick Favors, the second of their young stars to receive a hefty extension, had a very nice year last year averaging 13 points and almost 9 rebounds. He and Gordon will lead the rebuilding process for the Jazz. And, make no mistake, this is another rebuild year. They have a nice core to build on, but it will take time. Until then, they’ll have to try and give out some unwanted burgers.
How inspirational must coach Stotts’ speech be to beat the Jazz?
“You guys want a nice big shit burger? No? Then go out there and win.” That is all coach Stotts needs to say. Yes, playing in Utah can be problematic but it’s teams like this that should be swept under the rug when you are gearing up for a run at the division crown. Blazers take 3 this season from the Jazz and will be bitten once again in Utah at some point during the year to go 3-1 over the season.
4. Minnesota Timberwolvespuppies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khauvdb_f8A
Kevin Love is gone and in his place is a handful of young talent. They have the number 1 pick of this year’s draft in Andrew Wiggins and the number one pick of last year’s draft in Anthony Bennett. Minnesota is going to have a long season and it may be best to remind themselves of better times when they accomplished something, no matter how small, because accomplishing a win will be hard to come by. Bennett was seen as a bust last year but you can’t write him off after one year. It took the Blazers 3 years to write off Greg Oden. Wiggins and Bennett are both projects with a very high upside and with it goes the future of the Timberwolves. Ricky Rubio can steal and dish out assists but he can’t shoot which is problematic in a conference stacked with high scoring point guards. This is a very, very young team with a big upside. Minnesota doesn’t have a lot of bite now, but it will be fun to watch this team grow for the next few years.
How inspirational must coach Stotts’ speech be to beat the Puppies?
This is another team Portland should dominate. In a few years this team will be something to contend with if their young talent develops like it could. Minnesota is a young squad not ready for prime time yet. Blazers sweep the series winning 4.
3. Denver Nuggets
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9mf3Bypyk8
It just doesn’t matter, Denver. You are stuck in no-man’s land, that dangerous place of NBA purgatory of not being good enough for the playoffs and not being bad enough for the lottery. This team is hard to gauge as injuries depleted them last season and they never could get their chemistry going, whatever that chemistry is. They have some good pieces in Ty Lawson, Shaqtin A fool regular JaVale McGee and Arron Afflalo whom they stole back from Orlando. This team can make some noise but it won’t be enough and it won’t matter. I don’t think they are good enough to make the playoffs in the West. In order to do so they will have to play above expectations and hope a top 8 team falls off in the west. It’s certainly not out of the realm of possibility. For Denver, some hope lives but it may not be enough to matter.
How inspirational must coach Stotts’ speech be to beat the Nuggets?
At full force who know how good this team can be. Stotts must keep Portland ready for anything. This is a tricky team and will be a tricky series to measure especially when 3 of the first 4 meetings are so early in the season and Denver may not be at full strength or just learning to play together. But, that may be good for the Blazers to sneak a win in Denver early. I want to say Portland goes 3-1 here, but my gut says 2-2. If, by chance, Denver sneaks into the playoffs and finds a matchup with Portland, give Portland the edge with a much stronger starting 5 and better depth.
2. Portland Trail Blazers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwpTj_Z9v-c
There is a sizable crack in the Thunder’s invincibility atop the Northwest division. Kevin Durant may be out the first few weeks of the season and if the Blazers can make it a tight race for the division crown, those first few weeks of the season could be the difference. However, the Blazers have a tough schedule to begin the season and they will have to come out of gate firing on all cylinders like they did last year. The key to success for Portland will be their bench. No team relied on their starting 5 more than Portland last season and if they are going to move beyond the success of a year ago they will need some help beyond their top 5. I’m skeptical, but hopeful, of how much impact Steve Blake and Chris Kaman will have for Portland though I like what I see from Kaman so far and Blake will be a solid backup. It will be time for players like C.J. McCollum, Will Barton and Thomas Robinson to step up. Besides the bench, Portland’s defense will have to improve drastically to reach the upper echelon of teams in the west. Portland’s starting 5 is one of the best in the league, now they just need some help. Great moments are born from great opportunities and Portland may have nice opportunity this season to take the next step.
How inspirational will coach Stotts be overall?
Portland will march to 55 victories this year and earn a 4 seed.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7vtWB4owdE
After reaching the NBA Finals in 2012 the Thunder have had a hell of time getting back. Injuries to Russell Westbrook hurt their chances two years ago and an injury to Serge Ibaka last year in the playoffs put them in the hole against the Spurs from which they never recovered. Now, though it is believed to be nothing serious, they start the season without Kevin Durant. Has the James Harden trade cursed the Thunder? Perhaps this battle cry from Bluto to his beat up friends is what this team needs right now to begin the season. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. When Westbrook and Durant are on the floor together, rarely are they not the two best players on the court. Right now, the Thunder is the only team capable of dethroning the Spurs in the west until another team decides to step up. Look for the Thunder to make another run at the Finals with another matchup against the Spurs for western supremacy.
How inspirational must coach Stotts’ speech be to beat the Thunder?
Something of an Oscar caliber performance wouldn’t hurt. As with the Spurs, these meetings against OKC should take on an air of electricity that shouldn’t need much extra motivation. With 4 meetings this year against the Thunder a split will be necessary and I think a split is what the Blazers will get with each team winning on each other’s home court. Will the Blazers see the Thunder in the playoffs? If so, having a Durant and Westbrook duo slightly edges out an Aldridge and Lillard duo. But, given the Thunder’s recent luck, I wouldn’t count the Blazers out.
Here are your top 8 teams in the West:
8. Houston
7. Memphis
6. Golden State
5. Dallas
4. Portland
3. L.A. Clippers
2. San Antonio
1. Oklahoma City
Enjoy the season everyone!
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