The Northwest Division of the NBA is not the one that accumulates the most brilliant names in terms of figures, but it does have three teams that will be fighting for the first places in the Western Conference at the same time that they will dispute to be the best in the division .
Nuggets, Blazers and Jazz are those three teams, the Timberwolves could come as a surprise if the young talent they accumulate turns out to be productive on the floor. Without a doubt, a division to pay attention to.
Betting on which team will win the best record in the division is an extremely risky task, although predicting the positions that each of the teams will occupy is fascinating. Hence we give ourselves to the task of carrying it out.
This is a review of the franchises that make up the Northwest Division.
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The rebuilding of the team is not only underway but with full throttle. The offseason for Sam Presti, the man who has successfully led the franchise’s destinies for years, was focused on making profound changes that would allow him to have a clear vision of the future they are targeting.
Lots of changes that prioritized the exit of figures, adding countless draft picks and shifting finances according to the possibilities to stay smooth for a team in a small market.
The expectations are of a season of learning, of granting Shai Gilgeous-Alexander the keys to the kingdom (if it can be called that) and taking steps thinking more about the future than the record they can achieve. Of that team that finished fifth in the West with 44 wins to get into the playoffs, only one good memory remains.
Those that follow: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Hamidou Diallo, Luguentz Dort, Mike Muscala, Darius Bazley y Isaiah Roby.
High: Al Horford, George Hill, Trevor Ariza, Theo Maledon, Justin Jackson, Aleksej Pokusevski, Frank Jackson, T.J. Leaf, Ty Jerome y Zylan Cheatham.
Low: Chris Paul, Steven Adams, Danillo Gallinari, Deonte Burton, Terrance Ferguson, Devon Hall, Kevin Hervey, Abdel Nader, Nerlens Noel, Andre Robertson y Dennis Schroder.
Ranking: Fifth in the Eastern Conference (44-28) during the 2019-2020 season. Eliminated in the first round of playoffs
Projection: 15/20 wins.
Minnesota is a step or two above OKC on the road to rebuilding. Gerson Rosas, its president of operations, has been betting on adding young talent that can accompany (and develop) the talent of the first two picks of the 2015 draft: Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell.
It is expected that the arrival of Anthony Edwards, chosen in the first selection of the draft this year, could become the third important piece of a puzzle that aims to be finished in the short or medium term.
Rosas trusts the youngsters, but he also added experience with the signings of Ricky Rubio and Ed Davis, while Malik Beasley is assured for the future. If the available talent manages to form a solid team, then it can surprise.
High: Ricky Rubio, Anthony Edwards, Ed Davis, Tyler Cook
Low: Allen Crabbe, Jacob Evans, James Johnson, Shabazz Napier, Noah Vonleh, Treveon Graham, Kelan Martin, Jordan McLaughlin, Jarred Vandervilt y Jeff Teague.
Ranking: Fourteenth in the Western Conference (19-45) during the 2019-2020 season.
Projection: 30/33 wins.
Last season ended with the bitter taste of an early playoff exit when it seemed like a move to the second round was almost assured, as they held a 3-1 lead over Denver.
For this season he bet on the continuity of a good core of players, a solid coaching staff headed by Quin Snyder, and some small adjustments in the makeup of the squad.
The return of Bojan Bogdanovic, a sensitive loss due to injury the previous season, will be decisive, while the addition of Derrick Favors, who spent a season in New Orleans, will add strength and depth to his bench. Utah will be fighting inch by inch with Portland and Denver to win the division.
Those that follow: Mike Conley, Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Bojan Bogdanovic, Royce O’Neale, Jordan Clarkson, Joe Ingles, Georges Niang, Juwan Morgan, Justin Wright-Foreman y Miye Oni.
High: Derrick Favors, Udoka Azubuike y Shaquille Harrison.
Low: Emmanuel Mudiay, Nigel Williams-Goss, Dante Exum, Ed Davis, Jarred Brantley, Tony Bradley, Jeff Green y Stanton Kidd.
Ranking: Sixth in the Eastern Conference (44-28) during the 2019-2020 season. Eliminated in the first round of playoffs
Projection: 47/49 wins.
0:20
NBA: Sacramento Kings vs. Portland Trail Blazers
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2- Portland Trail Blazers
Another of the great aspirants to win the division. The mere presence of its midfield made up of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, one of the most underrated but highly productive duos in the NBA, forces Portland to be considered a candidate.
Last season they had countless injuries (Collins, Nurkic, Hood among the most important) and still they could enter the playoffs to end up eliminated by future champions, Los Angeles Lakers.
Some adjustments in the squad will allow it to continue being an offensive team to fear (it was the third best in the league in that section with a 114.6 rating) which places it on the list of top teams in the West, no matter how much its defensive rating ( 27 out of 30) needs improvement.
Follow carefully the contributions of Robert Covington and Derrick Jones Jr.
Those that follow: Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, Jusuf Nurkic, Gary Trent Jr, Rodney Hood, Carmelo Anthony, Zach Collins, Nassir Little, Anfernee Simmons y Moses Brown.
High: Derrick Jones Jr, Robert Covington, Enes Kanter, Harry Giles III y CJ Elleby.
Low: Trevor Ariza, Hassan Whiteside, Anthony Tolliver, Caleb Swanigan, Skal Labissiere, Jaylen Hoard, Mario Henzonja y Wenyen Gabriel.
Ranking: Eighth in the Western Conference (35-39) during the 2019-2020 season. Eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
Projection: 49/51 wins.
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Five years ago, the Nuggets were a mediocre team, but since then they have built a franchise that can compete with the heavyweights of the Western Conference.
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1- Denver Nuggets
If in the previous playoffs, the Nuggets became the team of miraculous returns, lifting two unfavorable scores of 1-3 against the Utah Jazz and LA Cllippers to earn the right to play the conference final, this season should be the one of consolidation as an elite team.
Jokic and Murray remain the leaders of a team that, although it lost Jeramy Grant in free agency, recovers Will Burton (absent due to a bubble injury) and that is confident that Michael Porter Jr can not only stay healthy but also the leap in quality as a player.
The arrivals of JaMychal Green and Facundo Campazzo can be very productive for a team that finished with the fifth best offense of the previous season (114.6 rating) although the sixteenth in defense (111.6)
Those that follow: Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Will Burton, Keita Bates-Diop, Bol Bol, Gary Harris, Michael Porter Jr, Paul Milsap, Monte Morris y PJ Dozier.
High: Facundo Campazzo, JaMychal Green, Isaiah Harlenstein, RJ Hampton y Zeke Nnaji.
Low: Mason Plumlee, Torrey Craig, Jerami Grant, Troy Daniels, Juan Hernangómez, Noah Vonleh,Vlatko Conear, Tyler Cook y Jordan McRae.
Ranking: Third in the Western Conference (46-27) during the 2019-2020 season. Finalist of the Western Conference.
Projection: 50/52 wins.
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