Currently, the Western Conference is as deep and dangerous as it has ever been. With Lebron coming to L.A. I can only imagine that this year’s fight for the playoffs will be as challenging or even more difficult than last year. However, when it comes to the western division that is the toughest from top to bottom, really none of them can hold a candle to the Northwest Division. You’ll find no bottom dwellers like the Sacramento Kings here. No rebuilding squads like the Dallas Mavericks or Phoenix Suns either. What you get is five teams either surging or established that are all very much in the playoff conversation.
Even the Denver Nuggets, the lone team of the bunch to miss the playoffs last year, were still right in the thick of things until the final game of the season wherein they lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves and finished ninth in the West. Had Paul Millsap been able to stay healthy, this may have not been the case at all.
Whether that ends up being the case or not, the fact remains that the Utah Jazz will have their work cut out for them as they go head-to-head against their staunch division rivals and ultimately seek to finish at the top of the pack. They narrowly missed out on doing so last season as the Portland Trail Blazers won the division by a mere game. Fortunately, the Utah Jazz got the last laugh by going further in the playoffs than any of their divisional foes.
But how will things shake up this year? Well, I’m here to take my stab at determining just that. Here are my preseason projections for the standings in the loaded Northwest Division–
- The Minnesota Timberwolves
Last Season the Timberwolves were aided by the second easiest strength of schedule in the western conference before the all-star break. It was fairly clear to see that the wheels started to come off at the end of the season though as they narrowly beat the Nuggets to push their way into the 8 seed in the playoffs. If it wasn’t clear to see that they were not a contender after being swept by the Rockets in round one, it is very clear now that start forward Jimmy Butler has demanded a trade and will not report to training camp in two weeks.
- The Denver Nuggets
For two seasons in a row, the Denver Nuggets have been about as up and down as they come, until it has led to them just falling short of a playoff bid. Perhaps it’s due to coaching, or maybe due to youth, or perhaps a combination of the two. But whatever the case has been, I truly think 2018-19 will be the year that Denver gets over the hump.To me, this past season for the Nuggets felt very similar to the Utah Jazz in 2015-16. They had all the right pieces to make the playoffs, but injury (principally to Paul Millsap) and some inconsistency proved to be their undoing. Just as the Jazz bounced back the next year, I expect the same out of Jamal Murray, Millsap and the rest of the Nugget squad this year.
- The Portland Trailblazers
Ever since LaMarcus Aldridge left the Portland Trail Blazers, it seems that people have doubted their ability to remain competitive. Yet, Damian Lillard and CJ McCullom. have continued to defy the odds by making the playoffs year after year. Last year, they climbed so high as to finish third in the Western Conference. Though that accomplishment was overshadowed by being swept in the first round by the New Orleans Pelicans. I believe Lillard and Company will still be an incredibly tough team to beat this season.
- The Oklahoma City Thunder
The final two spots is where things really get tricky. Yes, I know the Jazz just beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in the playoffs, as the Utah faithful are quick to point out, but we’re talking regular season finishes here. Last year they finished one game and one see ahead of the Jazz in the Western Conference and I am sure there will be some addition by subtraction now that they had rid themselves of the black hole the an aging Carmelo Anthony was to their team, but I don’t think it will be enough to finish ahead of the Jazz. As good as Russell Westbrook is, he still has his flaws as a teammate and overall player that could cause cohesion issues to arise in OKC with the questionable fit of new arrival Dennis Schroeder and the overall mediocre coaching job by Billy Donavan last season.
- The Utah Jazz
Many outside of Utah have a hard time understanding why so many experts (not just Jazz homers) are high on Utah’s chances. After all, they were the third best team in the division based on regular season finish last year behind Portland and Oklahoma City. They didn’t make any drastic changes this offseason. It took an incredible finish to the year for them to get into the playoffs, was that a hot streak or the real deal? I can say that with my complete and Unbiased opinion, I think the Jazz have the best shot to win the division this year. I don’t know if it is because I like the way coach Quinn Snyder seems to be able to scheme great defense no matter who is on the floor or the way that the team just seems to get along so well on and off the court but, I think they are the real deal.
Agree or disagree with the rankings? Tell me what ones and why in the comments below.
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