Lets go to the coldest area in the US to make this division preview while the patch is not out. We are pretty much covering the division with the best team in the league and least season champions. Portland Trail Blazers. But they are not alone, the Northwest division is an amazing division with Curry and Turner with the Nuggets, Robinson and Ball with the Wolves, Holiday and Aldridge in Oklahoma and Lowry and Love with the Jazz.

So lets check team by team strengths and flaws for this division preview:

Denver Nuggets  Digeze

Last Season Record - 27-55

This Year Record Prediction  37- 45

Best Player  Stephen Curry

Digeze and the Nuggets finished the last season as the worst team in the West Conference. With the Stephen Curry on board things could be a little better this year even with Klay out. Turner and the ascension of MPJ, alongside with Currys health will dictate Denvers success this season.

Strength  3 point shots

Flaw  Injury prone players might slow them down

Minnesota Timberwolves EthanC21

Last Season Record  30-52

This Year Record Prediction 15-67

Best Player  Mitchell Robinson

Timberwolves decided to sell out and reset sending away their best players to work on their future. Good news is that they got pretty much the best player in the draft (Or not in few months we will see) LaMelo Ball. Not only that but 3 other great picks with Saddiq Bey, Immanuel Quickley and Isaiah Stewart (the player I should have drafted). However, young legs don’t give you wins, so the Wolves might fight for a better position in next draft.

Strength  Robinson and Ball are going to be a great duel

Flaw  Too young to compete

Oklahoma City Thunder  wizkid

Last Season Record  33-49

This Year Record Prediction  42-40

Best Player  Jrue Holiday

OKC is yet to prove some point this season. Last season the fought for a Playoff position, but they weren’t enough finishing with 12^th best record in the West. With veterans like Holiday, Aldridge and Randle, Thunder this year have good chance to fight for a higher spot in West Conference. Another player that will be a huge difference is Christian Woods. The big man has been great in NBA and he might improve even more in NSL.

Strength  Perimeter D is great with Holiday.

Flaw No true scorer in the team.

Portland Trail Blazers  JMAC

Last Season Record - 66-16

This Year Record Prediction  56-26

Best Player You pick Between Leonard or Harden

And the world champions will comeback for another season as the major favorite for the Division Title. This season they have a big name coming in to create a three head hydra with Russell Westbrook. Now the Blazers have the best trio in the league and giving a big challenge to the rest of the league to how to stop them. If you lose to these guys you should blame on whoever traded Kawhi to Portland. However, Portland had a bad Free Agency bringing back Dwight Howard and Willie Cauley-Stein (meh) and nothing else (sorry Haslem).

Strength  The big 3 is pretty much impossible to contain in both ends.

Flaw – No depth.

Utah Jazz  Jasonpitts

Last Season Record - 37-45

This Year Record Prediction 35- 47

Best Player  Kyle Lowry

At last, we have Utah Jazz, a team that almost made the Playoffs last season but fall short by a few victories. Even so Utah had a very boring off season bringing back Kennard and Austin Rivers in Free Agency. Kyle Lowry, their best player, will have to work solo because of Loves constant injuries, and it’s not good at all for the Jazz. Lowry is an expiring contract and could have a lot of tank to lead the team to a Playoff run again but would need a lot of help to do so.

Strength  Kyle Lowry can stop any guard in this league.

Flaw Declining Love and a boring roster.

Top 5 players of the division

James Harden  Best scorer in the league� hands down. Pretty much unstoppable.

Kawhi Leonard  Best defender in the league hands down. Pretty much can stop anyone.

Kyle Lowry - Can carry the load. Amazing playmaker.

Russell Westbrook  Guy is a beast.

Jrue Holiday Holiday still gives me nightmares. Glad he is in the West.

Personal predictions  Portland has better in starting lineup, but their bench is not so great. One single injury could cost them a lot. Oklahoma is the most improved team from last year, but they lack on a super scorer. They might make the Playoffs though. Wolves, Utah and Nuggets won’t make it and might wait for next draft for more entertainment.

Portland Trail Blazers  56-26

Oklahoma City Thunder  42-40

Utah Jazz  35- 47

Denver Nuggets  37- 45

Minnesota Timberwolves 15-67