SAC 98
LAC 103
CHA 110
PHO 113
LAL 97
SA 121
IND 110
LAL 107
GS 101
CLE 107
LAC 85
MIL 111
POR 115
HOU 102
PHO 110
ORL 102
UTAH 104
NY 99
ORL 126
POR 121
NY 97
ATL 100
BOS 119
DAL 87
CHI 121
MIA 111
PHO 98
CHI 107
CHA 109
ATL 101
NBA SIMS LEAGUE
Hornets rookie Larsson leading league in 3 Point Percentage. ...  
Dec 22 3:07 pm

NSL Insider - Premium:North West Division Preview

by Dylan, updated on Tuesday, December 03 2024, 05:02 pm EST



The Wild West, the Northwest has always been a powerhouse division of the NSL. Home to the inaugural and 2-time NSL Champion Portland Trail Blazers, The Denver Nuggets, 4 playoff berths including 2 semi-finals appearances, The Minnesota Timberwolves, 3 playoff berths including a Western Conference finals appearance in the most recent season. The Oklahoma City Thunder 2 playoff berths including a 7-game series against the eventual Western Conference champions in the most recent season and the Utah Jazz, who spent most of the NSL history in a rebuild but most recently made their 1st playoff appearance in the most recent season.

The Team to Beat: Utah Jazz




While this is fresh territory for the Utah Jazz team, they have shown they are a force to be reckoned with lead by 2 superstars its hard to not have them as the team to beat. If not for coming up against their kryptonite team in last seasons playoffs who knows just how deep they could have gone. Their young stars have started to turn that corner and have become very quality 2k players and their 2 stars Harden and Embiid make for the deadliest PNR combination in the league.

 

The Teams





Portland Trail Blazers, 44-38 (23/24)

Bradley Beal

While once the most feared team in the NSL the Portland Trail Blazers did the unthinkable last season when they stopped competing for championships and entered a rebuild. Won’t look for the Blazers to make much noise, they’d be in wait for the draft to bring in their next iterations list of players. They’re still going to be a tough outing tough even if they want to lose games, leading them is Bradley Beal surrounded by Brandon Clarke, Lu Dort, Keegan Murray, Jaden Ivey, Anthony Black, and Jarace Walker. A youthful athletic team lead by a veteran tank commander.

 

Denver Nuggets, 49-33 (23/24)

Donovan Mitchell

Domantis Sabonis

A new era in Denver, fresh off trading their franchise player the Nuggets look to the future rather than the right now as they traded away a 36-year-old for a 28-year-old thus opening a longer window of success and contention for them. They enter the 24/25 season as a real threat in the West with a revitalised fresh team. Looking to create a 1-2 punch with their star big man Domantis Sabonis and star combo guard Donovan Mitchell. Accompanying their star duo is Klay Thompson, Michael Porter Jr, Chris Paul and up and comer Jalen Johnson.

 

Minnesota Timberwolves, 64-18 (23/24)

Anthony Davis

Jimmy Butler

No longer the Timber Pups, they’ve grown their teeth and are hungry to take scalps. The Wolves enter a new era under a new General Manager with the previous GM departing for the East. The Wolves have one of the most dynamic duos in 2k in Jimmy Butler and Anthony Davis. 2 players that can turn a game on their own through their elite 2-way play. While some FA hiccups have left the team a little thinner having to trade away players in 1 for 2 deals they are still a very polarising roster with Dorian Finney-Smith, Jonas Valanciunas and Delon Wright.

 

Utah Jazz, 57-25 (23/24)

Joel Embiid

James Harden

Utah flipped the switch last season after spending the first 4 years playing the lottery. They brought in the NBA MVP Joel Embiid and James Harden to start the charge for their first playoff berth. In a successful season they achieved just that winning nearly 60 games. The MVP of the team is one of the most dominant NBA big men in Joel Embiid who finally got the love back from 2k and has returned as a force to be reckoned with once again playing alongside PNR maestro James Harden. Utahs most threatening aspect however is their depth, Dejounte Murray, Jalen Smith, Isaiah Joe, Josh Richardson and their young stars Franz Wagner, Jabari Smith Jr, Dyson Daniels all look to be turning a corner in the NBA and a 2k leap is only around the corner.

 

Oklahoma City Thunder, 47-35 (23/24)

Anthony Edwards

Trae Young

OKC hit their stride since the new GMs takeover, going from a team that had never made the playoffs to a team that last year hit a 20-game win streak that had everyone worried and for the 2nd straight time in their short tenure reaching the NSL playoffs. Lead by the young star duo of Trae Young the All-time NSL assists leader and top 10 All time in points and the young superstar in Anthony Edwards who looks to have finally turned that corner into becoming a top star of the league of the NBA and 2k has taken notice. OKC are a feisty team that is also deep with some of the friendlier 2k players in Deandre Ayton, Alex Caruso, Marvin Bagley, Quentin Grimes and DeAndre Jordan.

 

Best player at each position:

Point Guard: James Harden, the most winningest player in the NSL while at the young age of 35 Harden looks to have re emerged as an offensive engine that can drive a team again. 

Shooting Guard: Donovan Mitchell, a dominant 2k player that can score at all 3 levels and go off for 60 point games, also loves to play defence with a monstrous wingspan.

Small Forward: Anthony Edwards, Ant looked to always have this position in waiting for him it was just a matter of time for 2k to take notice. Uber athletic and a dangerous 3 level scorer that loves to play defence and can drop 50 buckets on you at the drop of a hat.

Power Forward: Anthony Davis, a presence that makes sure you feel you’re going against him every time he’s on the court. One of the hardest players to cover in 2k and can kill you on offense or defence.

Center: Joel Embiid, there was a time not long ago you wouldn’t take Embiid over a random minimum per 36 Center however the Embiid of old has returned in 2k and has firmly taken back his throne. Dominant 3 level scorer that if you put your best defender on he’s going to put them in foul trouble, unstoppable on the glass and in the paint.

 

Predictions:

Utah 60+ wins

Minnesota 50+

Denver 45+ wins

OKC 45+ wins

Portland 25+ wins





Archive

· Team by Team: Phoenix Suns

· Team by Team: Portland Trailblazers

· Team by Team: Indiana Pacers

· Team by Team: San Antonio Spurs

· Premium:North West Division Preview

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· Team by Team: Philadelphia 76ers

· Team by Team: Miami Heat

· Team by Team: Cleveland Cavaliers

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