NSL Insider - Premium:North West Division Previewby 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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
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