It's that time of the year again when we go about predicting who's going to succeed and who's going to suck during the upcoming season. And for the first time since who knows when, there may be a champion coming out of the Northwest Division. But instead of harping on the more competitive teams first, since this is the Power Stinkings we'll rather start with:
1. Utah Jazz
Within the blink of an eye, the Utah Jazz went from perennial (regular-season) contenders and one of the more-admirable braintrusts in the NBA to now looking like they don't what the hell they're doing. Deciding to engage in a full rebuild wouldn't look like that bad of a decision if not for the fact that just the week prior to making Donovan Mitchell available, they were rather sounding like the plan was to build around him. Perhaps the lot of them have been incepted. So now it's like so long as Mitchell is out dangling on the market the Jazz aren't making any progress, as in being out actually shopping for players who complement his skillset. And since this team has been so good throughout the last few years or whatever , they didn't even have any draft picks, meaning that once the vets get discouraged/traded, this may well be the worst squad in the NBA. And the funny thing about it is that their current roster, with Mitchell, may actually be a playoff-bound team if they were committed to staying together.
2. OKC Thunder
I regret not watching the Thunder play more last season because now, with Chet Holmgren, this is supposed to be a team on the rise or at least one that's now more entertaining. Even last season they were pretty entertaining with Shai and Dort and them, but I have yet to see Giddey play. Either way, Holmgren doesn't look like a player that's going to come in and have an immediately profound impact. So dudes may be better than they were last year and put up good fights now and then (when their stars aren't hurt). And if they remain healthy I wouldn't be totally surprised if OKC made the Playoffs, considering how thin the West is looking at the moment.
3. Portland Trailblazers
The Blazers have my hard-earned braintrust respect. And it isn't only about what they did this offseason by getting Payton II and Grant but also the fact that they've been competitive for like a solid decade now.
And this is how you build a team around an injured, aging, loyal superstar like Lillard. If Kobe had this kind of roster around him during his latter seasons, the Lakers would have still been making the playoffs. Like no one is predicting that the Blazers are going to win a championship. But at least Damian won't be stuck on a garbage team like some of the other older perennial all-stars. And as much as I like CJ McCollum, if this were vintage Lillard playing alongside Payton, a player who complements his skillset better, I'd probably be predicting contender right now.
2. Denver Nuggets
Last season I was convinced that, if the Nuggets were fully healthy, they were the best team in the NBA. This season I'm convinced that they'll never be fully healthy. Maybe they will for stints, and hopefully that'll be around playoff time. One thing I will give them credit for though is that landing Caldwell-Pope, imo, was one of the smarter moves of this offseason. Kentavious may never be an all-star, but he is someone who should complement this roster well or better than some of those dudes who were around last season. But like I don't see why the Nuggets didn't hold on to DeMarcus Cousins.
1. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves, for the first time in franchise history to my remembrance, have the best starting 5 in the NBA. There shouldn't even be any debate about that. So I agree with KAT that now, it is like championship or bust. In fact the Wolves looked good during last season's playoffs also, to the point that I wouldn't rule out the possibility of the Grizzlies having been recipients of some favoritism.
There are certain things that have to be hashed out, and this is a roster that could definitely benefit from a good jump-shooting Whiteboy (which are kinda rare in the NBA these days) or a PG that doesn't shoot (who they kinda just got rid of in recently Beverly). But Gobert + KAT has to be the most-potent twin towers the league has seen since Robinson + Duncan.
CONCLUSION
I would say that at least four of the NBA's six division have at least two contenders amongst their ranks. But with the Nuggets and Timberwolves, the Northwest has to be the most top-heavy - if the Nuggets are healthy. And hopefully, we'll finally be able to see Jokic + Murray + Porter compete.
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