WESTERN CONFERENCE - NORTHWEST DIVISION
1.) Denver Nuggets 2.) Utah Jazz 3.) Seattle Supersonics 4.) Portland Trail Blazers 5.) Minnesota Timberwolves
All-Northwest Division
PG - Allen Iverson / Deron Williams
SG - Kevin Durant / Ricky Davis
SF - Carmelo Anthony / Andrei Kirilenko
PF - Carlos Boozer / Nene / Al Jefferson
C - Marcus Camby / Mehmet Okur
1. DENVER NUGGETS
-- The Denver Nuggets roster is overflowing with talent and the possibility of a title is within reason. If they are able to mesh and blend together as one, they'll run away with the Northwest division. Allen Iverson is a veteran leader who is a mature and experienced captain that will keep the Nuggets focused. Carmelo Anthony, not AI, provides the scoring relief Denver. Marcus Camby is slowly putting himself on the shelf of legendary centers. J.R. Smith, Nene, Chucky Atkins, Eduardo Najera, Linas Kleiza and Kenyon Martin make the Nuggets one of the deeper teams in the NBA. If you own AI or JR Smith in fantasy, get ready to pick-up Von Wafer (2nd to LeBron in the High School dunk contest -- YouTube his dunks) -- he'll be ready to serve a proper back-up. The Nuggets should set their sights on 60 wins and with better luck they wont match-up with San Antonio in round one of the playoffs.
Key Addition: Chucky Atkins, Bobby Jones, Steven Hunter, Stacey Augmon, Alvin Jones, Brad Stricker, Jelani McCoy, Anthony Roberson
Losses: Steve Blake, Reggie Evans, Ricky Sanchez
Players Under the Radar: Linas Kleiza / Von Wafer
Big Games: Nov. 7 @ BOS, Nov. 24 @ HOU, Dec. 6 @ DAL, Dec. 15 @ SA, Jan. 27, March 5 vs PHX, March 7 vs SA, March 8 @ UTA, March 9 @ SA, April 12 @ UTA
2. UTAH JAZZ
-- Jazz fans are thanking the 2004-05 team after fans once agonized over them when they won just 26 games. Without that season Utah wouldn't be nearly as good as they are today. The 26 wins resulted in the number three overall pick and Deron Williams. Utah will begin the long journey back to the Western conference finals where last year they were sent home by the eventual champs. With Williams and Carlos Boozer its hard not to make a Stockton to Malone comparison. And with a one two punch of Andrei Kirilenko and Mehmet Okur, not to mention solid and underappreciated bench players to go along with an already underappreciated team reputation. What is working in the Jazz favor is that they know they can get it done, they've experienced what it feels like to get there. Anything less than a repeat of last seasons 51 wins would be a disappointment for one of the Western conferences more elite teams.
Key Additions: Morris Almond, Jason Hart, Ronnie Price, Donnell Harvey, Kyrylo Fesenko
Losses: Derek Fisher, Herbert Hill
Players Under the Radar: Gordon Giricek / Paul Milsap
Big Games: Dec. 7 @ SA, Dec. 8 @ DAL, Dec. 12 @ PHX, Jan. 17 @ DEN, Feb. 6 @ DEN, March 8 vs DEN, April 12 vs DEN
3. SEATTLE SUPERSONICS
-- Seattle has a lot to look forward to despite shipping off both of its real star players Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis during the off-season. With Kevin Durant on the floor this year, Seattle will have a fighting chance. Add Jeff Green, Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West and Kurt Thomas -- it's almost worth Allen and Lewis. In a division with Portland and Minnesota, Seattle looks a lot better than a 31 win team. The front office is in good shape and P.J. Carlesimo will use his priceless acquired knowledge from spending time on Greg Popovich's bench to mold the NBA's future. This season might be more of a warming up than a real run at it, but Seattle is no bottom feeder, especially in the Northwest division.
New Additions: Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West, Kurt Thomas, Kevin Durant, Jeff Green
Losses: Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis, Andre Brown
Players Under the Radar: Johan Petro / Robert Swift
Big Games: Dec. 15 @ UTA, Dec. 25 vs POR, Dec. 27 vs MIN, Feb. 21 @ POR, Feb. 22 vs POR
4. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
-- Before losing Greg Oden for the season, Portland looked to be the rising team in the Western Conference. Even after suffering the Oden setback, they might still be rising. With a lot of new additions, Portland is looking to turn the franchise back into the 50 win team they were just five seasons ago. The Blazers will put seven new players on a floor that has six players with two years experience or less. I would consider the Blazers 2007-08 season as kindling for next season, when Oden returns and the spark becomes a full blaze.
New Additions: Channing Frye, Steve Blake, James Jones, Greg Oden (IR), Rudy Fernandez, Petteri Koponen, Josh McRoberts, Taurean Green
Losses: Zach Randolph, Fred Jones, Dan Dickau, Jamaal Magloire, Ime Udoka
Players Under the Radar: Channing Frye / Jarrett Jack
Big Games: Nov. 3 @ HOU, Nov. 10 vs DAL, Dec. 2 @ SA, Dec. 25 vs SEA, Feb. 1 vs NY
5. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
-- The Timberwolves start their season without Kevin Garnett for the first time since he was drafted by the Wolves 12 seasons ago. It's a new howl in Target Center and the first few seasons without a proven veteran getting 20, 10 and 5 every night might make the winter nights in Minnesota even that much colder. If things go as planned, a nucleus of Randy Foye, Rashad McCants, Corey Brewer, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Craig Smith and Al Jefferson could be pretty good if they can land a big man (Georgetown's Roy Hibbert) or predicted future NBA superstar (O.J. Mayo, Michael Beasley or Derrick Rose) in next year's draft. Regardless of experience, the Timber puppies will be fun to watch and difficult to match-up against for every NBA team. A good team should expect to get the win against Minnesota, it just wont come as easy as some teams will expect.
New Additions: Al Jefferson, Corey Brewer, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair, Juwan Howard, Chris Richard
Losses: Kevin Garnett, Mikes James, Justin Reed
Players Under the Radar: Gerald Green / Ryan Gomes
Big Games: Nov. 23 @ DEN, Nov. 30 vs SA, Jan. 19 @ DEN, Jan. 25 @ BOS, Feb. 8 vs BOS, Mar. 5 @ UTA, April 2 @ UTA
No comments:
Post a Comment