2006 - 2007 NBA Preview: Northwest Division
Up in the Northwest Division, the Denver Nuggets come into the season as the division's lone playoff team. The Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves both have playoff aspirations, while the Seattle SuperSonics and Portland Trail Blazers will spend the season breaking in youth.
Northwest Division:
1. Denver Nuggets (44-38)
Key Additions: J.R. Smith (trade)
Key Losses: Ruben Patterson (free agent), Greg Buckner (free agent)
As the division winner with the worst record, the Nuggets still have room for significant improvement. Carmelo Anthony gained a reputation as an elite scorer, but his rebounding took a hit. He needs to get his average up to eight a game, while still maintaining a similar scoring average. George Karl is hoping that Smith can fill the black hole at shooting guard and help take some of the scoring pressure off of Anthony and Andre Miller. Coming out of high school two years ago, Smith had the reputation of being a world-class athlete who could shoot the lights out. After two frustrating years in New Orleans, I believe he is going to be given the opportunity to become the second option. The talent is there, and Karl is the right coach to get it out of him. The losses of Patterson and Buckner will be felt on the defensive end, but continued improvement from Anthony and healthy seasons from Kenyon Martin and Nene (and maybe even Marcus Camby) should help alleviate the impact. This teams plans to run this year, and will shine in a weak division.
Key Additions: Ronnie Brewer (draft)
Key Losses: None
When you look at this team, you wonder how it could possibly miss the playoffs. There are two reasons: the Western Conference is just that tough, and the talent iof the top six rotation players is outweighed by the lack of depth on the roster, which last year was exposed by injuries. However, a Jerry Sloan-coached lineup of Deron Williams, Matt Harpring, Andrei Kirilenko, Carlos Boozer, and Mehmet Okur is highly competitive. A 7-3 run at the end of the season showed what the team can do when healthy. The addition of Brewer will make it easier to deal with injuries, and make the second unit more formidable as he backs up both guard positions. His addition will mitigate the loss of any player in the starting lineup, as nearly every player can handle more than one position. Kirilenko is already experiencing back problems, and if they linger into the season, it will hurt the chances of making the playoffs. If Boozer is healthy the whole season though, the eighth seed should be theirs.
3. Minnesota Timberwolves (33-49)
Key Additions: Randy Foye (draft), Mike James (free agent)
Key Losses: Marcus Banks (free agent)
The good news is that the Timberwolves improved significantly with the additions of Foye and James, who, combined with Ricky Davis, should take the third-worst offense in the NBA and bring it to, at least, the middle of the pack. Kevin Garnett will be happy to have the increased talent around him, and the team will be exciting to watch. Foye will come off the bench initially, so Trenton Hassell can provide some defensive pressure in the first unit, but he will likely be seeing starters minutes within a month, if not immediately. Unfortunately, this will not be enough to help Garnett return to the playoffs. The gaping hole at center will be too much to overcome when you compare the Wolves to the other Western Conference teams, and they will be lacking a complimentary rebounder to Garnett all season. With luck, or a good draft pick, they could acquire one in the offseason and make their return to playoff contention next season.
Key Additions: None
Key Losses: None
Last season was considered a disappointment after falling for 52 wins and the third seed in the Western Conference to 35 wins and a lottery pick. Unfortunately, the team overachieved the previous year, and last year’s performance is more indicative of this team’s capabilities. Ray Allen is still a premier shooting guard and will not let this team sink very far. His supporting cast, led by Luke Ridnour and Rashard Lewis, is solid but not spectacular. Ridnour is becoming a solid leader for this team, but will never become a top tier point guard statistically. Lewis has become a dependable second option on offense, but still has not developed into a good rebounder for his size. The key to the Sonics’ future, and to a small degree this season, is the development of the front line. Chris Wilcox was re-signed after putting up very impressive numbers in his short time in Seattle, and the team hopes it was more than Wilcox just playing for a contract. The two-headed monster at center becomes three-headed, with Mouhamed Sene joining Robert Swift and Johan Petro. After the investments made in these three players, the team hopes that one of them will step up. For Swift and Petro, this could be the year. If it is, it bodes well for the future of the Sonics, and will keep them respectable this season.
Key Additions: LaMarcus Aldridge (draft), Brandon Roy (draft), Jamaal Magliore (trade), Raef LaFrentz (trade)
Key Losses: Sebastian Telfair (trade), Theo Ratliff (trade)
Portland fans just cannot win. When this team was the Jail Blazers, the team at least made the playoffs. Now that the team places extra emphasis on character, fans have been eagerly awaiting the draft lottery for three straight seasons. That will not change this season, but there are far more reasons for hope. The addition of two top-six draft picks and a solid big man go a long way towards progress. In Aldridge, Portland gets a potential high scoring post man and solid rebounder. He will need a year or two to get used to the NBA, but should average at least 18 points and nine rebounds at his peak. Roy is a great all-around player who will spend time at both guard positions and the small forward spot. While he may never put up superstar numbers, he should thrive as a team’s second or third option and provide a winning attitude and leadership. Magliore will share time with Joel Pryzbilla, taking over the role vacated by Ratliff, and should provide Aldridge with a mentor. The trade of Telfair not only helped net Portland Roy, but also freed up the start point guard spot for Jarrett Jack. While not as talented as Telfair, he is a better fit for this up-and-coming team. Even with all the promise this team will show, the Blazers will join Philadelphia as one of the top competitors for the top pick in the draft.
Northwest Division:
1. Denver Nuggets (44-38)
Key Additions: J.R. Smith (trade)
Key Losses: Ruben Patterson (free agent), Greg Buckner (free agent)
As the division winner with the worst record, the Nuggets still have room for significant improvement. Carmelo Anthony gained a reputation as an elite scorer, but his rebounding took a hit. He needs to get his average up to eight a game, while still maintaining a similar scoring average. George Karl is hoping that Smith can fill the black hole at shooting guard and help take some of the scoring pressure off of Anthony and Andre Miller. Coming out of high school two years ago, Smith had the reputation of being a world-class athlete who could shoot the lights out. After two frustrating years in New Orleans, I believe he is going to be given the opportunity to become the second option. The talent is there, and Karl is the right coach to get it out of him. The losses of Patterson and Buckner will be felt on the defensive end, but continued improvement from Anthony and healthy seasons from Kenyon Martin and Nene (and maybe even Marcus Camby) should help alleviate the impact. This teams plans to run this year, and will shine in a weak division.
Key Additions: Ronnie Brewer (draft)
Key Losses: None
When you look at this team, you wonder how it could possibly miss the playoffs. There are two reasons: the Western Conference is just that tough, and the talent iof the top six rotation players is outweighed by the lack of depth on the roster, which last year was exposed by injuries. However, a Jerry Sloan-coached lineup of Deron Williams, Matt Harpring, Andrei Kirilenko, Carlos Boozer, and Mehmet Okur is highly competitive. A 7-3 run at the end of the season showed what the team can do when healthy. The addition of Brewer will make it easier to deal with injuries, and make the second unit more formidable as he backs up both guard positions. His addition will mitigate the loss of any player in the starting lineup, as nearly every player can handle more than one position. Kirilenko is already experiencing back problems, and if they linger into the season, it will hurt the chances of making the playoffs. If Boozer is healthy the whole season though, the eighth seed should be theirs.
3. Minnesota Timberwolves (33-49)
Key Additions: Randy Foye (draft), Mike James (free agent)
Key Losses: Marcus Banks (free agent)
The good news is that the Timberwolves improved significantly with the additions of Foye and James, who, combined with Ricky Davis, should take the third-worst offense in the NBA and bring it to, at least, the middle of the pack. Kevin Garnett will be happy to have the increased talent around him, and the team will be exciting to watch. Foye will come off the bench initially, so Trenton Hassell can provide some defensive pressure in the first unit, but he will likely be seeing starters minutes within a month, if not immediately. Unfortunately, this will not be enough to help Garnett return to the playoffs. The gaping hole at center will be too much to overcome when you compare the Wolves to the other Western Conference teams, and they will be lacking a complimentary rebounder to Garnett all season. With luck, or a good draft pick, they could acquire one in the offseason and make their return to playoff contention next season.
Key Additions: None
Key Losses: None
Last season was considered a disappointment after falling for 52 wins and the third seed in the Western Conference to 35 wins and a lottery pick. Unfortunately, the team overachieved the previous year, and last year’s performance is more indicative of this team’s capabilities. Ray Allen is still a premier shooting guard and will not let this team sink very far. His supporting cast, led by Luke Ridnour and Rashard Lewis, is solid but not spectacular. Ridnour is becoming a solid leader for this team, but will never become a top tier point guard statistically. Lewis has become a dependable second option on offense, but still has not developed into a good rebounder for his size. The key to the Sonics’ future, and to a small degree this season, is the development of the front line. Chris Wilcox was re-signed after putting up very impressive numbers in his short time in Seattle, and the team hopes it was more than Wilcox just playing for a contract. The two-headed monster at center becomes three-headed, with Mouhamed Sene joining Robert Swift and Johan Petro. After the investments made in these three players, the team hopes that one of them will step up. For Swift and Petro, this could be the year. If it is, it bodes well for the future of the Sonics, and will keep them respectable this season.
Key Additions: LaMarcus Aldridge (draft), Brandon Roy (draft), Jamaal Magliore (trade), Raef LaFrentz (trade)
Key Losses: Sebastian Telfair (trade), Theo Ratliff (trade)
Portland fans just cannot win. When this team was the Jail Blazers, the team at least made the playoffs. Now that the team places extra emphasis on character, fans have been eagerly awaiting the draft lottery for three straight seasons. That will not change this season, but there are far more reasons for hope. The addition of two top-six draft picks and a solid big man go a long way towards progress. In Aldridge, Portland gets a potential high scoring post man and solid rebounder. He will need a year or two to get used to the NBA, but should average at least 18 points and nine rebounds at his peak. Roy is a great all-around player who will spend time at both guard positions and the small forward spot. While he may never put up superstar numbers, he should thrive as a team’s second or third option and provide a winning attitude and leadership. Magliore will share time with Joel Pryzbilla, taking over the role vacated by Ratliff, and should provide Aldridge with a mentor. The trade of Telfair not only helped net Portland Roy, but also freed up the start point guard spot for Jarrett Jack. While not as talented as Telfair, he is a better fit for this up-and-coming team. Even with all the promise this team will show, the Blazers will join Philadelphia as one of the top competitors for the top pick in the draft.
posted by Josh at 9:27 AM
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