NBA Northwest: Who Will Take the Division?

With at least 30 games behind all the Northwest division teams now, we finally see what they are made of. Three teams are playing playoff caliber basketball, while two of them are struggling to survive. Here is my opinion on how it will play out. I list them from best to worst.

Denver Nuggets - It seems as though the Allen Iverson trade has worked out for the Nuggets. Chauncey Billups has come in and really given a boost to this team. His three-point shooting is amazing. Carmelo is Carmelo. His big time three on the road at Oklahoma City was a game winner. He can do it from all over the floor. The Nuggets have the pieces to win the division and have a lengthy playoff stretch.

Portland Trail Blazers - Center Greg Oden continues to get better inside. Power Forward LaMarcus Aldridge is stepping in and doing some good as well. One thing that sticks out to me is the hustle and the will to win. They are scrappy and will take a win any way they can get it. Look for them in the playoffs as well.

Utah Jazz - With Deron Williams at the point, it's hard to go wrong. The Jazz are two games back from Denver. Part of the reason they aren't ahead of at least Portland is their road games. The Jazz are 7-10 away from home. Turn a couple of those loses into wins, they are right back in the mix. This could be a problem when playoffs arrive.

Minnesota Timberwolves - The T-Wolves had a good week. After losing 13-straight, Minnesota has won six of their last eight including a four-game winning streak. The last win was at home with Oklahoma City where the Timberwolves dismantled the Thunder by 42. No playoffs for this team, but they are much improved. I expect them to win quite a bit more.

Oklahoma City Thunder - In the first year in their new city, the Thunder have had a rough go at it. The team has just five wins. The Thunder are building around a young core with Kevin Durant at SF, Jeff Green at PF, and PG Russell Westbrook. The Thunder have recently added two players that should help significantly in Chucky Atkins through a trade with the Nuggets, and Nenad Krstic from an overseas league. As the team rebuilds, they will be watching the playoffs from the couch this year.