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Yes, I am very late, but I'm finally finishing my NBA Fifty Peso Previews with this post on the Northwest Division.
Denver Nuggets
Major Additions: Al Harrington
Major Subtractions: None
Usually, great teams don't like to tinker with their line ups too much, but the Nuggets are far from great. Adding Harrington is not enough, and obviously Carmelo Anthony agrees. Anthony has essentially asked for a trade and expect the Nuggets to make something happen within the year. With Anthony gone, this will pretty much be a dead year for the Nuggets as the rest of their players like Chauncey Billups, Kenyon Martin and Chris Anderson have been slowed by both age and injuries. The Nuggets will have to rebuild.
Fearless Forecast: Eliminated in the regular season
Minnesota Timberwolves
Major Additions: Michael Beasley, Luke Ridnour
Major Subtractions: Al Jefferson
The Wolves fans are going to have another tough, losing year, but it's hard not to root for a team that gave Darko Milicic new life. C'mon Darko!!! The Wolves have a ton of young talent with Kevin Love, Beasley and Jonny Flynn, but they have to learn how to close games properly and perform consistently. That will take years and current coach Kurt Rambis may not even be the right man for the job for that.
Fearless Forecast: Eliminated in the regular season
Oklahoma City Thunder
Major Additions: None
Major Subtractions: None
Last year, the Thunder surprised everyone with their sudden development, taking the Lakers to six games in their first playoff appearance ever. This year, teams will prepare for them more seriously and they have been equal to the task. They are still a young team, however, so they need to learn more consistency defensively if they plan on going deeper. When this team plays defense the way Coach Scott Brooks wants them to, they are unbeatable. It's unfortunate that they don't defend like that every game. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are too good, however, to not lead the Thunder to a deeper playoff appearance this year.
Fearless Forecast: At least second round of the playoffs
Portland Trail Blazers
Major Additions: Wesley Matthews
Major Subtractions: None
The Blazers had plenty of promise just a few years ago and now they're still talking about promise. Health has stymied the Blazers these past few seasons and this year is no different. Greg Oden is out yet again, Marcus Camby is missing games and now Brandon Roy is slowed by a tough knee injury. The Blazers are kept afloat by the great play Matthews and the sterling emergence of LaMarcus Aldridge this season, but he will need Roy to come back strong if they hope to farther. Somehow, though, the prognosis is not good.
Fearless Forecast: Eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
Utah Jazz
Major Subtractions: Wesley Matthews, Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver
You have to give it to the Jazz. They lost Boozer in the offseason and quickly replaced him with Jefferson and they have not lost a step. In fact, they may have gained some more. They Jazz have looked fluid this season and they have shown remarkable guts in coming up with a string of impressive come-from-behind victories. They do rely too heavily on Deron Williams though and it might come back to haunt them. If they can learn to play better even if Williams is not on fire, the Jazz could make a deep run this year.
Fearless Forecast: At least second round of the playoffs
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