Northwest Division Power Rankings

As the NBA season shifts into the second half, teams are assessing their situation and deciding how to move forward. How is each Northwest team doing so far?

The Northwest Division has been the most competitive in the NBA this season, with three teams occupying the top three spots in the Western Conference. Every team has either met preseason expectations and for a few, overachieved more than 40 games in. Here’s how each team stacks up as they begin the second leg of the season.

Image from NBA.com

1. Denver Nuggets

Even coming off their biggest loss of the season to the New York Knicks, the Nuggets have won five of their last seven and remain near the top of the West. Their two point win in Boston will speak volumes as the season continues because it reminded both fans and other teams what Jokić and company are capable of when they want to take things to their top level. The championship caliber teams understand that the regular season is a marathon, not a sprint, and Denver doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone. They will remain a quiet force and will add another deep playoff run to Jokić’s resumé.

Image from Sports Illustrated

2. Oklahoma City Thunder

This young Thunder team is growing up before our very eyes and even though general manager Sam Presti wanted the team to “finish our breakfast” before considering themselves as contenders, they have to be preparing for dinner as the All-Star break approaches. Led by All-Star starter Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City has discovered a clutch time formula that had eluded them for much of the season before this point. Close wins over division opponents in Portland and Minnesota will prepare the roster for playoff atmospheres they will endure later on. One of the only knocks on this team is their lack of playoff experience, but coaches and management maintain their belief in the roster, with good reason.

Image from Canis Hoopus

3. Minnesota Timberwolves

Sure Karl-Anthony Towns set an all-time franchise single game scoring record with 62 against the Hornets. The Wolves still lost. Anthony Edwards had three free throws to send a game into overtime against the Thunder. He missed all three. This team has stretches where they are truly dominant, but as of late, they’ve shown that they are still young and still need focus. Head coach Chris Finch called the team “immature” and it’s hard to disagree. Teams that are unproven are cautioned against being full of themselves when they don’t have playoff success, because the postseason is a different animal. The Timberwolves should consider the past two seasons the Grizzlies have had as a cautionary tale.

Image from KSL Sports

4. Utah Jazz

The Jazz continue to impress despite three straight losses after their game against the Golden State Warriors was postponed. ESPN gave them a B grade in a recent article, and it’s fitting for a team overachieving and yet still sits near the .500 mark. They remain one of the teams to watch as sellers as the trade deadline approaches, with many fans wanting them to deal veterans so that minutes are made available to their younger players. One of the trickiest parts of being a general manager in the NBA is determining how much of a chance your team has of contention at the halfway point in the year. It is a tough decision, but management needs to make it quickly if they want to make the most of this roster.

Image from Oregon Live

5. Portland Trail Blazers

It is interesting to think about what would be different if the Blazers were in the East instead of the gauntlet of the Western Conference. It is infinitely more interesting to think about where this team would be if they hadn’t dealt Damian Lillard this offseason. Jerami Grant has begun to recapture the All-Star potential that he flashed in Detroit and their younger players have been better than expected. Alas, the Blazers are where they are, but continue to show signs that this rebuild might be shorter than most expect. How they handle deals in the next two weeks will be critical in how they proceed and it will be fascinating to see who they let go and who they keep around(looking at you, Malcolm Brogdon and Deandre Ayton!).