Hoops Habit Podcast Ep. 010: Northwest Division summer review
With the 2018-19 NBA season tipping off next week, the Hoops Habit Podcast returns with another divisional preview by looking at the NBA’s deepest division.
The Hoops Habit Podcast is back to continue their trip around the NBA divisions by peaking at the league’s deepest division top-to-bottom. The Northwest Division made up half of the Western Conference playoff field a season ago with most of the five teams making minimal changes to their roster.
Host Michael Dugger begins at the top of last year’s standings by looking at the Portland Trail Blazers (1:35). Portland surprised people with its record in 2017-18 by grabbing the 3-seed, but in an improved conference with little additions to the roster, can Rip City’s star backcourt carry the team to another playoff berth?
Next up is the Oklahoma City Thunder (7:10). OKC’s made a lot of positive moves this offseason, mainly the re-signing of Paul George and the trading away of Carmelo Anthony, but can the Thunder overcome their own injury problems and live up to their billing as a legitimate threat in the Western Conference?
Dugger then dives into everybody’s preseason darling out West, the Utah Jazz (11:50). Utah brings back the nucleus of last year’s team that finished with the NBA’s best record over the second-half of the season once Rudy Gobert returned to health. Can Donovan Mitchell continue his meteoric rise to NBA stardom? Will Gobert stay healthy? Can Joe Ingles keep leading the NBA in 3-point percentage?
After Utah comes the home of the league’s newest ongoing drama between disgruntled NBA star and his current franchise. The Minnesota Timberwolves (17:10) and Jimmy Butler find themselves in a standstill with Butler requesting a trade from Minnesota and not with the team as it prepares for the season. This roster improved this offseason, and would be a tough out in the postseason with Jimmy Buckets. Who’s to blame and will any of it be resolved in the near future?
The Northwest Division summer review concludes with the Denver Nuggets (23:45). The Nuggets stood pat with their roster this offseason, and hope to see their young players continue their positive trajectory to lead them to their first playoff appearance since 2013.