National Basketball Association

Northwest Division: Can the Thunder continue their dominance?

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The Northwest Division has been dominated by the OKC Thunder who have won the division five of the last six years. But with KD gone, can they continue their reign?

Feb 9, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) before the game against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

This NBA offseason was a doozy. Okay maybe not for Thunder fans. But for the Northwest division overall? Incredible.

The Timberwolves added Cole Aldrich, Kris Dunn and Jordan Hill.

The Nuggets added lottery pick Jamal Murray.

The Jazz added Joe Johnson and George Hill.

And the Trailblazers extended CJ McCollum while adding Evan Turner.

These moves aren’t anything amazing. In fact, they are pretty boring. But that’s the recipe every team in the Northwest division called for. Every one of these teams are young and every one of these teams are going to grow as a basketball team this season.

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Besides the Nuggets, every team has a chance to win the division this year.

The Trailblazers made it to the second round of the playoffs last season in a “rebuilding” season. Now they know they have an all-star in CJ McCollum and a solid supporting cast. But most importantly, Dame Lillard is a bad man. The Thunder should be afraid of Portland this year.

Utah seems to be the trendy sleeper team this season, and it makes sense. Their core of Gordon Hayward-Rudy Gobert-Alec Burks-Derrick Favors are entering the prime of their careers; this is the season the Jazz should make the leap. The Jazz almost made the playoffs last season despite a stupid amount of injuries. They won’t miss postseason basketball this year.

Anddddd the Timberwolves. The most intriguing team of them all. You’ve heard the Thunder 2.0 comparisons. Do they blow up a year earlier than everyone is projecting? It’s possible. That’s how good Karl-Anthony Towns is. The Timberwolves will have enough Northwest division titles in the future; the playoffs will have to be their consolation prize.

So how do the Thunder combat all of these teams? Russell Westbrook.

OKC lost KD but they still have the best player in the division. And the Thunder will go as Russell Westbrook goes. Russ is the superstar that will directly influence the outcome of EVERY game. If he plays poorly, the Thunder simply don’t have enough scoring.

BUT.

When Russ is playing well the Thunder will be a force. Every player has been preaching “team basketball” all offseason; “team basketball” is what stopped KD and Russ from winning a title together. If Donovan can instill this system without Russ’ ball dominance interfering….woah.

There will be growing pains this season. Donovan is going to experiment with his rotation. Russ is going to take too many shots. But the Thunder still have a good chance at winning the Northwest division.

They just have to learn to play like a team.

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