DENVER NUGGETS
\nOdds to win Northwest Division: +115 <\/strong><\/p>\nThe Nuggets had a banner 2008-09, winning 54 games and reaching the Conference final. In theory, the next step for George Karl\u2019s team is to reach the NBA Final. Anyone who likes to bet on sports knows the Nuggets have the pieces in place to duplicate last season\u2019s success. Carmelo Anthony is maturing into more than just a scorer and Chauncey Billups remains a great leader in the backcourt. Billups can still do for an NBA team what Derek Jeter does for New York\u2019s World Series odds every year. Nene and Kenyon Martin bring good scoring ability up front but are both perennial injury concerns.<\/p>\n
The Nuggets\u2019 bench is a big plus; J.R. Smith should be ready to go despite serving a prison sentence for reckless driving. Chris Andersen was a major energy booster, particularly on the boards, in his first full year since sitting out due to alleged drug use, and should keep up the good work.<\/p>\n
The Nuggets are solid picks to contend again this season but may lack a true slasher on the wing.<\/p>\n
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
\nOdds to win Northwest Division: +165 <\/strong><\/p>\nThe days of the Jail Blazers are long gone. The only thing criminal about these Blazers will be the beatings they lay down on the Western bottom feeders, Gambino Family style. This young group of up and comers could have the seeds in place for a future championship run. Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge are great scorers at their positions and, while Steve Blake isn\u2019t the best ball distributor, he\u2019s a good shooter and Andre Miller is a great backup for him.<\/p>\n
The key to Portland\u2019s success is Greg Oden; in the preseason, he looks like the second coming of Dikembe Mutombo, combining great defense, rebounding and a solid amount of scoring. If he can finally stay healthy for a season, there\u2019s no telling what he and the Trail Blazers can do.<\/p>\n
UTAH JAZZ
\nOdds to win the Northwest Division: +245 <\/strong><\/p>\nIf they can say healthy, the Jazz are yet another team with good BetOnline.com odds to compete in the Northwest. They have one of the league\u2019s most elite point guards in Deron Williams, who is a true game breaker. Mehmet Okur\u2019s long-range shooting ability is rare for his size. Paul Millsap is an underrated power forward who improved dramatically this season.<\/p>\n
Ironically, two of Utah\u2019s stalwarts of recent seasons could lead to their downfall this year. Carlos Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko may not be starting-caliber players anymore yet won\u2019t accept anything less than starters\u2019 minutes. Keeping them on the floor (allegedly, to boost their trade value, at least in Boozer\u2019s case) could hurt the Jazz, who would rather let guys like Millsap develop more.![\"\"](\"http:\/\/baff.betonline.com\/aspx\/affiliateGetImage.aspx?ID_SC=2225&ID_I=1609\")
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OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
\nOdds to win the Northwest Division: +3050 <\/strong><\/p>\nTwo words: Kevin Durant. He looked like a future scoring champ last season, jumping from 20 to 25-plus points per game and displaying that rare ability to score from anywhere. For at least one more season, he\u2019s probably the only thing that really matters on this improving squad. However, with pieces like inside scorer Jeff Green and first-round pick James Harden in place, the future looks good for Oklahoma City. Those who pick the Thunder no longer automatically deserve indictment for their gambling instincts.<\/p>\n
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
\nOdds to win the Northwest Division: +3050 <\/strong><\/p>\nNothing to see here \u2013 probably for another season or three. All hope is not lost in Minny; any team would be lucky to have Al Jefferson and Jonny Flynn has great gamer mentality at the point guard position \u2013 but no T-Wolves player will sniff a championship ring for quite some time.<\/p>\n
2009-10 Northwest Division Prediction<\/strong><\/p>\nThe Nuggets are great but stagnant; the Jazz are held back by commitments to sagging veterans. There\u2019s no stopping the Trail Blazers. They\u2019ve got an amazingly deep roster full of All-Stars in the making and they\u2019ll only get better. Pick Portland to win the Northwest. The Lakers and Spurs should look over their shoulders \u2013 now.<\/p>\n
Sorry, Denver; the Broncos\u2019 NFL odds will be the best sports news in your city this season.<\/p>\n
CLICK HERE TO JOIN BETONLINE.COM – ONE OF OUR TOP RATED ONLINE SPORTSBOOKS – BIG BIG SIGN UP BONUS’ FOR NBA BETTING ONLINE<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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