NBA: Forecasting the Unpredictable Northwest Division

Apr 13, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Emmanuel Mudiay (0) dribbles as Portland Trail Blazers guard Brian Roberts (2) defends and Denver Nuggets center Jusuf Nurkic (23) screens during the 4th quarter at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Cole Elsasser-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 13, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Emmanuel Mudiay (0) dribbles as Portland Trail Blazers guard Brian Roberts (2) defends and Denver Nuggets center Jusuf Nurkic (23) screens during the 4th quarter at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Cole Elsasser-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 13, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Emmanuel Mudiay (0) dribbles as Portland Trail Blazers guard Brian Roberts (2) defends and Denver Nuggets center Jusuf Nurkic (23) screens during the 4th quarter at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Cole Elsasser-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 13, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Emmanuel Mudiay (0) dribbles as Portland Trail Blazers guard Brian Roberts (2) defends and Denver Nuggets center Jusuf Nurkic (23) screens during the 4th quarter at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Cole Elsasser-USA TODAY Sports /

The Northwest Division is primed to be one of the most competitive divisions in the NBA. It almost seems as if any team could legitimately win the division this year.

The NBA preseason is now in full swing, which means that we’re only about three weeks away from the start of the 2016-’17 season. But even before preseason unfolds, we’ll be able to perceive where each team will likely end up, come mid-April.

History has shown us that expectations normally pan-out, but there are always unpredictable factors which can easily change everything.

At this point, the Nuggets are in arguably the most competitive division in the NBA. That’s not to say that each team in the Northwest Division is a championship contender. But each team does have a lot of unpredictable factors, which keeps them all competitively close to each other.

If things go perfectly for each team, then there’s legitimately a chance for each of the five teams to win the Division. However, we don’t live in a perfect world, and neither do NBA teams.

Regardless of who wins the Northwest Division, it’s a pretty safe bet that they won’t win the NBA Championship this season. In no way am I saying that there aren’t good teams in the Northwest Division, but none of them appear to be on that level just yet.

That doesn’t mean that these teams should be slept on though. They all have the ability to play spoiler for other teams and could maybe surprise us all at the season’s end.

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