Northwest Division Preview 2022-23 (Ep. 285)

·47 min·4 clips

Elkin argues Jamal Murray is the key to the Nuggets becoming a championship team, despite Jokic's MVP performance.

The episode begins with Ethan Huffman and Elkin Beltre introducing the Northwest Division teams: Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Portland Trail Blazers. They start with the Denver Nuggets, discussing their 48-34 record last season despite missing Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., and how Jokic's MVP performance carried the team. The hosts debate the Nuggets' defensive issues and the impact of Murray's return on their championship potential. Next, they move to the Minnesota Timberwolves, analyzing the addition of Rudy Gobert to pair with Karl-Anthony Towns, with Elkin predicting the team will be worse due to fit concerns. The conversation shifts to the Utah Jazz, highlighting their rebuild after trading Gobert, with a focus on young players like Collin Sexton and Walker Kessler. They then discuss the Oklahoma City Thunder, criticizing their lack of veteran leadership and the impact on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's development, especially after Chet Holmgren's injury. Finally, they cover the Portland Trail Blazers, noting offseason additions like Jerami Grant and Gary Payton II, and debating whether the team can improve defensively. The hosts conclude by reflecting on how few teams are actively tanking this season, with only five teams not trying to win.

As heard by us

A grounded Northwest Division preview centered on Minnesota's promise, playoff fit, and unresolved roster questions.

Hero Ball Podcast's Northwest Division preview treats the coming season as a set of roster questions rather than a list of predictions. Denver gets the cleanest endorsement, while Minnesota is cast as a regular-season problem with more complicated playoff math.

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Why you'd press play

You get Nuggets confidence, Minnesota matchup nerves, and a Utah roster reset in one quick Northwest Division argument.

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