2011-12 NBA Preview: Northwest Division

Previous NBA Previews: Central Division 1. Oklahoma City (1st in West, 2nd in NBA) Who is new: Reggie Jackson Why are they here: They lost to Dallas in the Western Conf. Championship last year and have their full team back, almost all of which is right in the front end of their primes. Most important player: Kendrick Perkins. The Thunder nabbed Perkins last trade deadline and gave him a hefty extension, hoping he would be the last piece of the puzzle. Outlook: Kevin Durant is entering his 5th season in the league, having lead the NBA in scoring his last 2. While people focus on the Heat, the Lakers, the defending champs and the Chris Paul/Dwight Howard situation, one of the biggest questions for me this season is whether or not Durant can establish himself as the dominant player in the league and lead his team to a title. He has the pieces, but he’s still only 23 years old. 2. Portland Trailblazers (7th in West, 10th in NBA) Who is new: Jamal Crawford, Raymond Felton, Kurt Tho...