Utah Jazz: Pre-Camp Northwest Division Power Rankings

Jan 13, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum (3) drives to the basket on Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) and center Rudy Gobert (27) during the first quarter of the NBA game at the Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 13, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum (3) drives to the basket on Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) and center Rudy Gobert (27) during the first quarter of the NBA game at the Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports /
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Damian Lillard C.J. McCollum Portland Trail Blazers
Apr 29, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) hugs guard CJ McCollum (3) after defeating the Los Angeles Clippers 106-103 in game six of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports /

2) Portland Trail Blazers

They got some help with the Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul and Blake Griffin falling prey to injury, but the Blazers were somehow able to win a playoff series last year. Not bad for a team that was abandoned by LaMarcus Aldridge, Wesley Matthews and Robin Lopez in recent years.

Having said that, I don’t see the Blazers being a better team than the Jazz this season. Despite having one of the highest scoring backcourts in the game in Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum and one of the game’s best coaches in Terry Stotts, PDX is at something of a talent defecit overall when compared to the West’s elite.

Even after doling out $300 million dollars in contracts this offseason. Evan Turner wha?

Still, the Blazers shocked the basketball world last season. No one is going to be sleeping on them this year.

Next: No. 1