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Utah Jazz: Northwest Division Comparison – November

By Jared Woodcox

Oct 19, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Maurice Harkless (4) defends against Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) during the first quarter at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 19, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Maurice Harkless (4) defends against Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) during the first quarter at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 30, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) yells to the fans in a break in action against the Los Angeles Lakers during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) yells to the fans in a break in action against the Los Angeles Lakers during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

Oklahoma City Thunder

Current Record: 3-0

Standings: 1st in Division, 3rd in Conference

The Thunder currently sit atop the Western Conference as the only team besides the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers to have yet to lose a game. Some might say that this distinguishes them as the early favorite to win the division, but based on who they’ve played and how they’ve done it, I would definitely argue otherwise.

The Thunder have triumphed over three mediocre teams and with exception to their latest victory over the Lakers in which they won by 17 points, they have done so in less than impressive fashion. OKC barely sneaked past the hapless 76ers and were taken to overtime by the young and currently winless Phoenix Suns.

Of course each victory was essentially sealed by Russell Westbrook who is averaging a triple-double through his first three games with an out of this world 38.7 points, 12.3 rebounds and 11.7 assists per game.

While in no way, shape or form am I questioning just how impressive of a start Westbrook has gotten off to, it’s also important to note that in the Thunder’s three victories, he has been matched up at the point guard position against the likes of the Sixers’ Sergio Rodriguez, the Suns’ Eric Bledsoe and the Lakers D’Angelo Russell.

None of these guards are considered lockdown defenders by any means. So before anyone gets too excited about how good the Thunder may be this year, let’s see how they fare against some of the elite teams and top-tier point guards in the conference first.

They’ll be tested right off the bat this week with tough road contests against the Clippers on Tuesday and the Warriors on Wednesday. (On a side note, who isn’t excited for the first Durant vs. Westbrook revenge match this week?!)

While the Thunder will still be a tough contender for the division title, their 3-0 record seems to be a little misleading given the caliber of the teams they’ve defeated. As teams with solid guard defenders (such as George Hill and Dante Exum, for example) begin to challenge Russell Westbrook, I expect the team as a whole will also struggle somewhat.

Before the season’s start, I predicted that the Jazz would finish ahead of the Thunder in the division. Although that could still be the case, thus far the Thunder have looked to be the better team. With Portland earning my early pick as the team to win the Northwest Division, I expect Utah and OKC to put on a tough battle for second place.

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