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The 2004-05 NBA Northwest division preview, with teams listed in predicted order of regular season finish.

1. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

Coach: Flip Saunders (386-300 in nine years with Timberwolves).

Last Season: 58-24, lost to L.A. Lakers in Western Conference finals.

Projected Starters: G Sam Cassell, G Latrell Sprewell, F Wally Szczerbiak, F Kevin Garnett, C Michael Olowokandi.

Top Reserves: G/F Trenton Hassell, G Troy Hudson, C Ervin Johnson, G Fred Hoiberg, F Mark Madsen, C Oliver Miller, F Ndudi Ebi.

New Faces: None.

Strengths: Garnett is more than just the wisest choice in your fantasy draft -- he’s now a proven winner. The only thing that stood in his way last season was Shaquille O’Neal. That’s a lot to have in front of you, even when you’re 6-foot-11, can shoot, drive, dish and defend as well as Garnett can. All the help returns, and Cassell and Sprewell are capable of taking over games by themselves, too. Bottom line: The Timberwolves are deep, balanced, and can shoot from anywhere.

Weaknesses: Olowokandi continued to disappoint in his first season in Minnesota, displaying a penchant for laziness and just generally acting like he plays for one reason -- to collect a paycheck. Johnson is easily the better teammate, but is 36 years old and limited offensively. The Wolves aren’t necessarily desperate at center, simply because they’re loaded at every other position. But a little more productivity in the low post wouldn’t hurt.

Outlook: Now that the Lakers are starting over, three teams have an excellent shot to win the West, not to mention the NBA championship. The Timberwolves are among them, and it wouldn’t be a stretch to consider them the favorites. On top of just being flat-out awesome, Garnett is extremely driven. The fact everyone else returns -- including the underrated Saunders -- makes Minnesota a talented team with great chemistry. In the NBA, that’s hard to beat.

Prediction: 62-20.

2. DENVER NUGGETS

Coach: Jeff Bzdelik (60-104 in two years with Nuggets).

Last Season: 43-39, lost to Minnesota in first round of playoffs.

Projected Starters: G Andre Miller, G Voshon Lenard, F Carmelo Anthony, F Kenyon Martin, C Marcus Camby.

Top Reserves: F/C Nene, G Earl Boykins, F Rodney White, C Francisco Elson, G/F Greg Buckner.

New Faces: Martin, Buckner.

Strengths: It’s hard to pinpoint what makes Anthony so special -- other than to say no matter where he goes, the team tends to win (the summer Olympics being the exception). But whoever thought ANYONE could rescue the Nuggets? Of course, last season’s success was based on a total team effort, and everyone returns. As an added bonus, the Nuggets picked up much-needed rebounding help and all-out vigor in Martin. Miller is as solid as they come at point guard and a guy who always looks for his teammates first. Lenard can fill it up at any given moment -- and as good as Boykins was last season, he remains the league’s most underrated player by a longshot. And it sure doesn’t hurt to have a big, strong and athletic body like Nene coming off the bench.

Weaknesses: Anthony’s rebounding is embarrassingly bad, and his defense isn’t much better. Lenard and Camby too often disappear for long stretches, and considering there isn’t much in reserve beyond Boykins and Nene, the starters need to be consistent.

Outlook: This will be a key season for the Nuggets, as they could go one of two ways. That’s especially true of Anthony, who had his share of offseason issues. He needs to mature quickly and be the leader this team needs. If that happens, there is plenty of talent here for great things -- this season. It’s equally important for upper management to take a stand and start squashing those “Bzdelik is on the heat seat” rumors. They’re a major distraction that need to end -- yesterday. Otherwise, Denver won‘t get very far.

Prediction: 49-33.

3. UTAH JAZZ

Coach: Jerry Sloan (823-440 in 16 years with Jazz, 917-561 in 19 years overall).

Last Season: 42-40, did not make playoffs.

Projected Starters: G Carlos Arroyo, G Matt Harpring, F Andrei Kirilenko, F Carlos Boozer, C Mehmet Okur.

Top Reserves: G Gordon Giricek, G Raja Bell, G Raul Lopez, F Kris Humphries-r, C Jarron Collins, G Kirk Snyder-r, C Curtis Borchardt.

New Faces: Boozer, Okur, Humphries, Snyder.

Strengths: Kirilenko is becoming this era’s Scottie Pippen, a high-flyer who has a firm grasp of the fundamentals. Boozer is the epitome of a Sloan player, an overachieving rebounding machine and underrated scorer and defender. Okur was another outstanding addition who gives the Jazz something they’ve lacked since moving to Utah 20-some years ago -- a center with the ability to lead the team in scoring. Harpring, Bell, and Giricek each has the talent to start, and Arroyo is more confident than ever after a gratifying Olympic experience.

Weaknesses: The Jazz have a lot of new, young players who will test Sloan’s patience with what is sure to be inconsistent play. Giricek is the lone reliable deep threat, and outside of Boozer and maybe Harpring, it’s hard to find a tough-as-nails defender on the roster.

Outlook: When you consider what Sloan did last season with limited talent, the possibilities this year are endless. Actually, the Jazz are again destined to struggle to reach the playoffs in the powerful West. But the additions of Boozer and Okur, along with old standbys like Kirilenko and Harpring, should give the league’s most capable coach enough ammo to sneak into the postseason -- and possibly pull an upset or two.

Prediction: 44-38.

4. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

Coach: Maurice Cheeks (140-106 in three years with Trail Blazers).

Last Season: 41-41, did not make playoffs.

Projected Starters: G Damon Stoudemire, G Derek Anderson, F Shareef Abdur-Rahim, F Zach Randolph, C Theo Ratliff.

Top Reserves: G Nick Van Exel, G/F Darius Miles, F Ruben Patterson, C Joel Przybilla, G Richie Frahm, F Travis Outlaw.

New Faces: Van Exel, Przybilla, Frahm, G Sebastian Telfair-r.

Strengths: Randolph has turned himself into one of the league’s premier post-up players, using an array of moves and overall aggressiveness to free himself up for 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. Stoudemire and Van Exel are interchangeable parts at point guard, each offering a feisty attitude and ability to hit big shots. Abdur-Rahim and Ratliff are the type of players any team would want, offering unselfish-but-effective scoring and defense, respectively.

Weaknesses: There hasn’t been any chemistry within this organization for five years, and it’s hard to imagine it improving drastically this season. Patterson has talent, especially at the defensive end, but his over-aggressiveness can drive Cheeks insane. Randolph, Abdur-Rahim and both backcourt starters are weak defensively.

Outlook: If the Blazers ever get their act together, they could really do something. Then again, how long have we heard that? The good news is, Portland is getting a fresh start, as Rasheed Wallace and Bonzi Wells were traded and, interestingly, immediately grew up. Even better, GM John Nash and the rest of management has made it clear they won’t hesitate to weed out the bad seeds, perceived or otherwise. As for the current roster, the Blazers didn‘t really seem to improve much, while almost everyone else in the West got better. They’re not bad, they’re just not great, either.

Prediction: 38-44.

5. SEATTLE SUPERSONICS

Coach: Nate McMillan (160-153 in four years with Sonics).

Last Season: 37-45, did not make playoffs.

Projected Starters: G Luke Ridnour, G Ray Allen, F Rashard Lewis, F Vladamir Radmanovic, C Vitaly Potapenko.

Top Reserves: F Nick Collison-r, F Danny Fortson, G Ronald Murray, G Antonio Daniels, C Robert Swift-r, F Reggie Evans.

New Faces: Fortson, Swift, G Ibo Kutluay-r.

Strengths: The perimeter game is the Sonics’ forte, as Allen remains the game’s best pure shooter. Radmanovic, Lewis, and Murray are also capable of burying bushels of baskets in the blink of an eye. Fortson and Collison will add much needed inside muscle to an otherwise laid-back club.

Weaknesses: Ridnour was inconsistent and uncomfortable for most of last season -- and unless he produces this year, the Sonics might be worse than people think. He, along with Collison, Lewis and Radmanovic, is the future of this franchise. But each has a ways to go before they’re ready for prime time. Defensively, Seattle will have trouble making the big stops.

Outlook: The Sonics possess enough talent to surprise, but as good of coach as McMillan is, he struggled to get everyone on the same page last season. And aside from Allen and a few others, this is a young team that‘s still learning the NBA game. Based on that, a .500 record could be considered a success.

Prediction: 33-49.