With such dominant Southwest and Pacific divisions, it's been difficult for a lot of the teams in the Northwest to truly emerge as serious playoff contenders in the past. This year is no different, as all five teams will be forced to make major adjustments to their styles and team dynamics as they enter the season with significantly different rosters and management.

The Thunder will have to make do without half of its dynamic duo for the first four to six weeks as Russell Westbrook recovers from two knee surgeries. The Timberwolves look to restore some NBA hope in Minnesota as they welcome back a 100 percent healthy Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love in addition to a newly deepened bench.

Most notable is the devastating end of the George Karl and Masai Ujiri era in Denver. Rookie head coach Brian Shaw hopes to switch up the team's tempo and style, which might not settle very well with Ty Lawson.

The Blazers and the Jazz will appear the most different this season, and thus will probably take the longest to fully get into the swing of things. Portland is looking to rearrange both its offensive and defensive plays with the addition of a true center in Robin Lopez, and Utah trying to figure out how to best play its young and inexperienced lineup.

1) Oklahoma City Thunder

After the Westbrook-less Thunder lost to Memphis in the Western Conference Semifinals last year, both fans and critics were convinced that OKC was just another shallow team that couldn't survive without its big names. However, the team's stellar preseason performance shows that it's still capable of maintaining its title of "Best in the West."

Until Westbrook returns, Reggie Jackson is set to start at the point. He will therefore be counted on to maintain the Thunder's fast-paced offense, and basically get the ball to Durant as quickly as he can. Second-year guard Jeremy Lamb will also see some more playing time and be expected to be bolder with his shots as he takes over the sixth-man spot.

If his preseason stats are any indication, three-time scoring champ Durant feels no pressure playing without his trusty partner in crime. His unfailing shooting touch is sure to light Chesapeake Arena on fire again as he leads the Thunder to another run at a Finals appearance.

The monstrous combination of Serge Ibaka, Kendrick Perkins, Thabo Sefolosha and rookie Steven Adams is sure to work pure defensive magic and hold opponents down to low scoring numbers. Ibaka and Perkins will need to step up their inside scoring game, however, to help take some of the load off Durant and the other outside shooters.

Greatest forte: Team chemistry.

Achilles' heel: Turnovers.

Keep your eyes on: Jeremy Lamb.

Will they make it to the playoffs?: Duh.

2) Minnesota Timberwolves

The Wolves may have the longest playoff drought in the NBA, but are starting to look like a potential threat in the league with the long-awaited return of their own dynamic duo - Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio. Those two add to a newly stacked starting lineup featuring Kevin Martin, Corey Brewer and Nikola Pekovic.

After sitting out last season due to a broken hand, two-time All-Star Love returns healthy and eager to be the beastly inside-post that the Wolves were missing last season. Rubio, who was on his way to joining the ranks of Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo as one of the smartest and most creative point guards in the league pre-injury, also enters the season good as new and looks to maintain his reputation as the Wolves' steal-and-assist-machine.

Signing sharp-shooter Martin is a huge win for the Wolves, as he'll help make up for what Rubio lacks in outside scoring. Signing Brewer isn't as major, but his spotty defensive abilities will have to do until the more consistent and productive Chase Budinger returns from a torn meniscus.

Having proven himself as one of the more formidable centers in the league last season in the absence of Love, Pekovic looks to make a strong impact both on the offensive and defensive ends once again.

Greatest forte: Balanced starting lineup.

Achilles' heel: Shallow bench.

Keep your eyes on: Kevin Love.

Will they make it to the playoffs?: Yes.

3) Denver Nuggets

It's become hard to imagine the Nuggets without George Karl. But this season, Brian Shaw takes the reigns as Denver's new head coach after eight seasons of assistant coaching under Phil Jackson and Frank Vogel with the Lakers and the Pacers.

Shaw has already made it clear that he intends to instill a slower and more structured gameplan in the Nuggets this year. This could spell trouble for the team's top scorer and perhaps one of the fastest point guards in the league, Ty Lawson, who could struggle to adjust.

Despite losing Andre Iguodala, Denver still maintains a dangerous frontcourt with Wilson Chandler, Kenneth Faried, J.J Hickson, JaVale McGee and Danilo Gallinari when he returns from a torn ACL. It'll be hard for opponents to get a shot off against this high-energy group, which will also thrive on offense with the "Manimal's" tried and true mid-range jumper and McGee's improved post moves.

Everyone is expecting the Nuggets to have a worse season this year because of how long it's going to take Shaw and the players to truly adapt to each other's styles. Denver's postseason fate depends on whether or not the team can pull it together in time for the playoffs, especially with such strong competitors in the West.

Greatest forte: Deep roster.

Achilles' heel: New coach.

Keep your eyes on: Kenneth Faried.

Will they make it to the playoffs?: No.

4) Portland Trailblazers

The Blazers were basically running on the shoulders of Damian Lillard, LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum last season. They never seemed to be able to execute a balanced offense, and J.J Hickson just couldn't deliver as a center.

By bringing in a legitimate center in Robin Lopez along with a multitude of talented players like C.J McCollum Dorell Wright, Mo Williams, and Earl Watson, to name a few, the Blazers have transformed their second string from a weakness into a strength. However, it's hard to say that they're definitely going to do better than last year.

If Lillard and Aldridge perform together as well as they did last year, they could be that playoff push the Blazers need to snatch that last seed in the Western Conference. Lillard has already proven that he knows how to take care of business outside the arc, while Aldridge remains untouchable inside the paint.

Wesley Matthews and Batum return to the starting lineup as great offensive help, but the Blazers will need a greater defensive effort from them if they want to make a serious playoff run. Finishing 26th in defensive efficiency and 28th in forced turnovers last season, Portland must step up their defense if they want to stand any chance against defensive-minded squads.

Greatest forte: Lillard-Aldridge package.

Achilles' heel: Defense.

Keep your eyes on: Damian Lillard.

Will they make it to the playoffs?: No.

5th - Utah Jazz

If Utah's offseason moves are any indication, they're looking at the 2013-2014 season as a starting point for their newly young team. After losing long-time Jazz veterans Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap along with five other old-timers to free agency and trades, the team decided to completely rebuild its roster.

Utah's frontcourt, consisting of Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter, should have its breakout year this season as these three young veterans will be called upon to step up their rebounding and inside scoring in the absence of their former top scorers.

Although he'll miss the first couple of weeks after breaking his finger during a preseason game against the Clippers, rookie point guard Trey Burke is guaranteed to make a splash in Utah this season as he brings the scoring and playmaking prowesses that led Michigan to the national championship game last year.

As a team that's focused more on developing its core for the future than trying to get into the playoffs, the Jazz will definitely lose a lot of games this season. However, with such a talented group already established, the future looks bright in Utah.

Greatest forte: Young legs.

Achilles' heel: Lack of experience.

Keep your eyes on: Trey Burke.

Will they make it to the playoffs?: No.

Reach Staff Writer Nicole Kim here.