With the 2008-09 NBA season nearing its midway point, we here at RealGM are going to bring you an in-depth six-part series that will break down the positives and negatives for each team after the first half.  Under the microscope will be each team?s first half MVP, the areas that need improvement, an analysis of offseason and early season moves, and the most pleasant surprises of the New Year.  

The first part of this six-piece series spotlights the Northwest Division.

Denver

The Denver Nuggets entered this season in disarray after their fifth consecutive woeful first round playoff exit, another year of tread added to the knees of Allen Iverson and Kenyon Martin, and a bunch of fans and media scratching their heads as the team effectively traded Marcus Camby for Renaldo Balkman.  There were many prognosticators picking this team to be the odd man out come playoff time.  But then they pulled off a major trade?

Team MVP: Chauncey Billups

That?s right, after years of yearning for a true point guard, the Nuggets landed hometown stud Chauncey Billups from the Detroit Pistons for Iverson.  Billups has been a godsend in Denver, as they looked lost after a 1-3 start and have rallied behind the former University of Colorado star en route to a 24-10 record since.  Not only is Billups the clear-cut MVP of the Nuggets in this first half of the season, but his name has to be in strong consideration for MVP of the entire league through the first half.

Needs Improvement:  Wins on the road

While this can be said for nearly every team in the league, the Nuggets need to pick up more wins when away from Colorado.  They have won only 11 of their first 19 road games, and that could become a cause for concern with only a two-game division lead and a very rough road patch ahead.  Starting January 27 in Memphis, Denver will have to play 14 of 20 games on the road, where they hope Carmelo Anthony will return around the same time.  When that stretch ends on March 8 in Sacramento, we may have learned all we need to know about this Nugget team.

Best Move: Trading Iverson for Billups

There?s absolutely nothing else that can be slotted here.  Billups has helped this team gel into a cohesive unit.  One interesting piece of evidence that points out more of a team attitude this year is that they have better rebounding numbers head-to-head with their opponents than a year ago despite dealing away their leading rebounder.  Last season, the Nuggets got 13.1 rebounds per game from Camby and were still outboarded by an average of 45.4 to 44.1 per game.  This year, the Nuggets have taken a Rebound By Committee approach and have drawn even with their opponents through the first 38 games, matching up with an average of 40.6 rebounds per game despite their leader grabbing only 7.8 per game (Nene Hilario).

Biggest Surprise:  Nene Hilario

The 26-year old Brazilian has been a monster this season, putting up career highs across the board.  In the absence of Camby, he has stepped up huge this year, averaging 14.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 33.4 minutes per game.

First Half Grade:  A

Nobody expected this Nugget team to be atop the division after 38 games, ahead of the Utah Jazz and Portland Trail Blazers.  But the addition of Billups, the emergence of Nene, the hilarity of Chris Anderson leading the team in blocked shots, and the overall feel of team unity in the locker room and on the floor has made the Nuggets a threat to finally escape the first round for the first time since Dikembe Mutombo?s 1994 team became the first ever 8-seed to win an opening round series.  

Minnesota

After dealing away Kevin Garnett to the Boston Celtics a year ago and watching him raise the NBA Championship Trophy and later yelp, ?Anything is possible!!!?, maybe even the Wolves began to think that they could make a push for their first playoff berth since 2003-04.  Well, not after the team started 4-23.  However, a change was made at the top as Kevin McHale took over as Head Coach.  Ever since Santa dropped off some magical shoes, a super drill whistle, or something special, he has helped spark this young team to learn how to win.

Team MVP: Al Jefferson

Jefferson continues to grow in the Twin Cities as he leads the team in scoring (22.5), rebounding (10.5), and blocked shots (1.8).  His scoring, assists (1.7), and blocks are all career bests, and he has given the Wolves a consistent threat down low that opposing teams dread facing all night.

Needs Improvement:  Corey Brewer

The much ballyhooed top pick from a year ago tore his ACL after showing some improvement from his rookie season.  His play was still inconsistent at best and still looks like a reach with the seventh pick in 2007.

Best Move: McHale becoming Coach

Now that KG has a title and the Wolves are still searching for their first, McHale decided to sleep in the bed that he has made here in Minnesota.  After a rough start to coaching his crew, McHale has helped the team rally, posting a 7-2 record since Christmas and a perfect 5-0 record in 2009.  Can they keep it up and get back in the playoff hunt?  Probably not since the 7 magical wins have come against New York, Memphis, Golden State, Chicago, Memphis again, Oklahoma City, and Milwaukee.

Biggest Surprise: Kevin Love

It?s easy to look down to Memphis and wonder, ?What If?? the Wolves didn?t trade O.J. Mayo to the Grizzlies, but they really can?t be upset with the youngster they got in return.  If you follow the belief that big men take longer to mature in the league, then you better be ready for Kevin Love to be an All Star in 2011.  Love has posted a solid 8.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks per game with 6 double-doubles in his first NBA half-season, thus far.  His production has increased as the Wolves have been winning, where he is averaging 12.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.2 offensive boards, 1.0 assist, and 0.8 blocks per game in the 5-0 January.

First Half Grade:  B

The Wolves were expected to be in the gutter again this year.  But they are showing signs of life.  Credit McHale for lighting a match under this young but talented squad.

Oklahoma City

In the first NBA season for the Thunder franchise in Oklahoma City, the fans have not gotten all that they bargained for.  Despite some recent signs of life, the Thunder have seemed like they are merely paving the way for hometown Oklahoma Sooner Blake Griffin to add to their young core as next June?s first overall selection.  

Team MVP:  Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant is the future for the Oklahoma City Thunder.  He is the face of this relocation process and will be the team?s focal point for the foreseeable future.  Durant has not surprisingly raised his game this season, averaging career highs in scoring (23.7 ppg), rebounds (6.1), and steals (1.1).  Most impressively has been his ability to apply the three point game to his arsenal.  This season, Durant is knocking down 42% of his three-point attempts, up from 28.8% last year.  That dramatic improvement has also helped his overall FG% increase from 43% to 46.7%.

Needs Improvement:  Age and experience

This team is learning how to play the NBA game still, and it will take another year or two before they can contend in the West.  With three young guns to build around in Durant, Jeff Green, and Russell Westbrook, Blake Griffin could be the fourth piece to make this team one of the league?s best in a couple of seasons.

Best Move: Stealing Nenad Krstic from overseas

In one of the more savvy moves in Thunder/Sonic history, the Thunder have added a high quality center to the team with absolutely no risk.  With Krstic hating life playing overseas, he ventured back to find a home in Oklahoma City.  If he can regain the form he displayed as a near-All Star in New Jersey, the Thunder could be set at the center position for the next couple of years.

Biggest Surprise: Russell Westbrook

Who feels sorry for Darren Collison?  Westbrook started last year as Collison?s backup at UCLA, and all of a sudden, he?s making a case as one of the league?s top rookies.  Westbrook?s selection at number four was not expected, nor were the quality numbers that he?s beginning to pile up midway through his first NBA season.  Westbrook is averaging 14.1 points, 4.9 assists, and 1.5 steals per game ? but has gotten better each month (15.5 ppg and 5.1 apg in December, and 16.2 ppg and 5.4 apg in January).  Look for this improvement to continue.

First Half Grade:  C+

While the wins have been scarce, the optimism is high in OK City.  This team appears to be getting on track and continues to drop close games that could easily be wins by the end of the season.  More important than winning this year for this franchise is to establish an identity, develop a home court presence, and help their young core mature and flourish.  

Portland

There was much talk about this Blazer team entering the season.  How would Greg Oden respond to a year lost?  How will Olympic standout Rudy Fernandez adjust to the NBA?  Would Brandon Roy continue his assent toward elite status in the league?  

Team MVP: Brandon Roy

When he?s on, he?s on.  B-Roy has been incredible this season, leading the team in scoring (22.8 ppg) and assists (5.3).  He continues to elevate his game and build a reputation as one of the game?s best clutch shooters.  

Needs Improvement:  Jerryd Bayless

Wow, no one saw this one coming.  Bayless was hyped for much of the pre-Draft period as heading to Oklahoma City with the fourth pick.  The fourth pick was used on Westbrook, and every Knick fan in the WaMu Theater was chanting deliriously for Bayless with New York on the clock at six.  No dice.  Instead he tumbled down the draft boards to number eleven, where the Pacers happily scooped him up.  But then they sent him packing to Portland in a deal that included Brandon Rush, and the rest is history.  Now Bayless is stuck on the depth chart behind Steve Blake and Sergio Rodriguez at the point and has only played unimpressive ball in 16 games so far this season.  Could he be on the move to the Knicks in a deal that involves David Lee?

Best Move: Bringing Rudy over from Spain

Without a doubt, Rudy Fernandez has been a huge hit here in the States for the Blazers.  Everything they saw in scouting trips and films was broadcasted worldwide when Fernandez led Spain to the Gold Medal Game against USA.  Fernandez has shone in his first season in the NBA, providing a spark as a sixth man with 11 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game off the bench.

Biggest Surprise:  See above paragraph.

Nobody really ever knows how a player is going to translate from one continent to another.  For every Dirk Nowitzki there is a Nikoloz Tskitishvili.  However, Rudy has made the jump over the pond and flourished.  Enough can?t be said about this still-only-23-year-old.  Yikes.

First Half Grade:  A-

With many new faces in the lineup this year, the Blazers have had to adjust once again to their team to find the right chemistry.  They?ve effectively added Greg Oden, Rudy, and Nicolas Batum, who have all had solid impacts on the team, thus far.  Nearing the close of the first half of the season, the Blazers are content to be sitting just a couple games behind Denver in the Northwest.

Utah

The Jazz entered this season knowing that they had to make some moves, or this entire recent run of success could all be coming to an end.  With potential impending free agency for Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur, the Jazz are in serious win-now mode, fearful that their nucleus may be shattered next offseason.  They?ve dealt with some big injuries and have played a lot of shorthanded ball but have maintained an arm?s length behind the Nuggets for first in the division.

Team MVP: Deron Williams

While he got off to a late start this season after battling an injury, Deron is the thing that makes Jerry Sloan?s team go.  After coming back full time to an 8-6 team, D-Will has guided the team to a ho-hum 14-9 record, but all of that was without his main man on the pick and roll, Carlos Boozer.  Williams? amazing ability to create for his teammates has shown brightly this season, as Paul Millsap is thriving with Boozer out ? mostly thanks to his star point guard.

Needs Improvement:  Three point shooting

Once again, this team lacks a threat from downtown.  The Jazz are averaging only 4.3 three-pointers made per game in only 12.9 attempts.  Sadly, they are being led by sniper Kyle Korver (1.1), who is currently sharing the team lead with starting center Mehmet Okur.  It?s never a good sign when you team is being led in three-pointers made by your center.

Best Move: Move C.J. Miles into starting lineup full-time

Notice how I didn?t say, ?Move AK47 to the sixth man role.?  It?s about time for C.J. Miles to be starting for this squad.  After filling in as a spot-starter for parts of the past two seasons, Sloan has stuck with Miles and has been rewarded.  Miles is averaging career highs in scoring (9.7 ppg), rebounds (2.2), assists (1.7), three-point shooting (39.3%), free throw shooting (83%), and minutes (22.9) per game.

Biggest Surprise: Paul Millsap

I like to call this The Deron Williams Effect.  Sure, Carlos Boozer is sweet.  But not that sweet.  Before D-Will was drafted, Boozer averaged a career best 17.8 points per game in 2004-05 in his first year with the Jazz.  Since D-Will emerged as a top pick, Boozer hasn?t posted lower than 20.9 for a season. Now that Boozer is out, Millsap has stepped in nicely to fill the void.  Millsap is slaughtering career highs in scoring (15.3 ppg), rebounds (9.5), and blocks (1.2) ? all up from 8.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg, and 0.9 bpg.  While really only the spike in scoring is a product of TDWE, Millsap should be extra nice to D-Will this year as he continues to boast gaudy numbers at the absolute perfect time - his contract year.

First Half Grade:  B-

While the Jazz have maintained a decent record despite key absences from the lineup, there was much pressure on them this season to build upon last season?s 54-28 record and Northwest Division title. With potential departures looming this offseason, they had better get everyone back, healthy, and on the same page to fight for a chance to go deep this postseason.

Feel free to contact Jason M. Williams with your thoughts. He can be reached at Jason.Williams@RealGM.com for comments or questions.