Welcome back to FTN Fantasy’s NBA Power Rankings!
While it wasn’t the most thrilling game, the Milwaukee Bucks secured the second annual NBA Cup Championship in Vegas on Tuesday night, defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 97-81. The game’s key storyline was OKC’s struggles from beyond the arc, shooting just 5-of-32 from 3-point range. While off nights happen, this one felt particularly concerning, given that poor shooting from deep ultimately cost the Thunder a shot at the title last season. The Bucks deserve credit for their defense, but OKC’s inability to convert on open looks was the bigger issue. The main takeaway here is that the Thunder’s 3-point shooting needs to improve if they want to contend.
In this week’s update, I’ll be highlighting the top contenders in the league while focusing on the weaknesses that could prevent them from winning an NBA title. While every team has flaws, spotting them early in the season is crucial – especially as we approach the trade deadline, where teams will look to shore up their rosters.
Every Monday, we bring you an up-to-the-minute snapshot of the league with our exclusive power rankings, powered by the FTN NBA Betting Model. These rankings adjust for recent results, injuries and news, giving you a dynamic view of the NBA’s shifting landscape. We also track which teams are trending up – and which are trending down.
But this isn’t just about rankings – it’s about giving you the edge. Whether you’re betting on the NBA or simply keeping tabs on your favorite team’s performance, our rankings provide key insights to help you make smarter decisions. Curious to see how we evaluate a specific matchup? Our NBA Betting Model is constantly updated with the latest data, and we highlight the best value picks in our NBA Bet Tracker.
Want to stay ahead of the curve this season? Don’t miss our special offer – use promo code POWER to save 10% on a subscription to FTN Fantasy. Dive deeper into the NBA with us!
Key Takeaways
The Thunder Need More 3-Point Shooting
The Oklahoma City Thunder are currently the best team in the Western Conference, with our model rating them 0.9 points better than the second-place Mavericks. If they stay healthy and make no roster changes for the rest of the season, they’d be the favorites to win the West. But even the best teams have weaknesses, and for the Thunder, it’s their 3-point shooting.
Last postseason, the Mavericks exploited a flaw in OKC’s offense by sagging off Josh Giddey and forcing the Thunder’s playmakers into tough situations. In response, the Thunder traded for Alex Caruso, hoping his 3-point shooting would provide some much-needed spacing. However, Caruso, a career 37% shooter from deep, is hitting just 27% of his 3-pointers this season. As a team, the Thunder are ranked 18th in 3-point percentage. This issue reared its head in the NBA Cup Final against the Bucks, where the Thunder’s inability to hit shots from beyond the arc was evident. Heading into the playoffs, improving its 3-point shooting will be crucial for OKC’s title hopes.
Why do the Nuggets Struggle Versus Bad Teams?
The Denver Nuggets, currently ranked fifth in our model, boast the best player in the NBA in Nikola Jokic. But despite having the reigning and three-time MVP, the Nuggets continue to struggle against subpar teams. Their loss to Portland and a close win over the Pelicans (by just one possession) highlights a concerning trend: the Nuggets’ reliance on Jokic is too heavy.
In their loss to Portland, Jokic scored 34 points on just five missed shots, yet the team still fell short. Right now, the Nuggets are a one-man show. If Jokic doesn’t deliver a 40-point night, they are vulnerable to bad losses. Our player model ranks just four Nuggets players in the top 160, and Jamal Murray, the only other player in the top 50 (49th), is having his least efficient season since his rookie year.
For the Nuggets to be true contenders, more players need to step up. A potential trade target could be Zach LaVine, who might be a good fit to help shoulder the load and take some pressure off Jokic.
The Suns Better Stay Healthy, Or Else
When Kevin Durant and Devin Booker are both healthy, the Phoenix Suns are a top-10 team in the league. We had them ranked sixth going into the season and eighth last week. However, with Booker now sidelined due to injury, they’ve slipped out of the top half of the rankings, and their performance is proving our model correct.
Without Booker, the Suns lost to Detroit by eight points, and with a tough week ahead, including matchups against the Nuggets (twice), Warriors and Grizzlies, Phoenix risks falling further in the standings. If Booker’s absence lingers, the Suns will have a hard time staying in the upper echelon of the league.
Trouble Brewing in Minnesota
Timberwolves fans are not happy right now.
While the issues aren’t entirely on Julius Randle, the Timberwolves are struggling to generate consistent offensive production outside of him and Anthony Edwards. Donte DiVincenzo hasn’t lived up to expectations, and Naz Reid seems to have taken a step back this season.
The defense, while still solid overall, has shown lapses at inopportune times, particularly from Randle and others. Meanwhile, Rob Dillingham, whom the team traded up to select in the draft, hasn’t contributed as hoped.
Despite being ranked in the top 10 in our system, the Timberwolves are facing more questions than answers. Unless they can figure out their offensive and defensive issues, they could find themselves in a fight for the play-in tournament rather than a secure playoff spot.
Check out some more interesting NBA Information on ftnfantasy.com