The regular season and the play-in games are both in the rearview mirror, which means we’re officially in the final stretch of the 2025-26 season. Several teams in each conference have separated themselves as legitimate contenders for an NBA title, but none of them are perfect.
Now, it’s time to dive into the West and see where the flaws lie. With the defending champs, the Oklahoma City Thunder, at the top of the Western Conference, the San Antonio Spurs earn the second seed. Followed by the red-hot Denver Nuggets catapulting into the third seed.
Here’s a look at a potential weakness for each of the contending teams that could prevent them from winning the championship as we go through postseason play.
A Weakness For Every NBA Title Contender
Western Conference Contenders
No. 1 Seed: Oklahoma City Thunder (64–18)
Potential weakness: Three-point shooting
It’s difficult to find a legit weakness for the defending champs, especially defensively, where they once again had the top defensive rating (106.5) in the league. However, an area to examine is perimeter shooting.
The Thunder were ninth in the league in three-point percentage at 36.5%. They were also 12th in three-point attempts at 37.9 per game. Not overly concerning when looking at the numbers. However, when you take a deeper look, dating back to last postseason, Oklahoma City struggled shooting from the perimeter, shooting 33.8% from the three-point line, ranking 13th out of 16 playoff teams. The inconsistencies are prevalent due to the personnel, which will be something to monitor.
Oklahoma City is still the favorite to come out of the Western Conference. Still, the field is tougher this go around, and some teams could make them uncomfortable and exploit that potential flaw, which could ultimately prevent them from repeating. With external additions at the trade deadline to boost that area + internal improvements, the Thunder should be better equipped this postseason.
No. 2 Seed: San Antonio Spurs (62–20)
Potential weakness: Inexperience
Nobody predicted the Spurs would win 60+ games, as they arrived earlier than anyone expected. It’s been a treat to watch San Antonio blossom into legitimate contenders this rapidly. This young core is led by a once-in-a-lifetime player, Victor Wembanyama, who has been a must-see. The lone aspect that the Spurs have is inexperience, which might be their downfall this postseason.
Only De’Aaron Fox, Harrison Barnes, and Luke Kornet have ever played in the postseason. Barnes won a title with the Warriors in 2015 and has 71 career postseason games under his belt. In contrast, Backup center Luke Kornet has played in 43 career playoff games, as a reserve, and won a title with the Boston Celtics in 2024. Fox has only seven games of postseason experience in his career, which came in a lone series with the Kings in 2023.
It will be intriguing to see how Wembanyama handles his first taste of postseason play. The same applies to Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Julian Champagnie, and Carter Bryant. The intensity and physicality go to a whole other level in the playoffs, and young, inexperienced teams usually go through their lumps. But if there’s a team that can rewrite history and defy the odds, it’s this year’s Spurs.
No. 3 Seed: Denver Nuggets (54-28)
Potential weakness: Defense
Denver has gotten healthy and is peaking at the perfect time, having won 12 in a row, heading into the postseason. Led by Nikola Jokic putting together another historical offensive season as the best offensive engine in the league and Jamal Murray having a career year in points (25.4), assists (7.1), rebounds (4.4), from the floor (48.3%), and from the three-point line (43.5%).
Despite key contributors missing significant time: Aaron Gordon missed 46 games, Christian Braun missed 38 games, Cameron Johnson and Peyton Watson missed 28 games, and Nikola Jokic missed 17 games. The Nuggets were the most potent offense in the league, ranking first in offensive rating (120.7), points per game (122.1), three-point percentage (39.6%), and second in field goal percentage (49.6%).
On the flip side, Denver has struggled defensively, ranking 21st in defensive rating (116.0) and points allowed (116.9). Not good.
If the Nuggets can stay healthy and put it all together, it would not be shocking if Denver not only found themselves in the Finals but also winning a second championship in four seasons. The path to that happening, given its potential route, is very difficult.
Eastern Conference Contenders
No. 2 Seed: Boston Celtics (56–26)
Potential weakness: Three-Point Dependency
In what many thought would be a transition year for Boston, after the devastating injury to Jayson Tatum, plus the departures of Al Hortford, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Luke Kornet. This is without a doubt Joe Mazzulla’s best coaching job as the Celtics haven’t missed a beat.
This also accounts for Jaylen Brown, who had a career year in points (28.7), assists (6.9), rebounds (5.1), free-throw percentage (79.5%), and attempts (7.5) per game.
As a unit, the Celtics had the second-best offensive rating (120.0) and made 15.5 three-pointers per game, which puts Boston third, only behind the Charlotte Hornets and Golden State Warriors.
The Celtics are attempting the fourth-most three-pointers per game (42.1), converting at a 36.7% clip, which ranks eighth in the league.
To nitpick the Celtics, outside of the health of Tatum and how he holds up. Being three-point reliant is a double-edged sword for Boston. Mazulla has a live-or-die-by-the-three philosophy, which can make the offense stagnant and inefficient due to poor shot selection and a reliance on three-point shots that can be inconsistent, but this philosophy has already given them a championship a couple of years ago.
No. 3 Seed: New York Knicks (53-29)
Potential weakness: Lack of Depth
The New York Knicks are at the bottom of the NBA in bench points, averaging only 31.6 per game, which ranks 28th in the league, putting heavy pressure on the starters to produce.
Five Knicks players averaged 30-plus minutes a game, led by Jalen Brunson at 35 minutes per game. Add the usage rate to the heavy minutes, and it’s a recipe for fatigue.
The Brunson-Bridges-Hart-Anunoby-Towns lineup shoulders a great deal of responsibility, as the Knicks rank in the top 10 in both offensive rating (4th at 118.7) and defensive rating (7th at 112.3).
Who knows how the minutes and production of Mitchell Robinson, Miles McBride, Jose Alvardo, Jordan Clarkson, or Landry Shamet will look in the postseason, but it would do wonders if one or a couple of those guys provide a big spark
Brunson can’t do it all himself throughout the playoffs, and having someone who could be consistently relied on will be massive for New York.
Main Image: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
