Power Rankings: What Americas teams head into Window 5 in the best shape?

MIAMI (United States) – Window 5 of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Americas Qualifiers starts this Thursday, and we once again bring you the region’s power rankings.

To gauge the movement in the standings, we used for reference September’s 2022 FIBA AmeriCup and how they’re looking as they head into these upcoming games.

Let’s take a look at how each team is faring in their quest for one of the seven spots in next year’s tournament to be played in Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.

#1. USA   (-)

Record: 7-1 (1° Group F)
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 1°

The reigning Olympic champions won bronze at AmeriCup with a roster different than the one they’d been fielding during the Americas Qualifiers, where they’re currently on a six-game winning streak. For this window they’ll welcome back some of their stalwarts like Langston Galloway, DaQuan Jeffries and David Stockton, and will be adding others with NBA experience like Rodney Hood, Alize Johnson, Jake Layman and Henry Sims, transforming them into a team with plenty of firepower and depth to face Brazil and Colombia at home.

#2. Canada   (+5)

Record: 8-0 (1° Group E)
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 15°

The North Americans are the only undefeated team left and sit just one win away from reaching their objective. After finishing in fourth place at the AmeriCup, they’ll bring a similar team to the one that competed in Brazil, with the return of Trae Bell-Haynes, Jahvon Blair, Lloyd Pandi and Thomas Kennedy, plus the addition of Phil and Thomas Scrubb, Kassius Robertson and Melvin Ejim. Playing at home is just another factor playing in their favor.

#3. Argentina   (-)

Record: 6-2 (3° Group E)
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 4°

Argentina just lifted the trophy at AmeriCup and while they won’t have most of their stars during this window, they’ll field six players from the championship-winning squad this summer. They will rely upon experienced veterans like Nicolas Brussino, Marcos Delía and Juan Pablo Vaulet as they face a pair of tough road contests against Dominican Republic and Bahamas.

#4. Venezuela   (+6)

Record: 7-1 (2° Group E)
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 17°

Venezuela had a brand-new team at AmeriCup and were eliminated in the quarterfinals but will now welcome back most of their regulars – a squad that has only lost once in these Qualifiers. That should make them more competitive as they prepare to match up against Canada and Dominican Republic, both on the road.

#5. Brazil   (-3)

Record: 5-3 (2° Group F)
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 14°

Gustavo Conti’s guys will try to maintain their momentum from AmeriCup, where despite not being able to lift the trophy at home, they had a very positive showing. This time they will lean on Yago Santos, Marcelinho Huertas, Vitor Benite and the return of Bruno Caboclo, turning them into a dangerous opponent for anyone despite having lost three games in a row. Now they’ll visit Team USA and Mexico, two games of the utmost importance.

#6. Mexico   (-1)

Record: 5-3 (3° Group F)
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 31°

What Mexico found with head coach Omar Quintero is steadiness. At AmeriCup, fielding a young roster, they managed to defeat the United States and advance to the quarterfinals. And during the Qualifiers, they’ve managed to remain among the top seven teams. Now they have crucial games at home against Uruguay and Brazil and will be able to field a roster with most of their stars like Paul Stoll, Gabriel Girón, Orlando Méndez, Fabián Jaimes, Yahir Bonilla and Jorge Gutiérrez.

#7. Puerto Rico   (-3)

Record: 4-4 (5° Group F)
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 22°

The boricuas have been up and down at the Qualifiers but showed improvement during AmeriCup, where they lost by a point to Team USA in the quarterfinals. With just two windows left, the time has come for them to match their history and bring their firepower at the continental level. Puerto Rico is currently outside of the qualifying zone and must take advantage of the fact that they play Colombia and Uruguay at home if they want to keep their hopes alive.

#8. Dominican Republic   (-2)

Record: 5-3 (4° Group E)
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 26°

The loss at the hands of Venezuela in the last window put them in a position where they need to react quickly. That’s why they hired head coach Nestor García, a clear attempt at righting the ship and generating a positive change. Their two games will be at home and against direct rivals, first against Argentina and then the rubber match against Venezuela, so they must bring their A game. The Dominicans need some victories or risk getting into a dangerous situation.

#9. Uruguay   (-1)

Record: 5-3 (4° Group F)
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 45°

Their performance at AmeriCup didn’t leave a good taste in their mouths as they failed to advance out of the Group Stage. However, they will welcome back their two stars, Jayson Granger and Bruno Fitipaldo, who will surely give them a lift on the offensive side of the ball. Uruguay is currently mid-table and with little margin for error, so despite going on the road to Mexico and Puerto Rico, they must come back with at least one win.

#10. Colombia   (-1)

Record: 3-5 (6° Group F)
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 52°

The Colombians’ recent improvements have been evident, to the point that they jumped 13 spots in the FIBA Rankings. However, to keep their chances alive they need to earn some more wins. In Window 5 they’ll face a pair of tough opponents in Puerto Rico and the United States, but after defeating Brazil in the First Round, they now believe they’re capable of upsetting anyone.

#11. Bahamas  (-)

Record: 2-6 (6° Group E)
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 60°

The Caribbean nation, with just two wins, was already in a very precarious position and now won’t have their NBA stars. The positive factor is that they’ll play in front of their home crowd and that will give them plenty of motivation. First, they’ll have to handle Panama before trying to shock Argentina.

#12. Panama   (-)

Record: 2-6 (5° Group E)
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 51°

Panama has been trying to integrate younger players during recent windows and the AmeriCup. That remains their main objective, but some of their veterans will also return for these matchups. They know that a win against Bahamas is possible and if they were to accomplish it, they could avoid finishing in last place.

FIBA