The 2026 NBA Playoffs promised a large open championship race for a league that has seen seven distinctive champions during the last seven seasons. The playoffs are already delivering within the first-round, and so they’re solely going to get higher because the march in direction of the NBA Finals continues.
The beginning of the primary spherical has already positioned three collection as all-out battles with the street crew stealing a recreation. The Atlanta Hawks evened issues up in opposition to the New York Knicks in Sport 2 with an unimaginable fourth quarter rally led by C.J. McCollum. The Minnesota Timberwolves tied the collection vs. the Denver Nuggets in what’s shaping as much as be essentially the most bodily conflict of the primary spherical. The No. 8 seed Orlando Magic knocked off the No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons in Sport 1 to instantly increase the stakes within the East. The Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers collection is shaping as much as be aggressive too regardless of main accidents on either side.
With the primary spherical in full swing, right here’s one overreaction from each collection up to now. Take a look at our full rankings for each crew within the NBA Playoffs, and a checklist of the top-50 gamers within the postseason, for extra protection.
The Magic actually have an opportunity to upset the Pistons
Sure, the Magic had been my preseason NBA Finals decide, and sure, I used to be deeply ashamed of all of it yr. Orlando failed to satisfy expectations for a wide range of causes this season, however the massive ones had been: a) accidents, b) poor teaching, and c) a failure to maximise the match between Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. It appeared just like the Magic wouldn’t even make the playoffs after they acquired drilled by the Philadelphia 76ers of their play-in opener, however they put up their finest efficiency of the season within the subsequent play-in recreation in opposition to the Charlotte Hornets to earn the No. 8 seed, then topped it with a superb Sport 1 to knock off the closely favored Pistons.
I actually appreciated the way in which the matchups work out for the Magic on this collection now that they’re lastly wholesome. The Pistons are recognized for his or her physicality, however they’ll’t bully Orlando. It was good to see Banchero and Wagner get their high-low recreation going. Wagner appeared lethal on drives to the rim, and Banchero was doing a very good job of not settling for jumpers, the place his contact is poor. Jalen Suggs is basically some of the impactful function gamers within the league, and he appeared nice in disrupting the Pistons’ perimeter offense. Wendell Carter Jr. had a masterful recreation switching defensively to disclaim Detroit’s drives whereas additionally spacing the ground on offense.
Detroit ought to roar again to type in Sport 2. The Pistons could make some changes to power Banchero into his worst habits, and discover extra methods to unlock Duren offensively. I’ve all the time been just a little skeptical of JB Bickerstaff within the playoffs, although, and the expertise hole doesn’t really feel like a typical No. 1 vs. No. 8 collection right here. Questions on Detroit’s halfcourt offense continued all season, and they need to be louder than ever proper now. I doubt Sport 1 shall be Orlando’s solely victory on this collection. The Pistons will reply, however the Magic actually have an opportunity to advance.
The Celtics are going to roll over the Sixers
Boston confirmed why they’re instantly the favorites to succeed in the NBA Finals out of the East. The Celtics rocked the 76ers from the opening quarter in Sport 1 in a show that confirmed their full would possibly. Jayson Tatum appeared unbelievable within the first quarter, Jaylen Brown took over within the third, and the protection, three-point taking pictures, and rebounding had been all buzzing at elite ranges. Tatum’s comeback from a torn Achilles suffered 11 months in the past has been so spectacular, and someway it feels just like the Celtics are deeper than ever even after dropping Jrue Vacation and Kristaps Porzingis within the offseason. This group is the gold commonplace within the recreation, from the entrance workplace to the teaching to the gamers. The Celtics look scary proper now.
The James Harden commerce appears to be like genius for the Cavs
The concept of buying and selling for James Harden to bolster a playoff run is objectively type of hilarious on its face, however it certain feels prefer it’s figuring out nicely for the Cavs. Darius Garland was all the time going to get picked on within the playoffs for his diminutive body, and it simply didn’t really feel like Cleveland may belief him to remain wholesome by way of the whole postseason. Swapping out Garland for James Harden was a captivating transfer that shortened the Cavs’ timeline but additionally gave them the very best likelihood to win proper now. Sure, Harden has an epic checklist of playoff failures in his profession, however he’s nonetheless rattling good at age-36, and his arrival has freed up Donovan Mitchell’s workload whereas maximizing Jarrett Allen’s offensive ceiling within the pick-and-roll. With rumors swirling that Mitchell could possibly be on the commerce block if he turns down an offseason extension, the Cavs needed to go all-out to attempt to make the NBA Finals this season, and the Harden commerce actually did appear to enhance their odds. I see this crew successful a couple of playoff collection this yr, and this opener in opposition to the Raptors shouldn’t be too suspenseful.
Karl-Anthony Cities must be sufficient for Knicks to advance
This playoff run feels destined to change into a referendum on each key piece for the Knicks, perhaps no yet one more so than Karl-Anthony Cities. KAT badly wants a signature playoff run each for New York’s convention championship possibilities and his personal fame, and the Hawks’ matchup felt prefer it must be a positive begin for him. Sport 1 confirmed simply how a lot greater, stronger, and extra expert Cities is than the Atlanta entrance court docket. In Sport 2, Atlanta utterly took Cities out of the sport within the fourth quarter, limiting him to zero factors and solely two shot makes an attempt. Cities must keep away from falling into his typical traps — silly fouls, dangerous protection, inexplicable moments the place he journeys for no purpose — which is less complicated stated than finished. It does really feel like his chemistry with Jalen Brunson hit one other degree late within the season, and he ought to be capable of annihilate Atlanta if each are locked in. It’s time for KAT to remind everybody that he’s the most effective bigs within the league and a former No. 1 total draft decide. Atlanta can’t cease him, and he has no excuses the remainder of this collection.
The Thunder won’t be challenged by the Suns
I actually respect the Suns’ success as a result of I assumed they’d be horrible and trapped in everlasting hell with all their draft picks out the door and the ghost Bradley Beal as an anchor on the cap sheet. Phoenix is a enjoyable, gritty crew with a superb first-year head coach in Jordan Ott. There are ranges to this, although, and the Thunder are a number of commonplace deviations higher than the Suns. OKC was the large winner of the ultimate seeding, as a result of they get to observe the Nuggets and Spurs duke it out on the opposite facet of the bracket. I don’t count on the Thunder to be examined till the West Finals.
Playoff Wemby is a legend within the making
Victor Wembanyama’s playoff debut was spectacular, scoring 21 factors within the first half to kickstart a rout of the Path Blazers. I in contrast Wemby to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — the third finest participant in NBA historical past for my cash — a yr earlier than he entered the NBA Draft, and I nonetheless don’t’ remorse it. He’s already within the dialog for the very best participant on this planet at age-22. If he stays wholesome, it’s going to really feel like an upset he’s not a top-10 participant of all-time when it’s all stated and finished. Wembanyama’s ascent can’t be stopped, and the Spurs have put a ok crew round him to make something potential this yr. Portland would be the first crew to really feel one thing many Western Convention adversaries will expertise over the last decade: Wembanyama is solely an issue with out a answer, and your crew has no likelihood if he’s on the opposite facet.
Rudy Gobert will get his flowers vs. the Nuggets
Rudy Gobert must be essentially the most maligned nice participant of his era. There are a thousand podcast clips through the years of former gamers disrespecting his recreation. In the meantime, all Gobert does is proceed to lockdown the paint defensively all by himself, and he proved it once more in Sport 2 in opposition to the Nuggets. Gobert solely scored two factors, however his affect was was a lot better when it got here to limiting the Nikola Jokic/Jamal Murray two-man recreation. Gobert can trouble Jokic’s 1-on-1 scoring, and he can hedge or swap out on Murray when he must. He additionally retains himself in nice form to proceed combating deep into video games. I count on the Nuggets to nonetheless win this collection even after giving up a house recreation in Sport 2, however it gained’t be straightforward with an all-time nice defensive heart making life depressing for an elite offense.
Ime Udoka shall be on the recent seat if the Rockets lose to the Lakers
Ime Udoka inherited a 22-win crew when he was employed as head coach of the Rockets, and instantly led them to 41 wins in his first season after which 52 wins in back-to-back seasons after that. Udoka is a wonderful defensive coach, and he’s working at an obstacle proper now with out Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams plus an sudden harm to Kevin Durant in Sport 1. The Rockets’ largest issues are extra personnel associated than teaching, however Udoka may nonetheless face some warmth if Houston truly will get eradicated to a Lakers crew with out Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves. It’s laborious to consider the Rockets had a top-10 offense this season after watching their pathetic show — a 106.5 offensive score — in Sport 1. Durant’s absence clearly contributed quite a bit to that, however it simply looks like nothing comes straightforward for this crew. I believe firing Udoka can be a mistake even when Houston loses, however I’d wager we get some sizzling seat rumors this summer time as Houston ponders the way to take the subsequent step.
