Analysis 2026 First Round Opponent Watch

[Ariel]

OK, since we're at it, this would be what I'd hope for:
1) Lakers will beat a tanking Utah so it'll be up to the Spurs to beat Denver and send them to OKC's side
2) I'd like for Portland to beat Phoenix in the first play-in game so that they are the first round opponent. Then have Phoenix beat whoever and get the 8th seed to make OKC sweat. Phoenix / Denver would be a pretty tough road to the conference finals for OKC.

 

[STAT88]

OK, since we're at it, this would be what I'd hope for:
1) Lakers will beat a tanking Utah so it'll be up to the Spurs to beat Denver and send them to OKC's side
2) I'd like for Portland to beat Phoenix in the first play-in game so that they are the first round opponent. Then have Phoenix beat whoever and get the 8th seed to make OKC sweat. Phoenix / Denver would be a pretty tough road to the conference finals for OKC.

This is my preferred scenario too

 

[spurraider21]

If Portland beats the Kings tomorrow night, then we play the winner of POR v. PHX next week. Neither are easy opponents for a first round matchup, but definitely preferable to the Clippers.

To me, in order of those 3 I’d want to play, it’s Portland, Clippers, Suns

Suns haven’t been great lately but Booker is battle tested and Brooks has been a matchup issue for us.

Clippers are scary due to nephew and a solid starting 5 but have zero depth

Portland has a pretty intriguing roster with nice players but largely lack experience and are play like it. I want Portland.

 

[100%Duncan]

I want Portland but none of the 3 really scare me tbh.

 

[scott]

To me, in order of those 3 I’d want to play, it’s Portland, Clippers, Suns

Suns haven’t been great lately but Booker is battle tested and Brooks has been a matchup issue for us.

Clippers are scary due to nephew and a solid starting 5 but have zero depth

Portland has a pretty intriguing roster with nice players but largely lack experience and are play like it. I want Portland.

Keeping guys like Brooks, Sengun, Dort, etc away from us as long as possible is pretty key, IMO. Not because they are good but because they are dirty AF

 

[spursistan]

To think we were worried about the Clippers ..They clearly got worse after those trades especially on D.

 

[STAT88]

have been saying for bout 3 years now Garland is fools gold. Even more so when you pair him in a midget backcourt like the Cavs did for last 3 years.

 

[spurraider21]

To think we were worried about the Clippers ..They clearly got worse after those trades especially on D.

Their starting 5 if healthy is fairly solid not spectacular but their bench is pretty ass.

It’s mainly the nephew factor where you don’t necessarily love facing that in round 1

 

[O_V]

Can Kawhi carry a team through 16 wins in the postseason? Maybe not. But he can damn sure do four.

Blazers, Suns, Clippers in that order for me.

 

[ambchang]

I don’t get the Kawhi fear. I don’t see him as anything better than wemby and the spurs definitely have better 2-8 than the clippers.

 

[spurraider21]

I don’t get the Kawhi fear. I don’t see him as anything better than wemby and the spurs definitely have better 2-8 than the clippers.

He’s done it before

 

[ambchang]

He’s done it before

Lots of players did. Jrue holiday won a title. Booker went to the finals. So now what? We fear them all?

 

[scott]

Team “DGAF, We’ll Beat Them All” here

 

[spurraider21]

Team “DGAF, We’ll Beat Them All” here

Sure but let’s start on Sunday

 

[O_V]

I don’t get the Kawhi fear. I don’t see him as anything better than wemby and the spurs definitely have better 2-8 than the clippers.

So he's capable of suddenly being the best player in the world. Not sure why you wouldn't respect that in the first round. Literally nobody on the other two teams with that capability.

 

[O_V]

Lots of players did. Jrue holiday won a title. Booker went to the finals. So now what? We fear them all?

If you're going to compare those two guys with Kawhi, don't be expected to be taken seriously.

 

[scott]

Maybe I’m the only one… but I’m kind of interested in hearing how loud Playoff Kawhi Boos can get

 

[gilmor2002]

1/10

Cos you haven't seen peak Kawhi played so far . Peak Kawhi is better than Manu and Parker

 

[LeBowen]

Cos you haven't seen peak Kawhi played so far . Peak Kawhi is better than Manu and Parker

Peak and nephew don't go into the same sentence in 2026.

 

[gilmor2002]

Peak and nephew don't go into the same sentence in 2026.

Wanna bet?

 

[Quentin_Compson]

Wanna bet?

I mean, he had one amazing game last season in the playoffs against the Nuggets - and afterwards, he was fine, but certainly not transcendent. If the Spurs lose to the Clippers in these Playoffs, it will be on them more so than on Kawhi going all 2019 again.

 

[ambchang]

So he's capable of suddenly being the best player in the world. Not sure why you wouldn't respect that in the first round. Literally nobody on the other two teams with that capability.

And the clippers have about the same record as them despite Kawhi being healthy the entire year. Wonder why.

If you're going to compare those two guys with Kawhi, don't be expected to be taken seriously.

Why not? You act like Kawhi is some God level player. Won two finals Andre iguodala style the first time, and injury luck the second. It’s like if Giannis got injured and Jrue holiday had to play on toe bum knees, then having booker win the finals mvp.

If you didn’t know the value of Jrue holiday and how he was instrumental to two titles, don’t be expected to be taken seriously.

 

[wemvp]

Just show up to beat the Nuggets. Hopefully the tanking Jazz do their thing and lose which opens up fantastic matchups for the Spurs in round 2 while having a potential bad matchup for OKC in round 2.

Round 1 Portland would be the better matchup for the Spurs, although none of the teams down there are bad matchups at all. Portland just doesn't have the fire power or defense to keep up if the Spurs show up for the playoffs

 

[wEmBoY]

Just show up to beat the Nuggets. Hopefully the tanking Jazz do their thing and lose which opens up fantastic matchups for the Spurs in round 2 while having a potential bad matchup for OKC in round 2.

Round 1 Portland would be the better matchup for the Spurs, although none of the teams down there are bad matchups at all. Portland just doesn't have the fire power or defense to keep up if the Spurs show up for the playoffs

Suns gave the spurs trouble.

 

[wemvp]

Suns gave the spurs trouble.

Not really. The 2 wins they had were in November and Wemby/Castle didn't play one while Fox/Harper didnt play the first one. Spurs have leveled up quite a bit since then.

It would be a more difficult match than the Blazers but not a bad one. That should be Spurs in 5 or 6