NBA Official 2026 NBA Playoffs Thread

[Spurminator]

My predictions are based on Playoff inexperience and my feeling that the NBA Gods want to see the last two Champions match up for the Title. I also believe strongly in the power of the reverse jinx.

East

Play in - Hornets vs Heat - Heat
7 vs 8 - Magic vs 76ers - Magic
76ers vs Heat - Heat

Pistons vs Heat - Pistons in 5
Celtics vs Magic - Celtics in 5
Knicks vs Hawks - Knicks in 6
Cavaliers vs Raptors - Cavaliers in 6

Pistons vs Cavaliers - Cavs in 7
Celtics vs Knicks - Celtics in 6

Cavs vs Celtics - Celtics in 5


West

Play in - Clippers vs Warriors - Clippers
Blazers vs Suns - Suns
Suns vs Clippers - Clippers

Thunder vs Clippers - Thunder in 4
Spurs vs Suns - Spurs in 5
Nuggets vs Wolves - Nuggets in 7
Lakers vs Rockets - Rockets in 5

Thunder vs Rockets - Thunder in 4
Spurs vs Nuggets - Spurs in 7

Thunder vs Spurs - Thunder in 6

Thunder vs Celtics - Thunder in 6

 

[Russ]

Check out Windhorst at 3:30. I agree.

 

[spurraider21]

My predictions are based on Playoff inexperience and my feeling that the NBA Gods want to see the last two Champions match up for the Title. I also believe strongly in the power of the reverse jinx.

East

Play in - Hornets vs Heat - Heat
7 vs 8 - Magic vs 76ers - Magic
76ers vs Heat - Heat

Pistons vs Heat - Pistons in 5
Celtics vs Magic - Celtics in 5
Knicks vs Hawks - Knicks in 6
Cavaliers vs Raptors - Cavaliers in 6

Pistons vs Cavaliers - Cavs in 7
Celtics vs Knicks - Celtics in 6

Cavs vs Celtics - Celtics in 5


West

Play in - Clippers vs Warriors - Clippers
Blazers vs Suns - Suns
Suns vs Clippers - Clippers

Thunder vs Clippers - Thunder in 4
Spurs vs Blazers - Spurs in 4
Nuggets vs Wolves - Nuggets in 7
Lakers vs Rockets - Rockets in 5

Thunder vs Rockets - Thunder in 4
Spurs vs Nuggets - Spurs in 7

Thunder vs Spurs - Thunder in 6

Thunder vs Celtics - Thunder in 6

i think you have Blazers beating Suns, not other way around

 

[Spurminator]

i think you have Blazers beating Suns, not other way around

You're right, fixed it. I hate the play-in...

 

[spursistan]

Check out Windhorst at 3:30. I agree.

One of the most horrendous strategic decision in recent basketball memory. At worst, Wemby should have sat on Friday and played this game. Unbelievable miscalculation.

 

[NASpurs]

Only thing that bothers me is Fox.

Denver literally has no interior defense and this guy, the fastest guy in the league, bails them out with jumpers.

If we play them, Fox and Wemby should run the pick and roll to death. I think that should be our bread and butter.

 

[LeBowen]

Only thing that bothers me is Fox.

Denver literally has no interior defense and this guy, the fastest guy in the league, bails them out with jumpers.

If we play them, Fox and Wemby should run the pick and roll to death. I think that should be our bread and butter.

*Bails them out with 3s.
His mid-range is elite, but he's got the take a step back to shoot the 3 disease.
I just posted it in his thread, his mid-range splits are elite on high volume as are his corner 3s, but everything else behind the 3pt line is garbage.

 

[ace3g]

Hope the league drug tests him

https://twitter.com/x/status/2043768945266831752

 

[Mugen]

hopefully we get a Dylan update soon

 

[Spurminator]

Check out Windhorst at 3:30. I agree.

Well I can't believe I'm saying this, but now listen to Stephen A. Smith right after that.

I don't really know what you guys expected, if you want your young team going into the Playoffs feeling like they can beat anybody, you don't also send a message that the Denver game is super duper important because you don't want to face them in Round 2.

I'm glad Wemby rested and I'm glad the Spurs aren't putting bracket strategy in their young, confident players' heads. And sure, I wish we'd still won the game but if anyone in that room is focused on the round 2 matchup their head is in the wrong place anyway.

 

[BatManu20]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2043747877361528843

 

[ace3g]

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[scott]

My predictions are based solely on what I want to happen to maximize my own personal level of enjoyment and entertainment:

East Play-in

Sixers over Magic
Hornets over Heat
--
Hornets over Magic

Eastern Conference First Round

(1) Pistons over (8) Hornets in 6
(2) Celtics over (7) Sixers in 6
(6) Hawks over (6) Knicks in 6
(4) Cavs over (5) Raptors in 6


Easter Conference Semifinals

(1) Pistons over (4) Cavs in 6
(2) Celtics over (6) Hawks in 5

Easter Conference Finals

(1) Pistons over (2) Celtics in 6

--

West Play-in

Blazes over Suns
Clippers over Warriors
--
Clippers over Suns

Western Conference First Round


(1) Thunder over (8) Clippers in 5
(2) Spurs over (7) Blazers in 4
(3) Nuggets over (6) Wolves in 7
(5) Rockets over (4) Lakers in 6

Western Conference Semifinals

(1) Thunder over (5) Rockets in 5
(2) Spurs over (3) Nuggets in 7 (and this goes down as one of the greatest series ever)

Western Conference Finals

(2) Spurs over (1) Thunder in 5


Finals


(2) Spurs over (1) Pistons in 5

Finals MVP: Victor Wembanyama (Fox averages 23.6ppg, hits the game winner in game 3, but people demand he be traded after only scoring 12 in 21 minutes in a game 4 blowout loss)

 

[Mugen]

Hawks beating the Knicks without Trae would be legit hilarious tbh

 

[spurs10]

Yes enough specultion about Round Two. We need to be razor focused to win Round One...of course.

 

[Corso]

My predictions are based solely on what I want to happen to maximize my own personal level of enjoyment and entertainment:

East Play-in

Sixers over Magic
Hornets over Heat
--
Hornets over Magic

Eastern Conference First Round

(1) Pistons over (8) Hornets in 6
(2) Celtics over (7) Sixers in 6
(6) Hawks over (6) Knicks in 6
(4) Cavs over (5) Raptors in 6


Easter Conference Semifinals

(1) Pistons over (4) Cavs in 6
(2) Celtics over (6) Hawks in 5

Easter Conference Finals

(1) Pistons over (2) Celtics in 6

--

West Play-in

Blazes over Suns
Clippers over Warriors
--
Clippers over Suns

Western Conference First Round


(1) Thunder over (8) Clippers in 5
(2) Spurs over (7) Blazers in 4
(3) Nuggets over (6) Wolves in 7
(5) Rockets over (4) Lakers in 6

Western Conference Semifinals

(1) Thunder over (5) Rockets in 5
(2) Spurs over (3) Nuggets in 7 (and this goes down as one of the greatest series ever)

Western Conference Finals

(2) Spurs over (1) Thunder in 5


Finals


(2) Spurs over (1) Pistons in 5

Finals MVP: Victor Wembanyama (Fox averages 23.6ppg, hits the game winner in game 3, but people demand he be traded after only scoring 12 in 21 minutes in a game 4 blowout loss)

I think we should all put in a buck on this one happening. I can feel the energy...

 

[Biggems]

Spurs 4-1 over Suns
Spurs 4-2 over Nuggets
Spurs 4-2 over OKC
Spurs 4-2 over Boston

 

[wEmBoY]

One of the most horrendous strategic decision in recent basketball memory. At worst, Wemby should have sat on Friday and played this game. Unbelievable miscalculation.

I think they underestimate the nuggets g leaguers, and really believe that they can beat them without wemby. And they should. Spurs are 11-5 without wemby and they beat the nuggets without wemby in nba cup .

 

[BatManu20]

A lil heartfelt message from KJ before the Playoffs begin. Worth the read.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2043796302626963533

 

[NASpurs]

A lil message from KJ before the Playoffs begin.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2043796302626963533

Bro is never getting traded

So if you guys ever have draw up trade proposals, never include KJ. Dude is a lifelong.

 

[CGD]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2043749352481390791

Yall getting lazy! No SGA jokes?!

 

[Corso]

Yall getting lazy! No SGA jokes?!

Comedy is hard!

 

[DTW]

Eastern Conference Play-in

Magic over 76ers
Hornets over Heat
Hornets over 76ers

Quarter-Finals

(1) Pistons over (8) Hornets in 6
(4) Cavaliers over (5) Raptors in 5
(3) Knicks over (6) Hawks in 6
(2) Celtics over (7) Magic in 5

Semi-Finals

(4) Cavaliers over (1) Pistons in 7
(2) Celtics over (3) Knicks in 6

Finals

(2) Celtics over (4) Cavaliers in 6

Western Conference Play-in

Suns over Trail Blazers
Clippers over Warriors
Trail Blazers over Clippers

Quarter-Finals

(1) Thunder over (8) Trail Blazers in 4
(5) Rockets over (4) Lakers in 6
(3) Nuggets over (6) Timberwolves in 5
(2) Spurs over (7) Suns in 6

Semi-Finals

(1) Thunder over (5) Rockets in 5
(3) Nuggets over (2) Spurs in 6

Finals

(1) Thunder over (3) Nuggets in 7

NBA Finals

(1) Thunder over (2) Celtics in 6

 

[TDomination]

A lil heartfelt message from KJ before the Playoffs begin. Worth the read.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2043796302626963533

That was great to read! I’d be most excited for him if and when spurs win a championship.

 

[DTW]

This is the only time in the past two years where I was tempted to go Nuggets over Thunder. Things are breaking the Nuggets way and they're peaking.

Other than Murray, every rotation player missed significant time yet they're healthy now (think Watson is close) and deeper than they've been the previous two seasons, so fatigue shouldn't be an issue.

Meanwhile, the Timberwolves are banged up and floundering, the Spurs don't match up well and are lacking experience and their core is entering late prime with two potential dynasties in the making, so they'll have a win now urgency that the other contenders can't manufacture.