2026 NBA Playoffs - first round series

[ShelC]

Hope not. RIDE OR DIE! GIANNIS OR BUST!

[Shabazz]

There’s almost zero chance Booker is traded in the next year

I agree. It’s not worth wasting our breath.

[Mori Chu]

I think Ishbia will probably interpret this season as validation of his overall strategy. He went "all in" to try to rush a contender with Book-KD-Beal, it didn't work, everybody said we would be doomed for a decade afterward, but we were pretty decent. So I think he probably views it as "see, I knew we would be fine." I don't know if he's really factoring in how hard it will be to get from our current overachieving but mediocre status to becoming a real contender or near-contender. Without any good draft picks it will be almost impossible to become a top-4 seed in the West.

I think in 1-2 years that may become more clear to Ishbia and then he may become open to more radical moves. But I bet for now he wants to mostly keep this team together (re-sign most of our FAs) along with some minor tweaks (maybe dump a Royce to make some cap/apron room).

[Split T]

I agree…the next step will be hard, but I don’t think there’s a good alternative option…we’re gonna have to tread water for a few years and hope we get lucky.

[Mori Chu]

Philly beats Boston and pushes the series to a Game 6. Love to see it.

[JJ Slim]

One way teams become really good is by continuity and keeping the bulk of the team together and growing together. Of course that is usually by choice, which we may not have. Maybe sticking with what we got will work out as everyone develops and learns each other.

[Superbone]

I do think Ishbia is a competitor and will make some adjustments. It was plain to see that we were a subpar rebounding team. He'll look to address that. You can't win a game if you can't get a stop and when you do get a stop, the opposition rebounds the ball and scores anyway.

[Mori Chu]

Rockets win again tonight and push the series to 3-2 and a Game 6 on Friday. Am I crazy for thinking that Houston could actually maybe pull off the comeback and win in Game 7? They looked awful in the first 3 games, sure. But I think they've shaken off some of that stink and are playing much better. Maybe they've accepted that KD is out/gone and want to win to stick it to him. I do think they are the more talented team than the Lakers (sans Luka). I know coming back from 3-0 is unlikely but I'm watching it closely.

[ShelC]

Sincerely hope the Rockets don't win the series. Maybe they go 7 games without KD to prove they don't need him but I want them to lose.

[Mori Chu]

Good news for Houston (?): KD still out for Game 6.

[Mori Chu]

Sincerely hope the Rockets don't win the series. Maybe they go 7 games without KD to prove they don't need him but I want them to lose.

Yeah I basically want both teams to be fired into the sun, somehow.

[Kryptonic]

Sincerely hope the Rockets don't win the series. Maybe they go 7 games without KD to prove they don't need him but I want them to lose.

Yeah I basically want both teams to be fired into the sun, somehow.

My 5’3”mother-in-law was wishing for a plane crash when the yanks and dodgers were playing…. It’s that moment I began to fear sleeping around her lol.

[Superbone]

Sincerely hope the Rockets don't win the series. Maybe they go 7 games without KD to prove they don't need him but I want them to lose.

Yeah I basically want both teams to be fired into the sun, somehow.

My 5’3”mother-in-law was wishing for a plane crash when the yanks and dodgers were playing…. It’s that moment I began to fear sleeping around her lol.

You shouldn't have been sleeping around with your mother-in-law in the first place!!!

[Kryptonic]

Sincerely hope the Rockets don't win the series. Maybe they go 7 games without KD to prove they don't need him but I want them to lose.

Yeah I basically want both teams to be fired into the sun, somehow.

My 5’3”mother-in-law was wishing for a plane crash when the yanks and dodgers were playing…. It’s that moment I began to fear sleeping around her lol.

You shouldn't have been sleeping around with your mother-in-law in the first place!!!

lol that came out wrong. Honestly i have the coolest in laws.

[3TheHardaway]

Holy shit I did not know Jaden McDaniels was this good. He and Ant are a scary good duo.

[Split T]

McDaniels could be a career arc comp for Fleming…long, skinny defensive wings with shooting upside and limited on ball skills when they came into the league(though McDaniels is developing). Fleming is a bit bigger and more capable of defending up…McDaniels one of the better screen navigators out there and better at swallowing up ball handlers.

[The Bobster]

Well, I didn't expect Denver to shit the bed when Minnesota was missing Edwards and DiVincenzo. But there you go. The playoffs can be unpredictable.

As for Atlanta, we know how it feels to show up for an elimination game and not give any effort whatsoever.

[Split T]

I think Atlanta still has one game left, right? Or was it already 3-2?

Really bad loss for Jokic and the nuggets

[BKinSJC]

I think Atlanta still has one game left, right? Or was it already 3-2?

Really bad loss for Jokic and the nuggets

Atlanta's dead. And yeah, it hurts to have your last game of the season be that kind of home beatdown, I seem to recall.

[Charlie Smithy!]

I think Atlanta still has one game left, right? Or was it already 3-2?

Really bad loss for Jokic and the nuggets

Atlanta's dead. And yeah, it hurts to have your last game of the season be that kind of home beatdown, I seem to recall.

I feel like that was also Al McCoy's last game as well