NBA Season/Playoffs 2025-26

[SparzWizard]

Hate to say it but Boston has been the B of the New York/Boston sports rivalry esp when it comes to playoffs

Giants > Patriots in two Superbowls
Jets > Patriots in the last playoff meeting, and sent Bill packing
Yankees > Sox recently
Knicks > Celtics

I don't hate them as much as the Lakers but c'mon Boston gotta do something about these NY teams.

That being said, I hope the West takes out NY...insufferable city and fanbase.

[Who]

I don't like OKC so I won't cheer for them.

I won't cheer for San Antonio because they are about to have a dynasty. Perhaps the most impressive dynasty since Bill Russell's 1950s/1960s Celtics. So if we can wait out another year before they start racking up titles ... all the better.

So I guess that leaves NYK. And I have disliked NY immensely for the last 2 years. Found them ugly to watch. They are moving the ball better in the playoffs though. Although I do wonder how much of that is just their hot shooting and it will disappear as soon as their hot shooting ends.

[slamtheking]

At this point, I'm hoping SAS gets the title.
- no desire at all to see OKC repeat and have SGA rewarded for his foul-baiting, flopping style of play.
- Knicks simply cannot be allowed to win the title.  their fans have been obnoxious since they became good again and are insufferable now that they're in the finals.  They need to lose and lose badly in the finals.

[Who]

Most combined blocks & steals per game in playoffs

Advanced beyond 1st round

1 - Wemby - 4.6 stocks 3.8bpg 0.8spg
2 - Ausar Thompson - 3.8 stocks 2.0spg 1.8bpg
3 - Marcus Smart - 3.4 stocks 2.4spg 1.0bpg
4 - Amen Thompson - 3.2 stocks 2.0spg 1.2bpg

Evan Mobley - 2.7 stocks 1.9bpg 0.8spg
J Allen - 2.7 stocks 1.7bpg 1.0spg
Towns - 2.6 stocks 1.4bpg 1.2spg
Chet - 2.4 stocks 1.4bpg 1.0spg

Anunoby - 2.6 stocks 1.6spg 1.0bpg
J Harden - 2.4 stocks 1.7spg 0.7bpg
Cason Wallace - 2.4 stocks 2.1spg 0.3bpg
Tobias Harris - 2.3 stocks 1.5spg 0.8bpg
SGA - 2.1 stocks 1.2spg 0.9bpg
D Vassell - 2.1 stocks 1.3spg 0.8bpg
Caruso - 1.9 stocks 22mpg 1.4spg 0.5bpg
Cade - 1.7 stocks 1.1bpg 0.6spg

Some first rounder losers

I am not counting guys who played 3-4 games. Here are some notables:

Scottie Barnes - 2.8 stocks 7 games. 1.7bpg and 1.1spg

J Suggs - 2.5 stocks 1.9spg 0.6bpg
D White - 2.3 stocks 1.4bpg 0.9spg

Sengun - 3.1 stocks 1.8spg 1.3bpg
R Sheppard - 3.0 stocks 2.2spg 0.8bpg
T Eason - 3.2 stocks 2.5spg 0.7bpg

C Murray Boyles - 27mpg 2.4 stocks 1.3spg 1.1bpg
Anthony Black - 28mpg 2.8 stocks 2.1spg 0.7bpg
Ja'Kobe Walter - 2.3 stocks 2.0spg 0.3bpg

R Gobert - 2.3 stocks 1.2spg 1.1bpg
D Bane - 2.2 stocks 1.9spg 0.3bpg
P Banchero - 2.1 stocks 1.4spg 0.7bpg
Jaylen - 2.0 stocks 1.1spg 0.9bpg
Dyson Daniels - 2.1 stocks 1.8spg 0.3bpg
Okongwu - 2.0 stocks 1.2spg 0.8bpg
Toumani Camara - 2.0 stocks 1.4spg 0.6bpg
Jrue Holiday - 1.8 stocks 1.4spg 0.4bpg

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

At this point, I'm hoping SAS gets the title.
- no desire at all to see OKC repeat and have SGA rewarded for his foul-baiting, flopping style of play.
- Knicks simply cannot be allowed to win the title.  their fans have been obnoxious since they became good again and are insufferable now that they're in the finals.  They need to lose and lose badly in the finals.

Agree 100%. And I've liked the Spurs since the Robinson days, so I'm good with them winning more banners.

I really hope the NBA addresses foul-baiting, as it's become a huge problem, IMO.

[Phantom255x]

Hate to say it but Boston has been the B of the New York/Boston sports rivalry esp when it comes to playoffs

Giants > Patriots in two Superbowls
Jets > Patriots in the last playoff meeting, and sent Bill packing
Yankees > Sox recently
Knicks > Celtics

I don't hate them as much as the Lakers but c'mon Boston gotta do something about these NY teams.

That being said, I hope the West takes out NY...insufferable city and fanbase.

Not necessarily denying it especially the Yankees/Knicks in the past two years, but the two football teams was like 15+ years ago and most of the past 15 years they've done nothing to even get there lol. And they still haven't won a major championship since 2011 unless if people want to count MLS and WNBA, despite having like 8-9 teams

If the Knicks don't win it this year either, then it'll be an extended drought. They feel like the Pacers last year, or even the Lions in the NFL when Campbell famously said, "this may have been our only shot". Idk if the Knicks are a guarantee to make it back in future years.

[Who]

I feel sorry for OKC not having J-Dub.

This matchup is unfair without him. Spurs are clearly the better team between the two of them (without J-Dub). This will be a tough uphill battle for OKC.

[Phantom255x]

If Chet is gonna outplay Wemby then the Spurs got no chance tonight

[Goldstar88]

Fox and Vassell need to get going. They have 2 points combined..

[Who]

I don't know how useful it is to foul Wemby to stop him from getting a layup / dunk. He is shooting 83% FTs on the year and 86% in the playoffs.

It puts your own players in foul trouble and your team in the penalty earlier in the quarter. I am not sure you are saving enough points on Wemby's 86% FT to justify that.

[Who]

Has it gotten to the point yet where we talk about Alex Caruso as being one of the best defensive PGs in league history? What he is doing year after year is incredible.

[Phantom255x]

Spurs are 17-19 FTs, OKC a perfect 20-20. Even besides the fact that both teams just get so many FTAs that make me jealous, it's also the fact that they tend to be automatic for these teams. Meanwhile the C's had games in their Sixers series where they missed 7+. Easy points just being missed smh

[slightly biased bias fan]

Tom Dundon (new Portland owner) defends his decision to lay off 70 Trail Blazers employees,

People are happier when they are busy and productive. And more people just creates more problems, usually. I think Portland just had too many people... The business I am going to run like you run every other business.

[Who]

Champagnie and Castle are carrying San Antonio.

Wemby playing great D but he is invisible on offense.

[Goldstar88]

If Wemby figured out that a baby hook shot at his height would be impossible to stop, this series would already be over.