2026 NBA Playoffs Thread

[Adrian]

Fullcourtpass
@Fullcourtpass
·
13h
Damian Lillard is “close” and his return before the end of the postseason is “not impossible”, per
@billoram


“Any appearance would need to be in a later round or ‘deep, deep’ in the series against the Spurs”

(https://oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...turn-could-rewrite-it-entirely-bill-oram.html)

 

[95pro]

Rockets win without KD
Lakers lose if Reaves come back.
Blazers get destroyed if Dame comes back.

 

[Adrian]

NBA

@NBAWAYOFFS
·
4h
BREAKING: Lakers superstar guard Austin Reaves will officially RETURN tonight against the Houston Rockets in game 3 of the 1st round.

A remarkably quick comeback and fantastic news for the Lakers

 

[Adrian]

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Polymarket Hoops

@PolymarketHoops
·
16h
The Knicks gave up FIVE first-round picks for Mikal Bridges, he scored a total 0 points tonight.

He has shot 8/22 in this series thus far…

 

[Superbone]

We all loved Mikal but we also knew he wasn't worth FIVE first round picks! He's a complementary player, not a superstar. And as we learned, even superstars aren't always worth it!

 

[Adrian]

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[Adrian]

Fullcourtpass

@Fullcourtpass
·
26m


Joel Embiid is going to see when he gets to the arena if he is able to warm up to try and play tonight, per @ShamsCharania (h/t @SixersJustin)

 

[Adrian]

Joel Embiid out tonight according to SC

 

[Adrian]

Tim Bontemps

@TimBontemps
·
37m


The Raptors say Immanuel Quickley has re-injured his hamstring and is out for the rest of Toronto’s first round series against Cleveland.

 

[Adrian]

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[Adrian]

SleeperRockets

@SleeperRockets
·
1h



Ime Udoka said Kevin Durant is “definitely questionable” for Game 3, per
@SportsMT and @SportsRV
"He's a little bit ginger, went through some things at shootaround. Had some swelling in the ankle. We'll give it a go tonight and see how he feels before the game."

 

[Cheesebeef]

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Polymarket Hoops

@PolymarketHoops
·
16h
The Knicks gave up FIVE first-round picks for Mikal Bridges, he scored a total 0 points tonight.

He has shot 8/22 in this series thus far…

this guy and Cam Johnson who shot an incredible 2/6 last night are who people were clamoring to build around.

Trading for KD was absolutely the wrong move, but a trio of Book/Bridges/Cam Johnson was dog-snot. Prob would have netted us a bunch of picks though and be better for the future that way.

 

[Proximo]

G-League Lakers 2
Houston Rockets 0

All that says to me is Houston is a bigger mess than I even thought.

The Lakers still suck.

 

[AzStevenCal]

All that says to me is Houston is a bigger mess than I even thought.

The Lakers still suck.

They aren't going to do much but had they stayed healthy and had they kept DA engaged they had a pretty good chance at adding another title. As it is, they probably aren't much better than us (minus Luka and Reaves) but unlike us, they'll likely advance for a round or maybe two.

 

[Superbone]

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Mike Brown is no Paul Westphal.

 

[Cheesebeef]

They aren't going to do much but had they stayed healthy and had they kept DA engaged they had a pretty good chance at adding another title. As it is, they probably aren't much better than us (minus Luka and Reaves) but unlike us, they'll likely advance for a round or maybe two.

minus both of those guys they're still on pace to beat Houston. We probably would have gotten swept by Houston.

 

[AzStevenCal]

minus both of those guys they're still on pace to beat Houston. We probably would have gotten swept by Houston.

We'd need Williams healthy and probably Goodwin too but if we had them, I'd like our chances against a team built around the missing KD. Still, no matter how anyone analyzes it, if the Lakers suck, we suck even more.

 

[Chaplin]

minus both of those guys they're still on pace to beat Houston. We probably would have gotten swept by Houston.

Gotta put that dig on the Suns in every post, eh?

 

[Cheesebeef]

Gotta put that dig on the Suns in every post, eh?

Chap, Steve literally brought the Suns up in the post I responded to. And is it really a dig to say we wouldn’t beat Houston when they beat us pretty handily at home last time we played them even after Houston spotted us a 20 point lead?

 

[Cheesebeef]

We'd need Williams healthy and probably Goodwin too but if we had them, I'd like our chances against a team built around the missing KD.

I don’t even know about that. Houston kicked our ass earlier this season in Phoenix even without KD.

 

[Superbone]

We have issues with size. Something we need to address in the offseason. And play Man Man and Fleming. I have no doubt they'll play a much bigger role next season but we still need to get bigger.

 

[Cheesebeef]

We have issues with size. Something we need to address in the offseason. And play Man Man and Fleming. I have no doubt they'll play a much bigger role next season but we still need to get bigger.

That’s why I think KD or no KD, Houston would beat us. They have size and athleticism, both of which we struggle against.

 

[Superbone]

That’s why I think KD or no KD, Houston would beat us. They have size and athleticism, both of which we struggle against.

Right. I was agreeing with you.

 

[AzStevenCal]

We have issues with size. Something we need to address in the offseason. And play Man Man and Fleming. I have no doubt they'll play a much bigger role next season but we still need to get bigger.

We were at our best when Williams was healthy but yeah, we need a quality backup big man too even if we keep Williams and even if he stays healthy. But if we're not signing Mark, do we try and sign a starter to replace him or run with Maluach and look for his backup? I don't know which way I'd go. I like Maluach but I'm not sure he's ready for prime time just yet. Regardless, Fleming needs a lot of court time going forward.

 

[Cheesebeef]

We were at our best when Williams was healthy but yeah, we need a quality backup big man too even if we keep Williams and even if he stays healthy. But if we're not signing Mark, do we try and sign a starter to replace him or run with Maluach and look for his backup? I don't know which way I'd go. I like Maluach but I'm not sure he's ready for prime time just yet. Regardless, Fleming needs a lot of court time going forward.

But saying “if Williams is healthy” is like saying “if pigs could fly” at this point. It’s a total fantasy by seasons end.