2026 NBA Playoffs Cynics Guide

Golden State continues to rack up playoff appearances, even though their championship window has been closed for some time now. Stephen Curry is in the twilight of a career ruining American basketball at every level, and the Warriors aren’t a threat in the West with Jimmy Butler out of the lineup. Meanwhile, Kawhi Leonard dragged the Clippers into the playoffs this season, despite the fact that the roster is completely devoid of talent. No matter who wins the play-in game, the only trophy that either team can hope for is a playoff participation trophy.

#7/#8 Phoenix Suns/Portland Trail Blazers

The Suns are a compelling team in theory, as they have a 2-2 record against the Spurs, with one of those losses being by one point. Should a team that has Grayson Allen playing a significant role be taken all that seriously? The Trail Blazers, meanwhile, overachieved by making the play-in game with their young roster. Phoenix should be able to earn a proper playoff spot, but it limped its way to the play-in game with a 14-17 record since February 1st.

#6 Minnesota Timberwolves

Minnesota is once again back in the playoffs, and that might be the extent of its playoff run. Anthony Edwards had another strong season, but he may not be at 100% to start the playoffs with a recent right knee injury. There’s not a lot around Ant Man to confidently say that they’ll make a deep playoff run. Having to play Denver in the first round, potentially shorthanded, does not bode well for the T-Wolves.

#5 Houston Rockets

It’s hard to imagine a scenario where the Rockets are an actual threat in the West. Kevin Durant is past the point in his career where he can carry a team to a deep playoff run by himself. Playing the Lakers in the first round might be a favorable matchup, but Houston’s roster deficiencies might cost them against LA. With nothing else really around him, he is going to be watching the NBA Finals from home yet again.

#4 Los Angeles Lakers

Without Luka Doncic, Los Angeles is a mediocre team at best. The Lakers play better when LeBron James isn’t the #1 offensive option, which he has to be until Doncic comes back during the first round of the playoffs. Getting paired with the Rockets in the first round isn’t good for LA, either. With this likely the last time James will don the purple and gold, this season has to feel like a failure for the Lakers.

#3 Denver Nuggets

The best team that nobody watches, the Nuggets, is a potential sleeper team in the playoffs. Despite looking like a MASH unit at times this season, the team is being carried by the stellar play of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. Having a rookie head coach doesn’t play in its favor, but Denver has the talent to be competitive in the West. The first round series against the T-Wolves should be competitive, but the real work starts in the second round for the Nuggets.

#2 San Antonio Spurs

San Antonio is greener than Rory McIlroy’s jackets, but the team finds itself as the #2 seed despite its youth. It’s a good thing Victor Wembanyama is over seven-feet tall, because he’s been putting the team on his back with MVP-level performances throughout the season. They’ll probably drop a series before the Western Conference Finals, but the Spurs will at least be interesting in the playoffs, unlike the #1 seed in the West.

#1 Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder are on the cusp of becoming the most boring dynasty imaginable, as the team is powered by the greatest free throw merchant of all time in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The team also boasts an incredible home game atmosphere, likely because there’s nothing else to do in Oklahoma City. OKC starters will have a ten-day break by the time they start the playoffs, so fans might need to look at the roster online before the game to know who is on the court.

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