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Deadspin | Kevin Durant takes spotlight as Rockets try to even series with Lakers Apr 18, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) and forward Kevin Durant (center) watch during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images All eyes will be on the great Kevin Durant when his visiting Houston Rockets seek to square the ledger against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 2 of their best-of-seven playoff series Tuesday. Durant was unable to play Saturday’s first-round series opener after accidentally bumping knees with a teammate at practice three days earlier. The 16-time All-Star attempted to warm up a few hours before tipoff, but he ultimately didn’t feel his right knee was good enough to play. Durant led Houston with an average of 26 points per game this season and is No. 5 on the NBA’s all-time leading scorers list. In his absence, the fifth-seeded Rockets struggled offensively in a 107-98 loss to the Lakers in Game 1. Houston had 27 more shot attempts but misfired badly, connecting at 37.6% from the field, 33.3% from 3-point range and 68% from the free-throw line. Rockets coach Ime Udoka didn’t hesitate when asked about the qualities that Durant brings to the table, which were sorely lacking Saturday. “Efficiency and consistent scoring,” Udoka said. “On a nightly basis, he (Durant) shoots at a good, high clip. He doesn’t have too many nights like this (Houston in Game 1), struggling-wise. With all the young guys, he kind of calms you down … Regardless, if he’s back or not, if we’re shooting that poorly, it’s going to be tough to win.” Alperen Sengun led the Durant-less Rockets with 19 points. Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard added 17 apiece, and Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason both had 16. Durant is expected to be fit to take his place as the Rockets endeavor to overcome their 1-0 deficit, but the Lakers showed they are able to adapt whether or not Houston’s main man is on the court. “I don’t think it (Durant not playing Game 1) affected our mentality,” Los Angeles coach JJ Redick said. “This is all we’ve talked about for two months, is our playoff mentality. You can’t worry about who’s in or out of a line-up. It’s our gameplan, it’s our standard, it’s how we play and we’ve built towards that.” That standard saw the Lakers shoot a sizzling 60.6% from the floor, including 52.6% from deep. The star was Luke Kennard, who produced a playoff career-high 27 points and went 5-of-5 from three. Thompson admits the Rockets should have been more dialed in on Kennard, a key reserve and the NBA’s most accurate 3-point shooter, who the Lakers acquired from the Atlanta Hawks in February. “Just respect other players,” Thompson said when asked where his team can improve. “I knew what Kennard could do. But I’ve got to be more locked in for it — locked in for that match-up.” LeBron James posted 19 points and 13 assists, while Deandre Ayton paired 19 points with 11 boards for Los Angeles. The Lakers are without their two leading scorers — Luka Doncic (left hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (left oblique strain) — which means greater production is required from more sources. “We don’t have a choice,” said James, who is participating in his 19th postseason. “It has to be that way — it has to be the collective group. When you’re missing so much firepower like we are right now with AR and Luka being out, we all have to pitch in. We all have to do our job, and even do a little bit more.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Kevin #Durant #takes #spotlight #Rockets #series #Lakers

Deadspin | Kevin Durant takes spotlight as Rockets try to even series with Lakers
Deadspin | Kevin Durant takes spotlight as Rockets try to even series with Lakers Apr 18, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) and forward Kevin Durant (center) watch during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images All eyes will be on the great Kevin Durant when his visiting Houston Rockets seek to square the ledger against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 2 of their best-of-seven playoff series Tuesday. Durant was unable to play Saturday’s first-round series opener after accidentally bumping knees with a teammate at practice three days earlier. The 16-time All-Star attempted to warm up a few hours before tipoff, but he ultimately didn’t feel his right knee was good enough to play. Durant led Houston with an average of 26 points per game this season and is No. 5 on the NBA’s all-time leading scorers list. In his absence, the fifth-seeded Rockets struggled offensively in a 107-98 loss to the Lakers in Game 1. Houston had 27 more shot attempts but misfired badly, connecting at 37.6% from the field, 33.3% from 3-point range and 68% from the free-throw line. Rockets coach Ime Udoka didn’t hesitate when asked about the qualities that Durant brings to the table, which were sorely lacking Saturday. “Efficiency and consistent scoring,” Udoka said. “On a nightly basis, he (Durant) shoots at a good, high clip. He doesn’t have too many nights like this (Houston in Game 1), struggling-wise. With all the young guys, he kind of calms you down … Regardless, if he’s back or not, if we’re shooting that poorly, it’s going to be tough to win.” Alperen Sengun led the Durant-less Rockets with 19 points. Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard added 17 apiece, and Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason both had 16. Durant is expected to be fit to take his place as the Rockets endeavor to overcome their 1-0 deficit, but the Lakers showed they are able to adapt whether or not Houston’s main man is on the court. “I don’t think it (Durant not playing Game 1) affected our mentality,” Los Angeles coach JJ Redick said. “This is all we’ve talked about for two months, is our playoff mentality. You can’t worry about who’s in or out of a line-up. It’s our gameplan, it’s our standard, it’s how we play and we’ve built towards that.” That standard saw the Lakers shoot a sizzling 60.6% from the floor, including 52.6% from deep. The star was Luke Kennard, who produced a playoff career-high 27 points and went 5-of-5 from three. Thompson admits the Rockets should have been more dialed in on Kennard, a key reserve and the NBA’s most accurate 3-point shooter, who the Lakers acquired from the Atlanta Hawks in February. “Just respect other players,” Thompson said when asked where his team can improve. “I knew what Kennard could do. But I’ve got to be more locked in for it — locked in for that match-up.” LeBron James posted 19 points and 13 assists, while Deandre Ayton paired 19 points with 11 boards for Los Angeles. The Lakers are without their two leading scorers — Luka Doncic (left hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (left oblique strain) — which means greater production is required from more sources. “We don’t have a choice,” said James, who is participating in his 19th postseason. “It has to be that way — it has to be the collective group. When you’re missing so much firepower like we are right now with AR and Luka being out, we all have to pitch in. We all have to do our job, and even do a little bit more.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Kevin #Durant #takes #spotlight #Rockets #series #LakersApr 18, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) and forward Kevin Durant (center) watch during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

All eyes will be on the great Kevin Durant when his visiting Houston Rockets seek to square the ledger against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 2 of their best-of-seven playoff series Tuesday.

Durant was unable to play Saturday’s first-round series opener after accidentally bumping knees with a teammate at practice three days earlier.

The 16-time All-Star attempted to warm up a few hours before tipoff, but he ultimately didn’t feel his right knee was good enough to play.

Durant led Houston with an average of 26 points per game this season and is No. 5 on the NBA’s all-time leading scorers list.

In his absence, the fifth-seeded Rockets struggled offensively in a 107-98 loss to the Lakers in Game 1.

Houston had 27 more shot attempts but misfired badly, connecting at 37.6% from the field, 33.3% from 3-point range and 68% from the free-throw line.

Rockets coach Ime Udoka didn’t hesitate when asked about the qualities that Durant brings to the table, which were sorely lacking Saturday.

“Efficiency and consistent scoring,” Udoka said. “On a nightly basis, he (Durant) shoots at a good, high clip. He doesn’t have too many nights like this (Houston in Game 1), struggling-wise. With all the young guys, he kind of calms you down … Regardless, if he’s back or not, if we’re shooting that poorly, it’s going to be tough to win.”


Alperen Sengun led the Durant-less Rockets with 19 points. Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard added 17 apiece, and Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason both had 16.

Durant is expected to be fit to take his place as the Rockets endeavor to overcome their 1-0 deficit, but the Lakers showed they are able to adapt whether or not Houston’s main man is on the court.

“I don’t think it (Durant not playing Game 1) affected our mentality,” Los Angeles coach JJ Redick said. “This is all we’ve talked about for two months, is our playoff mentality. You can’t worry about who’s in or out of a line-up. It’s our gameplan, it’s our standard, it’s how we play and we’ve built towards that.”

That standard saw the Lakers shoot a sizzling 60.6% from the floor, including 52.6% from deep. The star was Luke Kennard, who produced a playoff career-high 27 points and went 5-of-5 from three.

Thompson admits the Rockets should have been more dialed in on Kennard, a key reserve and the NBA’s most accurate 3-point shooter, who the Lakers acquired from the Atlanta Hawks in February.

“Just respect other players,” Thompson said when asked where his team can improve. “I knew what Kennard could do. But I’ve got to be more locked in for it — locked in for that match-up.”

LeBron James posted 19 points and 13 assists, while Deandre Ayton paired 19 points with 11 boards for Los Angeles.

The Lakers are without their two leading scorers — Luka Doncic (left hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (left oblique strain) — which means greater production is required from more sources.

“We don’t have a choice,” said James, who is participating in his 19th postseason. “It has to be that way — it has to be the collective group. When you’re missing so much firepower like we are right now with AR and Luka being out, we all have to pitch in. We all have to do our job, and even do a little bit more.”


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Kevin #Durant #takes #spotlight #Rockets #series #Lakers

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Apr 18, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) and forward Kevin Durant (center) watch during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

All eyes will be on the great Kevin Durant when his visiting Houston Rockets seek to square the ledger against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 2 of their best-of-seven playoff series Tuesday.

Durant was unable to play Saturday’s first-round series opener after accidentally bumping knees with a teammate at practice three days earlier.

The 16-time All-Star attempted to warm up a few hours before tipoff, but he ultimately didn’t feel his right knee was good enough to play.

Durant led Houston with an average of 26 points per game this season and is No. 5 on the NBA’s all-time leading scorers list.

In his absence, the fifth-seeded Rockets struggled offensively in a 107-98 loss to the Lakers in Game 1.

Houston had 27 more shot attempts but misfired badly, connecting at 37.6% from the field, 33.3% from 3-point range and 68% from the free-throw line.

Rockets coach Ime Udoka didn’t hesitate when asked about the qualities that Durant brings to the table, which were sorely lacking Saturday.

“Efficiency and consistent scoring,” Udoka said. “On a nightly basis, he (Durant) shoots at a good, high clip. He doesn’t have too many nights like this (Houston in Game 1), struggling-wise. With all the young guys, he kind of calms you down … Regardless, if he’s back or not, if we’re shooting that poorly, it’s going to be tough to win.”

Alperen Sengun led the Durant-less Rockets with 19 points. Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard added 17 apiece, and Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason both had 16.

Durant is expected to be fit to take his place as the Rockets endeavor to overcome their 1-0 deficit, but the Lakers showed they are able to adapt whether or not Houston’s main man is on the court.

“I don’t think it (Durant not playing Game 1) affected our mentality,” Los Angeles coach JJ Redick said. “This is all we’ve talked about for two months, is our playoff mentality. You can’t worry about who’s in or out of a line-up. It’s our gameplan, it’s our standard, it’s how we play and we’ve built towards that.”

That standard saw the Lakers shoot a sizzling 60.6% from the floor, including 52.6% from deep. The star was Luke Kennard, who produced a playoff career-high 27 points and went 5-of-5 from three.

Thompson admits the Rockets should have been more dialed in on Kennard, a key reserve and the NBA’s most accurate 3-point shooter, who the Lakers acquired from the Atlanta Hawks in February.

“Just respect other players,” Thompson said when asked where his team can improve. “I knew what Kennard could do. But I’ve got to be more locked in for it — locked in for that match-up.”

LeBron James posted 19 points and 13 assists, while Deandre Ayton paired 19 points with 11 boards for Los Angeles.

The Lakers are without their two leading scorers — Luka Doncic (left hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (left oblique strain) — which means greater production is required from more sources.

“We don’t have a choice,” said James, who is participating in his 19th postseason. “It has to be that way — it has to be the collective group. When you’re missing so much firepower like we are right now with AR and Luka being out, we all have to pitch in. We all have to do our job, and even do a little bit more.”

–Field Level Media

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How the 2027 QB class is impacting the 2026 NFL Draft <div id=""><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _1teeyfa8 ls9zuh1">Though there might be only one quarterback drafted in this year’s first round, multiple are expected to be square in the first-round mix in the 2027 NFL draft.</p><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _1teeyfa8 ls9zuh1">Quarterbacks already on the NFL’s radar for 2027 include Oregon’s Dante Moore, Texas’ Arch Manning, Texas Tech’s Brendan Sorsby, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss, Miami’s Darian Mensah, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, Notre Dame’s CJ Carr, LSU’s Sam Leavitt, UCLA’s Nico Iamaleava and Oklahoma’s John Mateer. Not all of those players will be first-round picks, but there are great expectations for many of them, and it provides a glimpse of the potential.</p><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _1teeyfa8 ls9zuh1">But some teams aren’t even waiting. At least evaluator acknowledged that, while they were out at pro days scouting the prospects for this year’s draft, they took a long hard look at some of the aforementioned quarterbacks in next year’s class. At least one team put in some extra work with a few of these QBs while it was in those college towns, and chances are, that team was not the only one. The NFL is already thinking about the Class of 2027.</p></div> #class #impacting #NFL #Draft

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ISSF Junior World Cup: Shiva wins gold while Chirag bags bronze 10m air pistol; Panaah wins silver in 10m air rifle <div id="content-body-70888997" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Former mixed team World Champion Shiva Narwal marked his return after a three-year gap to claim gold in the 10m Air Pistol men’s junior event on Day 1 of competitions in the ISSF Junior World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun on Tuesday in Cairo at the Egypt International Olympic City.</p><p>Chirag Sharma accompanied Narwal on the podium by securing bronze, while Panaah Bhugra added a silver in the women’s 10m air rifle.</p><p>Narwal continued his form from the qualification to claim gold with 241.8, finishing 1.8 ahead of Uzbekistan’s Sodikjon Abdullaev, who secured silver. India’s Chirag completed the podium with 218.9, while Abhinav Deshwal, the other Indian in the final, finished seventh with 136.7.</p><p>Earlier in qualification, Shiva qualified in top spot with a score of 576-19x, followed by Abhinav in third place with a score of 576-16x and Chirag who qualified in fourth place, shooting 575-13x. Abhinav Choudhary (570-14x), Himanshu Rana (568-12x) and Abhay Dhama (567-17x) missed out on a spot in the finals.</p><p>In the women’s junior 10m air rifle event, Panaah, who qualified for the finals with a score of 629.4 maintained her place in the medal positions from the first series and showcased consistency to eventually clinch the silver medal with a final score of 250.6. The French duo of Anceline Brackman and Helena Ecale secured gold and bronze with scores of 252.0 and 228.6 respectively.</p><p>Shambhavi Kshirsagar, who finished qualification in top spot with a high score of 634.0, finished outside the medal positions in fourth place with a score of 206.5. The third Indian in the final, Anvii Rathod finished sixth with a score of 164.6.</p><p>Anvii qualified for the finals in sixth place with a score of 628.6, while the other Indians in the competition, Manyata Singh scored 628.3 to finish in eighth place. With the rule of maximum of three athletes per country, the three top ranked after qualification round proceeding to the final, Manyata missed out. Anushka Thokur (627.9) finished in ninth and Aneesha Sharma (627.1) finished in tenth place.</p><p>The 25m pistol men and women precision round along with the first 75 targets of skeet men and women have also commenced at the first event for the juniors. The rapid stage and finals of the 25m Pistol Women and 50 targets and the finals of skeet men and women will be held on Wednesday. The medals of the 25m pistol men and 50m rifle prone for both men and women will also be decided on Wednesday from the qualification round.</p><div class="fact-box"><h5 class="main-title"> Results: </h5><h5 class="sub-title">25m Pistol Women Precision Stage</h5><p> Sejal Kamble – 292-6x </p><p> Parisha Gupta – 288-8x </p><p> Anjali Mahendra Bhagwat – 284-5x </p><p> Shikha Chaudhary – 282-4x </p><p> Manvi Jain – 281-7x </p><p> Agam Grewal – Disqualified by ISSF Rule 6.7.9.1b (Post competition check failure) </p><h5 class="sub-title">25m Pistol Men Precision Stage</h5><p> Abhinav Deshwal – 290-9x </p><p> Raj Chandra – 288-9x </p><p> Yug Pratap Singh Rathore – 287-11x </p><p> Jatin – 283-5x </p><p> Abhinav Choudhary – 281-5x </p><p> Sahil Choudhary – 278-3x </p><h5 class="sub-title">Skeet Women (75 Targets)</h5><p> Risham Kaur Guron – 68 (24,23,21) </p><p> Sanyogita Shekhawat – 66 (21,22,23) </p><p> Agrima Kanwar – 60 (22,18,20) </p><p> Parmeet Kaur – 59 (19,22,18) </p><h5 class="sub-title">Skeet Men (75 Targets)</h5><p> Harviraj Singh – 71 (25,21,25) </p><p> Ishan Singh Libra – 70 (25,23,22) </p><p> Zorawar Singh Bedi – 68 (22,21,25) </p><p> Yashwardhan Singh Rajput – 63 (19,22,22) </p><p> Anjaneya Singh Mandawa – 59 (21,21,17) </p></div><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 21, 2026</p></div> #ISSF #Junior #World #Cup #Shiva #wins #gold #Chirag #bags #bronze #10m #air #pistol #Panaah #wins #silver #10m #air #rifle

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Deadspin | Anthony Richardson trade situation reflects Colts’ QB uncertainty Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) watches the action on the field from the sideline Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, during a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Quarterback Anthony Richardson has made it clear that he wants a trade from the Indianapolis Colts. Whether or not (and when) that happens remains to be seen. “We’ve had some calls, but nothing’s come to fruition at this time,” Colts GM Chris Ballard said Monday. “So at this point he’s still an Indianapolis Colt.” Ballard also said Richardson is “still recovering a little bit” from a freak eye injury that ended his 2025 season. Ballard added that Richardson has been cleared for football activity. Richardson expressed his desire to be traded after the Colts retained Daniel Jones, but Ballard is not planning to give away the player drafted fourth overall in 2023. The Colts are taking into consideration that while Jones is on schedule to return from a season-ending Achilles injury, nothing is guaranteed and the team might be smart to hang onto Richardson if no attractive trade alternative emerges prior to training camp this summer. Both quarterbacks have had issues staying on the field. And the Colts are not exactly overflowing with experience at the signal-caller position. Richardson has started a mere 15 games during the three seasons of his career, a time period plagued by injuries and inconsistency. He did not play last season at all. Riley Leonard, a sixth-round pick in 2025, started just one game last season, and that was only after the Colts were eliminated from playoff contention. That leaves the Colts with a lack of clarity at quarterback: One is recovering from a significant injury, one wants a trade out, and a third will be looking for offseason reps to become a suitable backup while the GM works out a deal. Or not. -Field Level Media #Deadspin #Anthony #Richardson #trade #situation #reflects #Colts #uncertaintyIndianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) watches the action on the field from the sideline Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, during a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Quarterback Anthony Richardson has made it clear that he wants a trade from the Indianapolis Colts.

Whether or not (and when) that happens remains to be seen.

“We’ve had some calls, but nothing’s come to fruition at this time,” Colts GM Chris Ballard said Monday. “So at this point he’s still an Indianapolis Colt.”

Ballard also said Richardson is “still recovering a little bit” from a freak eye injury that ended his 2025 season. Ballard added that Richardson has been cleared for football activity.


Richardson expressed his desire to be traded after the Colts retained Daniel Jones, but Ballard is not planning to give away the player drafted fourth overall in 2023.

The Colts are taking into consideration that while Jones is on schedule to return from a season-ending Achilles injury, nothing is guaranteed and the team might be smart to hang onto Richardson if no attractive trade alternative emerges prior to training camp this summer. Both quarterbacks have had issues staying on the field.

And the Colts are not exactly overflowing with experience at the signal-caller position. Richardson has started a mere 15 games during the three seasons of his career, a time period plagued by injuries and inconsistency. He did not play last season at all.

Riley Leonard, a sixth-round pick in 2025, started just one game last season, and that was only after the Colts were eliminated from playoff contention.

That leaves the Colts with a lack of clarity at quarterback: One is recovering from a significant injury, one wants a trade out, and a third will be looking for offseason reps to become a suitable backup while the GM works out a deal. Or not.


-Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Anthony #Richardson #trade #situation #reflects #Colts #uncertainty">Deadspin | Anthony Richardson trade situation reflects Colts’ QB uncertainty Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) watches the action on the field from the sideline Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, during a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Quarterback Anthony Richardson has made it clear that he wants a trade from the Indianapolis Colts. Whether or not (and when) that happens remains to be seen. “We’ve had some calls, but nothing’s come to fruition at this time,” Colts GM Chris Ballard said Monday. “So at this point he’s still an Indianapolis Colt.” Ballard also said Richardson is “still recovering a little bit” from a freak eye injury that ended his 2025 season. Ballard added that Richardson has been cleared for football activity. Richardson expressed his desire to be traded after the Colts retained Daniel Jones, but Ballard is not planning to give away the player drafted fourth overall in 2023. The Colts are taking into consideration that while Jones is on schedule to return from a season-ending Achilles injury, nothing is guaranteed and the team might be smart to hang onto Richardson if no attractive trade alternative emerges prior to training camp this summer. Both quarterbacks have had issues staying on the field. And the Colts are not exactly overflowing with experience at the signal-caller position. Richardson has started a mere 15 games during the three seasons of his career, a time period plagued by injuries and inconsistency. He did not play last season at all. Riley Leonard, a sixth-round pick in 2025, started just one game last season, and that was only after the Colts were eliminated from playoff contention. That leaves the Colts with a lack of clarity at quarterback: One is recovering from a significant injury, one wants a trade out, and a third will be looking for offseason reps to become a suitable backup while the GM works out a deal. Or not. -Field Level Media #Deadspin #Anthony #Richardson #trade #situation #reflects #Colts #uncertainty

The 2026 NBA Playoffs promised a wide open championship race for a league that has seen seven unique champions over the last seven seasons. The playoffs are already delivering in the first-round, and they’re only going to get better as the march towards the NBA Finals continues.

The start of the first round has already positioned three series as all-out battles with the road team stealing a game. The Atlanta Hawks evened things up against the New York Knicks in Game 2 with an incredible fourth quarter rally led by C.J. McCollum. The Minnesota Timberwolves tied the series vs. the Denver Nuggets in what’s shaping up to be the most physical clash of the first round. The No. 8 seed Orlando Magic knocked off the No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons in Game 1 to immediately raise the stakes in the East. The Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers series is shaping up to be competitive too despite major injuries on both sides.

With the first round in full swing, here’s one overreaction from every series so far. Check out our full rankings for every team in the NBA Playoffs, and a list of the top-50 players in the postseason, for more coverage.

The Magic really have a chance to upset the Pistons

Yes, the Magic were my preseason NBA Finals pick, and yes, I was deeply ashamed of it all year. Orlando failed to meet expectations for a variety of reasons this season, but the big ones were: a) injuries, b) poor coaching, and c) a failure to maximize the fit between Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. It looked like the Magic wouldn’t even make the playoffs after they got drilled by the Philadelphia 76ers in their play-in opener, but they put up their best performance of the season in the next play-in game against the Charlotte Hornets to earn the No. 8 seed, then topped it with an excellent Game 1 to knock off the heavily favored Pistons.

I really liked the way the matchups work out for the Magic in this series now that they’re finally healthy. The Pistons are known for their physicality, but they can’t bully Orlando. It was nice to see Banchero and Wagner get their high-low game going. Wagner looked deadly on drives to the rim, and Banchero was doing a good job of not settling for jumpers, where his touch is poor. Jalen Suggs is really one of the most impactful role players in the league, and he looked great in disrupting the Pistons’ perimeter offense. Wendell Carter Jr. had a masterful game switching defensively to deny Detroit’s drives while also spacing the floor on offense.

Detroit should roar back to form in Game 2. The Pistons can make some adjustments to force Banchero into his worst habits, and find more ways to free up Duren offensively. I’ve always been a little skeptical of JB Bickerstaff in the playoffs, though, and the talent gap doesn’t feel like a typical No. 1 vs. No. 8 series here. Questions about Detroit’s halfcourt offense persisted all season, and they should be louder than ever right now. I doubt Game 1 will be Orlando’s only victory in this series. The Pistons will answer, but the Magic really have a chance to advance.

The Celtics are going to roll over the Sixers

Boston showed why they’re suddenly the favorites to reach the NBA Finals out of the East. The Celtics rocked the 76ers from the opening quarter in Game 1 in a display that showed their full might. Jayson Tatum looked fantastic in the first quarter, Jaylen Brown took over in the third, and the defense, three-point shooting, and rebounding were all humming at elite levels. Tatum’s comeback from a torn Achilles suffered 11 months ago has been so impressive, and somehow it feels like the Celtics are deeper than ever even after losing Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis in the offseason. This organization is the gold standard in the game, from the front office to the coaching to the players. The Celtics look scary right now.

The James Harden trade looks genius for the Cavs

The idea of trading for James Harden to bolster a playoff run is objectively kind of hilarious on its face, but it sure feels like it’s working out well for the Cavs. Darius Garland was always going to get picked on in the playoffs for his diminutive frame, and it just didn’t feel like Cleveland could trust him to stay healthy through the entire postseason. Swapping out Garland for James Harden was a fascinating move that shortened the Cavs’ timeline but also gave them the best possible chance to win right now. Yes, Harden has an epic list of playoff failures in his career, but he’s still damn good at age-36, and his arrival has freed up Donovan Mitchell’s workload while maximizing Jarrett Allen’s offensive ceiling in the pick-and-roll. With rumors swirling that Mitchell could be on the trade block if he turns down an offseason extension, the Cavs had to go all-out to try to make the NBA Finals this season, and the Harden trade really did seem to improve their odds. I see this team winning more than one playoff series this year, and this opener against the Raptors shouldn’t be too suspenseful.

Karl-Anthony Towns should be enough for Knicks to advance

This playoff run feels destined to become a referendum on every key piece for the Knicks, maybe no one more so than Karl-Anthony Towns. KAT badly needs a signature playoff run both for New York’s conference championship chances and his own reputation, and the Hawks’ matchup felt like it should be a favorable start for him. Game 1 showed just how much bigger, stronger, and more skilled Towns is than the Atlanta front court. In Game 2, Atlanta completely took Towns out of the game in the fourth quarter, limiting him to zero points and only two shot attempts. Towns needs to avoid falling into his usual traps — stupid fouls, bad defense, inexplicable moments where he trips for no reason — which is easier said than done. It does feel like his chemistry with Jalen Brunson hit another level late in the season, and he should be able to annihilate Atlanta if both are locked in. It’s time for KAT to remind everyone that he’s one of the best bigs in the league and a former No. 1 overall draft pick. Atlanta can’t stop him, and he has no excuses the rest of this series.

The Thunder will not be challenged by the Suns

I really respect the Suns’ success because I thought they would be terrible and trapped in eternal hell with all their draft picks out the door and the ghost Bradley Beal as an anchor on the cap sheet. Phoenix is a fun, gritty team with an excellent first-year head coach in Jordan Ott. There are levels to this, though, and the Thunder are multiple standard deviations better than the Suns. OKC was the big winner of the final seeding, because they get to watch the Nuggets and Spurs duke it out on the other side of the bracket. I don’t expect the Thunder to be tested until the West Finals.

Playoff Wemby is a legend in the making

Victor Wembanyama’s playoff debut was spectacular, scoring 21 points in the first half to kickstart a rout of the Trail Blazers. I compared Wemby to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — the third best player in NBA history for my money — a year before he entered the NBA Draft, and I still don’t’ regret it. He’s already in the conversation for the best player in the world at age-22. If he stays healthy, it will feel like an upset he’s not a top-10 player of all-time when it’s all said and done. Wembanyama’s ascent cannot be stopped, and the Spurs have put a good enough team around him to make anything possible this year. Portland will be the first team to feel something many Western Conference adversaries will experience over the decade: Wembanyama is simply a problem without a solution, and your team has no chance if he’s on the other side.

Rudy Gobert will get his flowers vs. the Nuggets

Rudy Gobert has to be the most maligned great player of his generation. There are a thousand podcast clips over the years of former players disrespecting his game. Meanwhile, all Gobert does is continue to lockdown the paint defensively all by himself, and he proved it again in Game 2 against the Nuggets. Gobert only scored two points, but his impact was was so much greater when it came to limiting the Nikola Jokic/Jamal Murray two-man game. Gobert can bother Jokic’s 1-on-1 scoring, and he can hedge or switch out on Murray when he needs to. He also keeps himself in great shape to continue fighting deep into games. I expect the Nuggets to still win this series even after giving up a home game in Game 2, but it won’t be easy with an all-time great defensive center making life miserable for an elite offense.

Ime Udoka will be on the hot seat if the Rockets lose to the Lakers

Ime Udoka inherited a 22-win team when he was hired as head coach of the Rockets, and immediately led them to 41 wins in his first season and then 52 wins in back-to-back seasons after that. Udoka is an excellent defensive coach, and he’s working at a disadvantage right now without Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams plus an unexpected injury to Kevin Durant in Game 1. The Rockets’ biggest problems are more personnel related than coaching, but Udoka could still face some heat if Houston actually gets eliminated to a Lakers team without Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves. It’s hard to believe the Rockets had a top-10 offense this season after watching their pathetic display — a 106.5 offensive rating — in Game 1. Durant’s absence obviously contributed a lot to that, but it just feels like nothing comes easy for this team. I think firing Udoka would be a mistake even if Houston loses, but I would bet we get some hot seat rumors this summer as Houston ponders how to take the next step.

#NBA #Playoffs #overreactions #start #firstround #series">NBA Playoffs overreactions for start of every 2026 first-round series The 2026 NBA Playoffs promised a wide open championship race for a league that has seen seven unique champions over the last seven seasons. The playoffs are already delivering in the first-round, and they’re only going to get better as the march towards the NBA Finals continues.The start of the first round has already positioned three series as all-out battles with the road team stealing a game. The Atlanta Hawks evened things up against the New York Knicks in Game 2 with an incredible fourth quarter rally led by C.J. McCollum. The Minnesota Timberwolves tied the series vs. the Denver Nuggets in what’s shaping up to be the most physical clash of the first round. The No. 8 seed Orlando Magic knocked off the No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons in Game 1 to immediately raise the stakes in the East. The Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers series is shaping up to be competitive too despite major injuries on both sides.With the first round in full swing, here’s one overreaction from every series so far. Check out our full rankings for every team in the NBA Playoffs, and a list of the top-50 players in the postseason, for more coverage.The Magic really have a chance to upset the PistonsYes, the Magic were my preseason NBA Finals pick, and yes, I was deeply ashamed of it all year. Orlando failed to meet expectations for a variety of reasons this season, but the big ones were: a) injuries, b) poor coaching, and c) a failure to maximize the fit between Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. It looked like the Magic wouldn’t even make the playoffs after they got drilled by the Philadelphia 76ers in their play-in opener, but they put up their best performance of the season in the next play-in game against the Charlotte Hornets to earn the No. 8 seed, then topped it with an excellent Game 1 to knock off the heavily favored Pistons.I really liked the way the matchups work out for the Magic in this series now that they’re finally healthy. The Pistons are known for their physicality, but they can’t bully Orlando. It was nice to see Banchero and Wagner get their high-low game going. Wagner looked deadly on drives to the rim, and Banchero was doing a good job of not settling for jumpers, where his touch is poor. Jalen Suggs is really one of the most impactful role players in the league, and he looked great in disrupting the Pistons’ perimeter offense. Wendell Carter Jr. had a masterful game switching defensively to deny Detroit’s drives while also spacing the floor on offense.Detroit should roar back to form in Game 2. The Pistons can make some adjustments to force Banchero into his worst habits, and find more ways to free up Duren offensively. I’ve always been a little skeptical of JB Bickerstaff in the playoffs, though, and the talent gap doesn’t feel like a typical No. 1 vs. No. 8 series here. Questions about Detroit’s halfcourt offense persisted all season, and they should be louder than ever right now. I doubt Game 1 will be Orlando’s only victory in this series. The Pistons will answer, but the Magic really have a chance to advance.The Celtics are going to roll over the SixersBoston showed why they’re suddenly the favorites to reach the NBA Finals out of the East. The Celtics rocked the 76ers from the opening quarter in Game 1 in a display that showed their full might. Jayson Tatum looked fantastic in the first quarter, Jaylen Brown took over in the third, and the defense, three-point shooting, and rebounding were all humming at elite levels. Tatum’s comeback from a torn Achilles suffered 11 months ago has been so impressive, and somehow it feels like the Celtics are deeper than ever even after losing Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis in the offseason. This organization is the gold standard in the game, from the front office to the coaching to the players. The Celtics look scary right now.The James Harden trade looks genius for the CavsThe idea of trading for James Harden to bolster a playoff run is objectively kind of hilarious on its face, but it sure feels like it’s working out well for the Cavs. Darius Garland was always going to get picked on in the playoffs for his diminutive frame, and it just didn’t feel like Cleveland could trust him to stay healthy through the entire postseason. Swapping out Garland for James Harden was a fascinating move that shortened the Cavs’ timeline but also gave them the best possible chance to win right now. Yes, Harden has an epic list of playoff failures in his career, but he’s still damn good at age-36, and his arrival has freed up Donovan Mitchell’s workload while maximizing Jarrett Allen’s offensive ceiling in the pick-and-roll. With rumors swirling that Mitchell could be on the trade block if he turns down an offseason extension, the Cavs had to go all-out to try to make the NBA Finals this season, and the Harden trade really did seem to improve their odds. I see this team winning more than one playoff series this year, and this opener against the Raptors shouldn’t be too suspenseful.Karl-Anthony Towns should be enough for Knicks to advanceThis playoff run feels destined to become a referendum on every key piece for the Knicks, maybe no one more so than Karl-Anthony Towns. KAT badly needs a signature playoff run both for New York’s conference championship chances and his own reputation, and the Hawks’ matchup felt like it should be a favorable start for him. Game 1 showed just how much bigger, stronger, and more skilled Towns is than the Atlanta front court. In Game 2, Atlanta completely took Towns out of the game in the fourth quarter, limiting him to zero points and only two shot attempts. Towns needs to avoid falling into his usual traps — stupid fouls, bad defense, inexplicable moments where he trips for no reason — which is easier said than done. It does feel like his chemistry with Jalen Brunson hit another level late in the season, and he should be able to annihilate Atlanta if both are locked in. It’s time for KAT to remind everyone that he’s one of the best bigs in the league and a former No. 1 overall draft pick. Atlanta can’t stop him, and he has no excuses the rest of this series.The Thunder will not be challenged by the SunsI really respect the Suns’ success because I thought they would be terrible and trapped in eternal hell with all their draft picks out the door and the ghost Bradley Beal as an anchor on the cap sheet. Phoenix is a fun, gritty team with an excellent first-year head coach in Jordan Ott. There are levels to this, though, and the Thunder are multiple standard deviations better than the Suns. OKC was the big winner of the final seeding, because they get to watch the Nuggets and Spurs duke it out on the other side of the bracket. I don’t expect the Thunder to be tested until the West Finals.Playoff Wemby is a legend in the makingVictor Wembanyama’s playoff debut was spectacular, scoring 21 points in the first half to kickstart a rout of the Trail Blazers. I compared Wemby to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — the third best player in NBA history for my money — a year before he entered the NBA Draft, and I still don’t’ regret it. He’s already in the conversation for the best player in the world at age-22. If he stays healthy, it will feel like an upset he’s not a top-10 player of all-time when it’s all said and done. Wembanyama’s ascent cannot be stopped, and the Spurs have put a good enough team around him to make anything possible this year. Portland will be the first team to feel something many Western Conference adversaries will experience over the decade: Wembanyama is simply a problem without a solution, and your team has no chance if he’s on the other side.Rudy Gobert will get his flowers vs. the NuggetsRudy Gobert has to be the most maligned great player of his generation. There are a thousand podcast clips over the years of former players disrespecting his game. Meanwhile, all Gobert does is continue to lockdown the paint defensively all by himself, and he proved it again in Game 2 against the Nuggets. Gobert only scored two points, but his impact was was so much greater when it came to limiting the Nikola Jokic/Jamal Murray two-man game. Gobert can bother Jokic’s 1-on-1 scoring, and he can hedge or switch out on Murray when he needs to. He also keeps himself in great shape to continue fighting deep into games. I expect the Nuggets to still win this series even after giving up a home game in Game 2, but it won’t be easy with an all-time great defensive center making life miserable for an elite offense.Ime Udoka will be on the hot seat if the Rockets lose to the LakersIme Udoka inherited a 22-win team when he was hired as head coach of the Rockets, and immediately led them to 41 wins in his first season and then 52 wins in back-to-back seasons after that. Udoka is an excellent defensive coach, and he’s working at a disadvantage right now without Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams plus an unexpected injury to Kevin Durant in Game 1. The Rockets’ biggest problems are more personnel related than coaching, but Udoka could still face some heat if Houston actually gets eliminated to a Lakers team without Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves. It’s hard to believe the Rockets had a top-10 offense this season after watching their pathetic display — a 106.5 offensive rating — in Game 1. Durant’s absence obviously contributed a lot to that, but it just feels like nothing comes easy for this team. I think firing Udoka would be a mistake even if Houston loses, but I would bet we get some hot seat rumors this summer as Houston ponders how to take the next step. #NBA #Playoffs #overreactions #start #firstround #series

full rankings for every team in the NBA Playoffs, and a list of the top-50 players in the postseason, for more coverage.

The Magic really have a chance to upset the Pistons

Yes, the Magic were my preseason NBA Finals pick, and yes, I was deeply ashamed of it all year. Orlando failed to meet expectations for a variety of reasons this season, but the big ones were: a) injuries, b) poor coaching, and c) a failure to maximize the fit between Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. It looked like the Magic wouldn’t even make the playoffs after they got drilled by the Philadelphia 76ers in their play-in opener, but they put up their best performance of the season in the next play-in game against the Charlotte Hornets to earn the No. 8 seed, then topped it with an excellent Game 1 to knock off the heavily favored Pistons.

I really liked the way the matchups work out for the Magic in this series now that they’re finally healthy. The Pistons are known for their physicality, but they can’t bully Orlando. It was nice to see Banchero and Wagner get their high-low game going. Wagner looked deadly on drives to the rim, and Banchero was doing a good job of not settling for jumpers, where his touch is poor. Jalen Suggs is really one of the most impactful role players in the league, and he looked great in disrupting the Pistons’ perimeter offense. Wendell Carter Jr. had a masterful game switching defensively to deny Detroit’s drives while also spacing the floor on offense.

Detroit should roar back to form in Game 2. The Pistons can make some adjustments to force Banchero into his worst habits, and find more ways to free up Duren offensively. I’ve always been a little skeptical of JB Bickerstaff in the playoffs, though, and the talent gap doesn’t feel like a typical No. 1 vs. No. 8 series here. Questions about Detroit’s halfcourt offense persisted all season, and they should be louder than ever right now. I doubt Game 1 will be Orlando’s only victory in this series. The Pistons will answer, but the Magic really have a chance to advance.

The Celtics are going to roll over the Sixers

Boston showed why they’re suddenly the favorites to reach the NBA Finals out of the East. The Celtics rocked the 76ers from the opening quarter in Game 1 in a display that showed their full might. Jayson Tatum looked fantastic in the first quarter, Jaylen Brown took over in the third, and the defense, three-point shooting, and rebounding were all humming at elite levels. Tatum’s comeback from a torn Achilles suffered 11 months ago has been so impressive, and somehow it feels like the Celtics are deeper than ever even after losing Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis in the offseason. This organization is the gold standard in the game, from the front office to the coaching to the players. The Celtics look scary right now.

The James Harden trade looks genius for the Cavs

The idea of trading for James Harden to bolster a playoff run is objectively kind of hilarious on its face, but it sure feels like it’s working out well for the Cavs. Darius Garland was always going to get picked on in the playoffs for his diminutive frame, and it just didn’t feel like Cleveland could trust him to stay healthy through the entire postseason. Swapping out Garland for James Harden was a fascinating move that shortened the Cavs’ timeline but also gave them the best possible chance to win right now. Yes, Harden has an epic list of playoff failures in his career, but he’s still damn good at age-36, and his arrival has freed up Donovan Mitchell’s workload while maximizing Jarrett Allen’s offensive ceiling in the pick-and-roll. With rumors swirling that Mitchell could be on the trade block if he turns down an offseason extension, the Cavs had to go all-out to try to make the NBA Finals this season, and the Harden trade really did seem to improve their odds. I see this team winning more than one playoff series this year, and this opener against the Raptors shouldn’t be too suspenseful.

Karl-Anthony Towns should be enough for Knicks to advance

This playoff run feels destined to become a referendum on every key piece for the Knicks, maybe no one more so than Karl-Anthony Towns. KAT badly needs a signature playoff run both for New York’s conference championship chances and his own reputation, and the Hawks’ matchup felt like it should be a favorable start for him. Game 1 showed just how much bigger, stronger, and more skilled Towns is than the Atlanta front court. In Game 2, Atlanta completely took Towns out of the game in the fourth quarter, limiting him to zero points and only two shot attempts. Towns needs to avoid falling into his usual traps — stupid fouls, bad defense, inexplicable moments where he trips for no reason — which is easier said than done. It does feel like his chemistry with Jalen Brunson hit another level late in the season, and he should be able to annihilate Atlanta if both are locked in. It’s time for KAT to remind everyone that he’s one of the best bigs in the league and a former No. 1 overall draft pick. Atlanta can’t stop him, and he has no excuses the rest of this series.

The Thunder will not be challenged by the Suns

I really respect the Suns’ success because I thought they would be terrible and trapped in eternal hell with all their draft picks out the door and the ghost Bradley Beal as an anchor on the cap sheet. Phoenix is a fun, gritty team with an excellent first-year head coach in Jordan Ott. There are levels to this, though, and the Thunder are multiple standard deviations better than the Suns. OKC was the big winner of the final seeding, because they get to watch the Nuggets and Spurs duke it out on the other side of the bracket. I don’t expect the Thunder to be tested until the West Finals.

Playoff Wemby is a legend in the making

Victor Wembanyama’s playoff debut was spectacular, scoring 21 points in the first half to kickstart a rout of the Trail Blazers. I compared Wemby to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — the third best player in NBA history for my money — a year before he entered the NBA Draft, and I still don’t’ regret it. He’s already in the conversation for the best player in the world at age-22. If he stays healthy, it will feel like an upset he’s not a top-10 player of all-time when it’s all said and done. Wembanyama’s ascent cannot be stopped, and the Spurs have put a good enough team around him to make anything possible this year. Portland will be the first team to feel something many Western Conference adversaries will experience over the decade: Wembanyama is simply a problem without a solution, and your team has no chance if he’s on the other side.

Rudy Gobert will get his flowers vs. the Nuggets

Rudy Gobert has to be the most maligned great player of his generation. There are a thousand podcast clips over the years of former players disrespecting his game. Meanwhile, all Gobert does is continue to lockdown the paint defensively all by himself, and he proved it again in Game 2 against the Nuggets. Gobert only scored two points, but his impact was was so much greater when it came to limiting the Nikola Jokic/Jamal Murray two-man game. Gobert can bother Jokic’s 1-on-1 scoring, and he can hedge or switch out on Murray when he needs to. He also keeps himself in great shape to continue fighting deep into games. I expect the Nuggets to still win this series even after giving up a home game in Game 2, but it won’t be easy with an all-time great defensive center making life miserable for an elite offense.

Ime Udoka will be on the hot seat if the Rockets lose to the Lakers

Ime Udoka inherited a 22-win team when he was hired as head coach of the Rockets, and immediately led them to 41 wins in his first season and then 52 wins in back-to-back seasons after that. Udoka is an excellent defensive coach, and he’s working at a disadvantage right now without Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams plus an unexpected injury to Kevin Durant in Game 1. The Rockets’ biggest problems are more personnel related than coaching, but Udoka could still face some heat if Houston actually gets eliminated to a Lakers team without Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves. It’s hard to believe the Rockets had a top-10 offense this season after watching their pathetic display — a 106.5 offensive rating — in Game 1. Durant’s absence obviously contributed a lot to that, but it just feels like nothing comes easy for this team. I think firing Udoka would be a mistake even if Houston loses, but I would bet we get some hot seat rumors this summer as Houston ponders how to take the next step.

#NBA #Playoffs #overreactions #start #firstround #series">NBA Playoffs overreactions for start of every 2026 first-round series

The 2026 NBA Playoffs promised a wide open championship race for a league that has seen seven unique champions over the last seven seasons. The playoffs are already delivering in the first-round, and they’re only going to get better as the march towards the NBA Finals continues.

The start of the first round has already positioned three series as all-out battles with the road team stealing a game. The Atlanta Hawks evened things up against the New York Knicks in Game 2 with an incredible fourth quarter rally led by C.J. McCollum. The Minnesota Timberwolves tied the series vs. the Denver Nuggets in what’s shaping up to be the most physical clash of the first round. The No. 8 seed Orlando Magic knocked off the No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons in Game 1 to immediately raise the stakes in the East. The Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers series is shaping up to be competitive too despite major injuries on both sides.

With the first round in full swing, here’s one overreaction from every series so far. Check out our full rankings for every team in the NBA Playoffs, and a list of the top-50 players in the postseason, for more coverage.

The Magic really have a chance to upset the Pistons

Yes, the Magic were my preseason NBA Finals pick, and yes, I was deeply ashamed of it all year. Orlando failed to meet expectations for a variety of reasons this season, but the big ones were: a) injuries, b) poor coaching, and c) a failure to maximize the fit between Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. It looked like the Magic wouldn’t even make the playoffs after they got drilled by the Philadelphia 76ers in their play-in opener, but they put up their best performance of the season in the next play-in game against the Charlotte Hornets to earn the No. 8 seed, then topped it with an excellent Game 1 to knock off the heavily favored Pistons.

I really liked the way the matchups work out for the Magic in this series now that they’re finally healthy. The Pistons are known for their physicality, but they can’t bully Orlando. It was nice to see Banchero and Wagner get their high-low game going. Wagner looked deadly on drives to the rim, and Banchero was doing a good job of not settling for jumpers, where his touch is poor. Jalen Suggs is really one of the most impactful role players in the league, and he looked great in disrupting the Pistons’ perimeter offense. Wendell Carter Jr. had a masterful game switching defensively to deny Detroit’s drives while also spacing the floor on offense.

Detroit should roar back to form in Game 2. The Pistons can make some adjustments to force Banchero into his worst habits, and find more ways to free up Duren offensively. I’ve always been a little skeptical of JB Bickerstaff in the playoffs, though, and the talent gap doesn’t feel like a typical No. 1 vs. No. 8 series here. Questions about Detroit’s halfcourt offense persisted all season, and they should be louder than ever right now. I doubt Game 1 will be Orlando’s only victory in this series. The Pistons will answer, but the Magic really have a chance to advance.

The Celtics are going to roll over the Sixers

Boston showed why they’re suddenly the favorites to reach the NBA Finals out of the East. The Celtics rocked the 76ers from the opening quarter in Game 1 in a display that showed their full might. Jayson Tatum looked fantastic in the first quarter, Jaylen Brown took over in the third, and the defense, three-point shooting, and rebounding were all humming at elite levels. Tatum’s comeback from a torn Achilles suffered 11 months ago has been so impressive, and somehow it feels like the Celtics are deeper than ever even after losing Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis in the offseason. This organization is the gold standard in the game, from the front office to the coaching to the players. The Celtics look scary right now.

The James Harden trade looks genius for the Cavs

The idea of trading for James Harden to bolster a playoff run is objectively kind of hilarious on its face, but it sure feels like it’s working out well for the Cavs. Darius Garland was always going to get picked on in the playoffs for his diminutive frame, and it just didn’t feel like Cleveland could trust him to stay healthy through the entire postseason. Swapping out Garland for James Harden was a fascinating move that shortened the Cavs’ timeline but also gave them the best possible chance to win right now. Yes, Harden has an epic list of playoff failures in his career, but he’s still damn good at age-36, and his arrival has freed up Donovan Mitchell’s workload while maximizing Jarrett Allen’s offensive ceiling in the pick-and-roll. With rumors swirling that Mitchell could be on the trade block if he turns down an offseason extension, the Cavs had to go all-out to try to make the NBA Finals this season, and the Harden trade really did seem to improve their odds. I see this team winning more than one playoff series this year, and this opener against the Raptors shouldn’t be too suspenseful.

Karl-Anthony Towns should be enough for Knicks to advance

This playoff run feels destined to become a referendum on every key piece for the Knicks, maybe no one more so than Karl-Anthony Towns. KAT badly needs a signature playoff run both for New York’s conference championship chances and his own reputation, and the Hawks’ matchup felt like it should be a favorable start for him. Game 1 showed just how much bigger, stronger, and more skilled Towns is than the Atlanta front court. In Game 2, Atlanta completely took Towns out of the game in the fourth quarter, limiting him to zero points and only two shot attempts. Towns needs to avoid falling into his usual traps — stupid fouls, bad defense, inexplicable moments where he trips for no reason — which is easier said than done. It does feel like his chemistry with Jalen Brunson hit another level late in the season, and he should be able to annihilate Atlanta if both are locked in. It’s time for KAT to remind everyone that he’s one of the best bigs in the league and a former No. 1 overall draft pick. Atlanta can’t stop him, and he has no excuses the rest of this series.

The Thunder will not be challenged by the Suns

I really respect the Suns’ success because I thought they would be terrible and trapped in eternal hell with all their draft picks out the door and the ghost Bradley Beal as an anchor on the cap sheet. Phoenix is a fun, gritty team with an excellent first-year head coach in Jordan Ott. There are levels to this, though, and the Thunder are multiple standard deviations better than the Suns. OKC was the big winner of the final seeding, because they get to watch the Nuggets and Spurs duke it out on the other side of the bracket. I don’t expect the Thunder to be tested until the West Finals.

Playoff Wemby is a legend in the making

Victor Wembanyama’s playoff debut was spectacular, scoring 21 points in the first half to kickstart a rout of the Trail Blazers. I compared Wemby to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — the third best player in NBA history for my money — a year before he entered the NBA Draft, and I still don’t’ regret it. He’s already in the conversation for the best player in the world at age-22. If he stays healthy, it will feel like an upset he’s not a top-10 player of all-time when it’s all said and done. Wembanyama’s ascent cannot be stopped, and the Spurs have put a good enough team around him to make anything possible this year. Portland will be the first team to feel something many Western Conference adversaries will experience over the decade: Wembanyama is simply a problem without a solution, and your team has no chance if he’s on the other side.

Rudy Gobert will get his flowers vs. the Nuggets

Rudy Gobert has to be the most maligned great player of his generation. There are a thousand podcast clips over the years of former players disrespecting his game. Meanwhile, all Gobert does is continue to lockdown the paint defensively all by himself, and he proved it again in Game 2 against the Nuggets. Gobert only scored two points, but his impact was was so much greater when it came to limiting the Nikola Jokic/Jamal Murray two-man game. Gobert can bother Jokic’s 1-on-1 scoring, and he can hedge or switch out on Murray when he needs to. He also keeps himself in great shape to continue fighting deep into games. I expect the Nuggets to still win this series even after giving up a home game in Game 2, but it won’t be easy with an all-time great defensive center making life miserable for an elite offense.

Ime Udoka will be on the hot seat if the Rockets lose to the Lakers

Ime Udoka inherited a 22-win team when he was hired as head coach of the Rockets, and immediately led them to 41 wins in his first season and then 52 wins in back-to-back seasons after that. Udoka is an excellent defensive coach, and he’s working at a disadvantage right now without Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams plus an unexpected injury to Kevin Durant in Game 1. The Rockets’ biggest problems are more personnel related than coaching, but Udoka could still face some heat if Houston actually gets eliminated to a Lakers team without Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves. It’s hard to believe the Rockets had a top-10 offense this season after watching their pathetic display — a 106.5 offensive rating — in Game 1. Durant’s absence obviously contributed a lot to that, but it just feels like nothing comes easy for this team. I think firing Udoka would be a mistake even if Houston loses, but I would bet we get some hot seat rumors this summer as Houston ponders how to take the next step.

#NBA #Playoffs #overreactions #start #firstround #series

Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and senior all-rounder Deepti Sharma would like to bring out their ‘A’ games as the Indian women’s team tries to pull all its stops to get back to winning ways against South Africa in the third T20 International on Wednesday.

The Proteas women lead the five-match series 2-0 and would like to complete the series win in the third match at the Bull Ring.

Mandhana, easily team’s most impactful batter, scored 13 and 12 in the first two games. India put up an underwhelming show with totals of 157 and 147 which the home team surpassed without breaking much sweat.

As far as Deepti is concerned, her form has been more worrisome. She was demoted to No. 9 in the first game where she remained not out on one run and was dismissed for identical score in the second game where she was sent up the order at No. 6. In both games, she went wicketless.

The Indian batting is very much dependent on Mandhana’s free-flowing starts and the stylish southpaw would like to make amends for the poor returns in the first two games. Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues did get some runs in the first match but came a cropper in the second outing.

With T20 World Cup in England only a couple of months away, Harmanpreet & Co. would like to get its mojo back and notch up a few victories which is essential to boost the morale of the team.

What has hurt India more is the fact that there has been no power-hitting at the back-end of the innings leading to below-par totals in both games.

“If you see both the games in 12 overs or so, we were at 100 and then after that we couldn’t finish the way we wanted them to but that always happens in cricket,” bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi said at the pre-match press conference.

On Deepti’s form, Salvi defended the veteran all-rounder, who was a star performer during India’s ODI World Cup triumph.

“One or two games or three games doesn’t justify the kind of talent she (Deepti) is, the kind of performances she has put in over the years. She is not at her best as of now but she has gone back to the drawing board, discussing all her game plans, what she wants to use during the games.

“It’s only a matter of a few instances where probably she just strikes and she comes back shining,” Salvi backed her with all intent.

For the Proteas, skipper Laura Wolvaardt has once again proved to be a thorn in the flesh for India with back-to-back half-centuries (51 and 54).

The Indian attack has also looked rudderless during PowerPlay and Salvi admitted that they are currently carrying out a trial and error as to which bowlers would work during the global event.

“We are actually giving opportunities to all the bowlers to operate into that segment so that we don’t rely only on a few bowlers coming into the main event (T20 World Cup).

“But obviously, yes, we would like to pick wickets, we would like to strike early, we would like to use the power play from the bowling point of view so that we create that impact initially into the game,” Salvi added.

Published on Apr 21, 2026

#INDW #3rd #T20I #Focus #Mandhana #Deepti #India #stay #afloat">IND-W vs SA-W, 3rd T20I: Focus on Mandhana, Deepti as India tries to stay afloat Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and senior all-rounder Deepti Sharma would like to bring out their ‘A’ games as the Indian women’s team tries to pull all its stops to get back to winning ways against South Africa in the third T20 International on Wednesday.The Proteas women lead the five-match series 2-0 and would like to complete the series win in the third match at the Bull Ring.Mandhana, easily team’s most impactful batter, scored 13 and 12 in the first two games. India put up an underwhelming show with totals of 157 and 147 which the home team surpassed without breaking much sweat.As far as Deepti is concerned, her form has been more worrisome. She was demoted to No. 9 in the first game where she remained not out on one run and was dismissed for identical score in the second game where she was sent up the order at No. 6. In both games, she went wicketless.The Indian batting is very much dependent on Mandhana’s free-flowing starts and the stylish southpaw would like to make amends for the poor returns in the first two games. Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues did get some runs in the first match but came a cropper in the second outing.With T20 World Cup in England only a couple of months away, Harmanpreet & Co. would like to get its mojo back and notch up a few victories which is essential to boost the morale of the team.What has hurt India more is the fact that there has been no power-hitting at the back-end of the innings leading to below-par totals in both games.“If you see both the games in 12 overs or so, we were at 100 and then after that we couldn’t finish the way we wanted them to but that always happens in cricket,” bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi said at the pre-match press conference.On Deepti’s form, Salvi defended the veteran all-rounder, who was a star performer during India’s ODI World Cup triumph.“One or two games or three games doesn’t justify the kind of talent she (Deepti) is, the kind of performances she has put in over the years. She is not at her best as of now but she has gone back to the drawing board, discussing all her game plans, what she wants to use during the games.“It’s only a matter of a few instances where probably she just strikes and she comes back shining,” Salvi backed her with all intent.For the Proteas, skipper Laura Wolvaardt has once again proved to be a thorn in the flesh for India with back-to-back half-centuries (51 and 54).The Indian attack has also looked rudderless during PowerPlay and Salvi admitted that they are currently carrying out a trial and error as to which bowlers would work during the global event.“We are actually giving opportunities to all the bowlers to operate into that segment so that we don’t rely only on a few bowlers coming into the main event (T20 World Cup).“But obviously, yes, we would like to pick wickets, we would like to strike early, we would like to use the power play from the bowling point of view so that we create that impact initially into the game,” Salvi added.Published on Apr 21, 2026 #INDW #3rd #T20I #Focus #Mandhana #Deepti #India #stay #afloat

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