Stephen Curry, Joel Embiid and Kawhi Leonard.
Star energy to get pleasure from … verify.
The Hornets, Suns and Path Blazers.
Plucky underdogs to root for … verify.
The prospect of taking part in the Thunder, Spurs, Pistons or Celtics subsequent … ugh.
With the eight contributors coming extra into focus, it seems the NBA can have some intriguing matchups in its play-in video games subsequent week.
However let’s be trustworthy: There’s a cause these aren’t referred to as the playoffs. And why the stats don’t rely.
That’s as a result of they’re nothing greater than exhibitions.
There isn’t a single crew among the many octet that has an opportunity to advance previous the primary spherical of the playoffs. Half can be fortunate to win a recreation.
So whereas it’s enjoyable to look at Prairie View expertise one shining second on the expense of a college whose college students can see precise buildings exterior their window, you ultimately come to the belief that you just’re watching the junior varsity prelim to the marquee occasion.
Right here’s why whereas some doubtless contributors can be value watching early subsequent week, you’ll have higher issues to do by subsequent weekend …
Philadelphia 76ers
Oct 27, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) reacts after scoring towards the Orlando Magic throughout the fourth quarter at Xfinity Cell Enviornment. Necessary Credit score: Invoice Streicher-Imagn Pictures If I had a Ben Franklin for each time I’ve heard the phrase “once they get wholesome …” – I’d wager all of it on that crew not being wholesome inside per week of when it received all inexperienced lights. If it ever did occur. With Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey going triple-threat on some outclassed opponent within the Jap 7-8 play-in, it would really be a magnet for the Celtics, who await in the actual deal.
After which when Embiid, George or Maxey – or some mixture thereof – can’t stay upright for greater than 25 minutes in Boston, you’ll be left muttering: Why can’t this be a best-of-three?
Orlando Magic
Jan 7, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic ahead Paolo Banchero (5) drives to the basket towards the Atlanta Hawks throughout the second half at Kia Heart. credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports activities Right here’s 76ers Lite. Let’s name them the Six-Seveners as a result of they’ve develop into the last word “so-so” crew within the NBA. This half-good squad has one loss/one win written throughout it within the play-in, so the Magic higher be praying for the 7-8’s double-elimination benefit. Then 6-7 would flip into 4, as in a first-round sweep by the Pistons.
Charlotte Hornets
The let-it-fly Hornets earn the correct to be the folks’s alternative on this group, however except the Raptors drop into the play-in, they received’t have anyone who’ll run with them. One of these first-one-to-130-wins entertainer NEVER succeeds within the playoffs, however at the least we might get a solution to certainly one of basketball’s most urgent questions … Who’s probably the most intelligent passer within the recreation immediately, LaMelo Ball or Caitlin Clark?
Miami Warmth
Kinda like Dan Hurley, you don’t need to mess with Erik Spoelstra within the postseason. A minimum of till the Finals. Even ought to they land tenth, they’d be the final crew the Celtics would need to see in Spherical 1. Keep in mind 2023? They’re winners vs. losers in a matchup with the Magic, and protection vs. offense ought to they draw the Hornets. That performs within the postseason … till you run into greater winners and higher defenders on the finish of the week.
Phoenix Suns
Jan 4, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) reacts towards the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder within the first half at Mortgage Matchup Heart. Necessary Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Pictures For the lifetime of me, I can’t determine what J.B. Bickerstaff has finished to warrant Coach of the Yr consideration. Boston’s Joe Mazzulla and Phoenix’s Jordan Ott have been purported to be taking part in Musical Chairs on the draft lottery venue by mid-April. As an alternative, their groups every received about 20 extra video games than anticipated. Sadly for Ott – who ought to get the award – it takes greater than teaching (except you’re Spoelstra) to win at this level. Nonetheless, a Suns-Path Blazers showdown for Western Shock Crew of the Yr can be entertaining and acceptable.
Los Angeles Clippers
You don’t get many Kawhi Leonard-Stephen Curry matchups within the play-in, in order that’s a second cause to root for the Path Blazers to land eighth and the Clippers ninth. However even the hobbled Warriors would have an opportunity to beat the Clippers, who wrote off the season once they dealt James Harden and Ivica Zubac on the commerce deadline. Nonetheless, Leonard vs. Curry can be a 30-minute blast, wouldn’t it? (They do not do 48 anymore.) Then once more, a 7-8 win would ship Kawhi to San Antonio, which might get attention-grabbing.
Portland Path Blazers
Warriors followers are praying to get the Path Blazers within the 9-10 recreation, even at Portland, due to the host’s lack of playoff expertise. However watch out what you would like for. Curry, Draymond Inexperienced, Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis … with all of the video games they’ve missed this season, not a single one was on account of dizziness. However by halftime of this one-team observe meet, that might change.
Golden State Warriors
Don’t look now, however any of the 4 groups within the Jap play-in can be a clear-cut favourite within the West. Who’d have thought we might ever seen that day? With simply two “completely happy to be right here” groups and a has-been of their method, the door is definitely open for the Warriors to win twice on the highway and make it to the weekend towards the Thunder. However you recognize what they are saying …
“After they get wholesome …”
