Celtics vs. Pistons
The ridiculously talented duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown ran roughshod over the Eastern Conference for nearly a decade. However, with Brown being dealt to Philadelphia for Paul George, all of Boston's superstar duties now fall on the shoulders of the 10-year man out of Duke.
Tatum returned to action late last season just nine months after undergoing surgery on his Achilles, averaging 21.8 points in 16 games. Now that he's had an offseason to fully recover, the league may be in for an unfriendly reminder of how dangerous this 6-time All-Star truly is.
While George may not be the MVP candidate he once was, the versatile swingman is still more than capable of dropping 20 on any given night. In the 2026 playoffs, George averaged 17.4 points per game on 55% three-point shooting during Philly's first-round upset over the Celtics. Rebounding savant Mitchell Robinson and veteran guard Mike Conley round out Boston's offseason moves, bolstering the depth chart in a major way.
The defensive prowess of Derrick White and the offensive wizardry of Payton Pritchard aren't going anywhere, as the guard tandem will be key in helping the Celtics win a 19th NBA championship.
Over the past few years, Detroit basketball has undergone a drastic resurgence. Why, you may ask? Look no further than the man they call the Motorcade.
Cade Cunningham has emerged as one of the NBA's premier floor generals, averaging 23.9 points per game and 9.9 assists in 2026. The Oklahoma State product came away with All-NBA first-team honors and led the Pistons to a No. 1 seed for the first time since 2007.
However, a glaring issue for Detroit in last year's playoffs was the lack of a reliable second scoring option. Jalen Duren enjoyed the best regular season of his career, but saw a near 10-point drop in scoring once the postseason came around. Ausar Thompson is one of, if not the best perimeter defenders in the league, but his inability to space the floor often causes Detroit's half-court offense to go stagnant.
Tim Hardaway Jr and Tobias Harris are gone, but Isaiah Joe and John Collins were brought in to fill those roster holes. Daniss Jenkins will return as a primary ball handler for Detroit's second unit, and rookie Ebuka Okorie has all the potential in the world to be a dependable playmaker as the season progresses.
Detroit won the season series against Boston 3-1 in 2026, with all four games being within single digits. These two squads found themselves at the top of the Eastern Conference last year, but following a monumental change to the conference's landscape, will they be able to stay there?
76ers vs. Knicks
No team in NBA history has ever put together a better offseason than the Philadelphia 76ers in 2026.
The addition of Brown seemed like enough to consider the 76ers as legitimate championship contenders. LeBron James's free agency decision, however, took things to another level.
Simply put, this Philadelphia roster is an embarrassment of riches. The quartet of Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, Brown, and James is a collection of star power that is usually only seen in video games. Not to mention VJ Edgecombe, who set the NBA on fire with his explosive athleticism in his rookie campaign.
Philly's reserves are nothing to scoff at either, with crafty guard Anfernee Simons and rookie Labaron Philon Jr. headlining the second unit. Health is the only question mark that surrounds this team, especially at the center position. Ariel Hukporti and Adem Bona will both be out to start the season, placing much strain on former MVP Embiid, who has dealt with a plethora of injuries throughout his career.
While the city of brotherly love is buzzing about what could potentially be its first championship team since 1983, opening night has them matched up against the squad that just hoisted the Larry O'Brien.
The heroics of Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby helped the Knicks cross the finish line for the first time in 53 years, knocking off the red-hot San Antonio Spurs in five games. Resilience personified New York's magical run, winning multiple games throughout the postseason after trailing by 10 or more points.
Outside of losing Mitchell Robinson, the Knicks were able to retain the majority of their key contributors. Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns return as the team's 20-point-per-game scorers, while Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart will continue to play their roles as some of the best 3-and-D players the league has to offer. Jose Alvarado, Miles McBride and Jordan Clarkson are back as spark plugs off the bench, with Andre Drummond being brought in to back up Towns.
These two split the regular-season series in 2026, but the Knicks made quick work of the 76ers in the second round of the playoffs, sending them packing with a sweep. With the defending champions going toe-to-toe with the preseason favorites, fans can be sure to expect fireworks.
Spurs vs. Thunder
Gone are the days of the Tim Duncan and Kevin Durant battles, but nearly two decades later, these two franchises are back at the top of the food chain in the Western Conference.
The Spurs and the Thunder delivered a classic Western Conference Finals series last season, with San Antonio coming out on top in seven games.
Victor Wembanyama was already considered a league-wide threat before his 2026 playoff run, but his postseason performances further enhanced the worries of all 29 other teams. The "alien" is San Antonio's main attraction, but the high-flying duo of Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper have emerged as one of the league's most dangerous guard combinations. Julian Champagnie and Devin Vassell are both lights out from beyond the arc, and De'Aaron Fox is a crucial piece to the Spurs' fast-break offense. The acquisition of Tobias Harris in the offseason gives Mitch Johnson's squad another veteran scoring option in late-game situations.
San Antonio came up short in last year's finals, but with as young a roster as they have, the championship window remains comically large.
For the 2025 NBA champions, the goal is to bring Loud City its second ring in three years.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, coming off another league MVP, has established himself as the most prolific scorer the game has to offer. The Canada-born superstar has averaged 30+ points in four straight seasons, becoming the first player to do so since Michael Jordan.
Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren round out Oklahoma City's big three, with both averaging around 17 points per game in 2026. Last year's playoffs saw the emergence of both Jared McCain and Ajay Mitchell, proving themselves to be go-to scoring options whenever the two-time MVP goes to the bench. Lu Dort is now in Atlanta, but defensive stalwarts Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso are back to make opposing ball handlers extra cautious. Alongside Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams, 7'3 rookie Aday Mara is expected to be utilized to make life very difficult for anyone attacking the rim.
The Spurs got the better of the Thunder in both the regular season and the postseason, but don't expect SGA and company to take that too kindly. In this showcase of two potential dynasties, we could be seeing a prelude to another legendary playoff clash.