The 2025-26 NBA regular season ended in anticipation of a thrilling western conference playoff race. MVP front-runner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder are again the favorites to make a deep run to the championship while the young Spurs want to prove they can compete and beat the best veteran teams. No one should underestimate the resurgence of Denver or Houston. Oklahoma City remains the team everyone wants out in order to have a fair chance at the finals. Four talented squads will advance to the second round. Time to break down which four have the best chance.
#8 Phoenix Suns v. #1 Oklahoma City Thunder
There will be a lot of pressure on Devin Booker (1) to lead Phoenix against the reigning NBA champion Thunder.
Even if Jordan Ott doesn’t win coach of the year, he will be heavily considered. Nobody expected Phoenix to make the playoffs after a massive roster overhaul less than a year ago. Despite the changes, the Suns physical play on both ends of the court makes them a threat.
However, Phoenix drew the reigning NBA champion Thunder. Oklahoma City has the deepest roster of any playoff team and will pick apart whatever the Suns throw at them.
Prediction: Thunder win series 4-0
#7 Portland Trailblazers v. #2 San Antonio Spurs
Portland faces an uphill battle against the deep, talented Spurs.
If San Antonio had to face the winner of Golden State v. Los Angeles and not Portland v. Phoenix (which was the former), that would be a more interesting series. The Spurs return to the playoffs means a lot of the star-studded talent will face growing pains and make a lot of unusual mistakes they wouldn’t make in the regular season.
San Antonio is lucky they get the Trailblazers. Like the Spurs, Portland hasn’t made the postseason in a long time. Despite a few veterans on each team, this series should heavily favor the San Antonio because of how both teams mirror playoff inexperience with each other and how the Spurs have a deeper, more talented team. This should be a fast series.
Prediction: Spurs win series 4-1
#6 Minnesota Timberwolves v. #3 Denver Nuggets
Center Nikola Jokic makes Minnesota’s defense look silly when they played this season.
Talk about a tilt in rivalry. If this matchup took place three years ago, Minnesota would have had the edge with how their bigs could smother Denver’s star players. After some roster tweaks the last few years, the Timberwolves don’t have that advantage. It will cost them in this round.
Nuggets center Nikola Jokic should have one of the best series of his life versus Minnesota center Rudy Gobert. Despite a 12 game winning streak, coach David Adelman made sure to limit the minutes of star point guard Jamal Murray and forward Aaron Gordon. Having both at full health is important to counter Minnesota forward Julius Randle and the guard duo of Mike Conley and Anthony Edwards.
The Timberwolves have been a streaky team most of the year bogged down by a terrible free throw percentage and turnover issues. Denver is a veteran championship team that knows how to do the little things well and not give their opponents chances to attempt many comebacks. This could be a fast series.
Prediction: Nuggets win series 4-1
#5 Houston Rockets v. #4 Los Angeles Lakers
Houston’s Kevin Durant (left) and Los Angeles’ Luka Doncic (right) shared a Christmas day moment in an eye-opening Rockets win.
On paper, this should be one of the best first round series in either conference. In reality, it’s all Lakers. Los Angeles dominated the regular season series against Houston no matter who played. More importantly, the Rockets younger core struggled against a swarming Lakers defense in the last two matchups. Poor shooting combined with the return of Los Angeles star point guard Luka Doncic makes this a less than ideal matchup for Houston.
A sliver of hope for coach Ime Udoka’s roster lies in one Laker missing the first round. Austin Reaves will be out as his grade two oblique muscle strain has not fully healed. That means Los Angeles has to rely more on scoring inside the three point line and playing a more physical style than they’re used to. That still favors them since the younger Rockets are not used to this style and played poorly against whatever the Lakers used against them most of the season. At least Houston can steal a game or two more than many expected with the loss of Reaves.
Prediction: Lakers win series 4-1
Regular season western conference playoffs and play-in predictions record: 6-4
The east was the last conference to seal both playoff and play-in spots. Eight spots were determined the final game of the regular season. Atlanta and Toronto are young teams that exceeded expectations and will use this postseason to learn how to improve for future playoff appearances. Cleveland and Detroit hope to take the next step forward and make a deep playoff run. Boston and New York are considered the top teams in the east and favorites to make the conference finals. Expectations aside, four talented and competitive teams must advance to the second round. Time to break down which four have the best chance.
#5 Toronto Raptors v. #4 Cleveland Cavaliers
Donovan Mitchell (45) should have a career series against the younger, inexperienced Raptors
Toronto should get a round of applause for how well they did this season. I don’t think anyone had them as a top six team in the eastern conference. Their reward is the 52 win Cavaliers who had a league high 41 different starting lineups.
Cleveland is the better team in every facet. From touting the better offense and defense to having more experience and long-time veteran stars, it would be shocking if the Cavaliers were bounced out of the first round.
Prediction: Cavaliers win series 4-1
#8 Orlando Magic v. #1 Detroit Pistons
Orlando will go as far as star forward Paolo Banchero (5) can take them.
Orlando’s inconsistency makes one wonder how much Detroit will be pushed in this series. Star point-guard Cade Cunningham won’t have a minutes restriction since he returned from a collapsed lung, but the rest of the Pistons roster plays well even if he needs rest. The Magic aren’t a good rebounding team and still face serious questions on what their identity is outside of star players Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane. Detroit is better coached and more disciplined.
Prediction: Pistons win series 4-1
#7 Philadelphia 76ers v. #2 Boston Celtics
Depth players like center Neemias Queta (88) will be key for Boston to get past Philadelphia.
One of the most underrated first round series. Philadelphia doesn’t have the depth Boston does, but they play hard and split the regular season series. While center Joel Embiid’s health depends on how far this series goes, the 76ers have a solid starting core around point-guard Tyrese Maxey. Forwards Paul George and Emoni Bates, center Andre Drummond and guards Cameron Payne and VJ Edgecombe will make this a longer series than most anticipate.
Regardless of Philadelphia’s talent, Boston’s the superior team and star forward Jayson Tatum is back at full health. The Celtics championship mentality means they will go all-out in almost every round compared to the hot-and-cold 76ers.
Prediction: Celtics win series 4-2
#6 Atlanta Hawks v. #3 New York Knicks
Dyson Daniels (5) versus Jalen Brunson (11) will be a great one-on-one matchup.
This is the best first round series in either conference. Atlanta was red-hot the last two months of the season after trading star point guard Trae Young to Washington D.C. Since his hiring, coach Quin Snyder finally has the Hawks all in-sync with each other and playing their best basketball. Forwards Jalen Johnson and Jonathan Kuminga have elevated Atlanta’s ceiling and their style of play. Guards C.J. McCollum and Dyson Daniels can do almost everything on both sides of the court.
New York is out of their lull and are the favorite to make conference finals. Had the Knicks drawn Toronto in round one, they would easily make round two given the number of stars and veterans on the team. However, the Hawks have played them well the last four years and get under New York’s collective skin.
One thing the Knicks did well was bulk up the roster with more scoring depth. The trade for point-guard Jose Alvarado gives New York more scoring opportunities when Jalen Brunson needs rest. Jordan Clarkson, Malcolm Brogdon and Landry Shamet are quality depth players that give the Knicks the edge to win what should be a long series.
Prediction: Knicks win series 4-3
Regular season eastern conference playoffs and play-in predictions record: 6-4
This will be an interesting first round in the western conference. There are thrilling rivalries and new teams ready to gain playoff experience. The President’s trophy winner Colorado Avalanche will face everyone’s best no matter the round. Dallas and Edmonton again have pressure to make it back to the conference championship while Minnesota will face more criticism if they can’t get past the first round. Anaheim and Utah look to upend everyone’s predictions while Los Angeles and Vegas make another push to return to the championship round. Most teams have their hands full against deep rosters wanting a conference finals appearance. It is time to break down and predict which four teams have the best chance of advancing to the second round.
#6 Anaheim Ducks v. #5 Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton gets another first round opponent from southern California. However, this time it is not Los Angeles.
This may be the easiest series to predict in either conference. The reigning western conference champion Oilers may not have former MVP forward Leon Draisaitl, but that won’t stop them against a young, inexperienced Anaheim team grateful to be back in the playoffs. Edmonton’s speed, scoring depth and massive advantages on special teams means this will be a fast series with or without Draisaitl.
Prediction: Oilers win series 4-0
#4 Minnesota Wild v. #3 Dallas Stars
The first official matchup of the NHL playoffs should be one of this year’s best.
Commissioner Gary Bettman must fix the playoff seeding at some point. It’s unfair that one of the central division’s three best teams has to be eliminated against a rival in the first round. Both Dallas and Minnesota look like complete teams that could give any opponent in the other three divisions fits. Sadly, one has to go home.
Most likely, that team is the Wild. Minnesota struggles to get depth scoring past their first two lines. The Stars are also the more experienced playoff team and defend better in front of the net. The Wild are more physical, but Dallas is more determined to get back to the championship round after fizzling out the last two years in the conference finals.
Prediction: Stars win series 4-2
#8 Los Angeles Kings v. #1 Colorado Avalanche
Colorado will play a nasty, physical series with Los Angeles.
Wonderful news for Los Angeles: they finally get a first round playoff opponent that isn’t Edmonton. Terrible news for Los Angeles: it’s against the NHL’s best Colorado Avalanche. The Kings finally figured out how to fix their offense with interim coach D.J. Smith, but that won’t be enough against what many believe are the most complete team in either conference. Coach Jared Bednar is back behind the bench after taking a puck to the face recently, and MVP front-runner Nathan MacKinnon is a nightmare once he sees open ice. The Kings have one of the NHL’s best defenses, but their lack of scoring and defensive depth will show the longer this series goes. At least franchise legend Anze Kopitar will end his fantastic career in the postseason playing against a Stanley Cup finals favorite.
Prediction: Avalanche win series 4-1
#7 Utah Mammoth v. #4 Vegas Golden Knights
Utah’s Vezina finalist Karel Vejmelka will be series MVP if the Mammoth get past Vegas.
This is my favorite western conference matchup. On paper, Vegas is the superior team with championship experience, a Stanley Cup winning coach and a deeper roster. However, Utah presents a lot of challenges to the Golden Knights.
Coach John Tortorella went 7-0-1 after Vegas hired him almost three weeks ago. The Golden Knights could be back to their dominant levels of years past. However, the Mammoth are a big test. Goaltender Karel Vejmelka is a Vezina finalist and took a big step forward being one of the NHL’s better players this season. Vejmelka handled a larger workload better than expected once backup/partner Connor Ingram went to Edmonton. Like a few teams in both conferences this round, Utah has a younger, talented scoring core unfamiliar with the playoffs. Despite these obvious disadvantages, Utah’s core was exceptional against quality opponents and wound up being the best team in the central division after the three headed hydra of Colorado, Dallas and Minnesota. That is certainly a big deal.
The Golden Knights’ coaching switch from Bruce Cassidy to John Tortorella came at the best time for them. Tortorella is dealing with disciplined veterans who know how to cleanly block shots, play more aggressive and defend better in front of the net. Even tenured Mammoth coach Andre Tourigny isn’t used to being in the postseason, and there will be a lot of growing pains top to bottom for Utah. While it’s obvious Vegas will win this series, the Mammoth will make the Golden Knights earn every win and learn a lot of valuable lessons this series.
Prediction: Golden Knights win series 4-2
Regular season western conference playoffs prediction record: 6-2
The NHL’s eastern conference was the first to have every playoff spot clinched, and seeding was final after Tuesday evening. With Florida out of the playoff picture, many wonder if Carolina and Tampa Bay can finally return to the conference championships or go further. Many believe the Hurricanes or the Lightning will make the finals. Elsewhere, Montreal, Ottawa and Philadelphia improved this season but drew difficult first round opponents. Boston and Pittsburgh have the capabilities to make deep playoff runs.The Buffalo Sabres didn’t just return to the Stanley Cup playoffs, they did so by dominating the last four months and won the Atlantic division. Only four teams will advance to the second round. Time to break down which four have the best chance.
#8 Ottawa Senators v. #1 Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina’s depth players like defenseman Jalen Chatfield (5) will determine how fast this series ends.
Two of the NHL’s hottest teams should have a fun first round series. Ottawa and Carolina mirror each other in several ways. From hard-hitting goal scorers to questions in net all season, the Senators and Hurricanes are a great test for each other.
In this case, the more veteran team should win this series. This is the second postseason appearance for coach Travis Green’s roster, and it’s against a finals favorite opponent. Carolina’s one of the most complete NHL teams and have a lot more depth in every position. Ottawa’s defense has improved, but their penalty kill remains one of the league’s worst. The Hurricanes’ better defense and offensive firepower might be too much for the younger Senators the longer this series goes.
Prediction: Hurricanes win series 4-1
#7 Boston Bruins v. #2 Buffalo Sabres
Boston and Buffalo should have an energizing, physical first round series against each other.
Congratulations to Buffalo for snapping their 14 year playoff drought. No NHL team had gone that long missing the postseason. It is still bizarre to see the Sabres this good after they started the first two months of the 2025 regular season playing sub-.500 hockey.
Still, Buffalo is a serious threat for any team wanting to reach the finals. Boston is a good test for the most inexperienced NHL playoff team. The veteran Bruins also surprised viewers with their scoring depth and shutdown defense. Although star forward David Pastrnak has been in a goal drought this month, Boston had a top 15 (11th) offense and a top ten (ninth) power-play. Despite those accomplishments, it’s the Sabres offense that will swarm the Bruins defense each game, much like they did almost every other opponent since mid-December. Boston’s playoff experienced offense has more advantages against a bend-but-don’t-break Buffalo defense. That latter matchup favors Boston in an inevitable long series.
Eastern conference upset prediction: Bruins win series 4-2
#4 Montreal Canadiens v. #3 Tampa Bay Lightning
Montreal’s defense faces a tough task of stopping one of the NHL’s premier offenses and power-plays in Tampa Bay.
This series closely resembles the Ottawa-Carolina series. We see two great teams with the potential to make this the best first round series. One team is led by a young, talented core of hard-hitting scorers while the other is filled with championship veterans and a respected Stanley Cup winner behind the bench. Both teams pushed each other around in their regular season matchups.
Unlike the Senators though, the Canadiens were great almost the entire season. However, they’re still an inexperienced playoff team. The Lightning may not have captain and franchise star defenseman Victor Hedman (due to a leave of absence), but they want to rid their memories from the last few disastrous postseason trips. A younger Montreal in the first round is a perfect opponent to get back to their championship winning ways. This series should go longer than Ottawa-Carolina, but the result will be the same.
Prediction: Lightning win series 4-2
#6 Philadelphia Flyers v. #5 Pittsburgh Penguins
The Battle of Pennsylvania will have a lot of new faces, like Philadelphia’s Trevor Zegras
Talk about an unexpected first round series matchup! Neither team was expected to make the playoffs for a number of reasons. Coaching was a big factor. After a decade of Mike Sullivan, Pittsburgh moved on and hired Dan Muse. Muse instantly turned things around for both the defense and special teams. Defenseman Erik Karlsson plays like the former Norris trophy winner older fans remembered. Forward Anthony Mantha led the team with 32 goals after he was poached in free agency from Washington. Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust added depth scoring and made the power-play more dangerous.
Philadelphia’s coach Rick Tocchet made sure the offense took a few steps forward while the defense retained its identity and stability. It was important free agent addition Trevor Zegras had a breakout season and Matvei Michkov grew in his sophomore year. The Flyers offense benefitted from both of them helping out forwards Owen Tippett, Christian Dvorak and long-time veteran Travis Konecny to get on the scoreboard almost every game.
This series should go the distance since neither team has a complete edge in any one area except special teams. Pittsburgh has the edge on offense, but Philadelphia has the edge on defense. Special teams easily favor the Penguins since the Flyers were dead last on the power-play. However, this is an intense in-state rivalry, meaning anything could happen any given night. Regardless of what the rosters look like, Pittsburgh is the more determined team and has a more experienced roster that will get them past any hardships the younger, energetic Philadelphia throws at them.
Prediction: Penguins win series 4-3
Regular season eastern conference playoffs prediction record: 3-5
Miami center Bam Adebayo has a moment of joy with a teammate during his historic 83 point game March 10th.
It has been a rough time to watch Miami Heat basketball the last few years. The ugly trade fiasco between star forward Jimmy Butler and the front office scared off a lot of top talent who may have wanted to play in the city. Owner Pat Riley went from someone who was cool and players wanting the attention of, to being called an egotistical and rigid cheap-skate. Regardless of which side is correct, anyone with working eyes knew Miami remained one of the most agonizing teams to watch on any given night. Coach Erik Spoelstra is the one holding everything together. His only player who could gain recognition among casual fans would be center Bam Adebayo. And so he did.
Adebayo has been a roller coaster center throughout much of his league tenure. He’s a stalwart on defense who makes opposing players take more shots outside the paint, but his offense is inconsistent. In fact, his offense (or lack thereof) has led to NBA fans and viewers calling him Scam Adebayo whenever he has gone close to scoreless in important regular and post-season games. Bam Adebayo is a C-rate player many NBA stars don’t fear or have to worry about countering. Which is why his 83 point game March 10th against Washington has brought a wild range of emotions.
At least with Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 and Kobe Bryant’s 81, it made sense they could have a historical game at some point. After all, both were considered the NBA’s best players in those timeframes. To this day, any all-time great list or statistic that has Chamberlain on it is viewed favorably and admirably. Bryant will stay revered for another few decades given how many people respected and applauded his dedication to professional basketball. But Bam? It is as confusing as it is almost unbelievable.
This is not to say Bam Adebayo isn’t deserving of our accolades. He is in every way. He wants to compete, and playing one-on-one with his girlfriend, the best women’s basketball player on the planet A’ja Wilson, has paid off. It’s how it happened and the timeframe that matters more.
Let’s start at the beginning of his record setting night. The Washington Wizards have been dreadful all season and were realistically eliminated from play-in contention two and a half months ago. Coach Brian Keefe, feeling he had nothing to lose, decided rookie center Alex Sarr and the Wizards defense would foul Adebayo at every possible chance and send him to the free throw line. The plan was out-of-the-box different and would have a chance to stick…if Adebayo didn’t average 75% accuracy at the free throw line. Had this been against Milwaukee and Giannis Antetokounmpo, this would be a winning formula. We would laud Keefe for creativity. Instead, Keefe opted for this formula against the Heat center, and Bam Adebayo had a monster night. He attempted an NBA record of 43 free throws and made another NBA record 36. No player had ever attempted 40 before March 10th. It should have been clear then that Washington should not have fouled Adebayo at all after the first quarter. Alas, they did not adjust their game plan. He ended up with 31 of Miami’s 40 points before the second quarter.
What was bizarre about Keefe’s coaching in this game was how he rarely changed anything. Rookie Alex Sarr has been a solid candidate for rookie of the year so far, but he couldn’t contend with Adebayo that night. A coach who pays attention to details would have forced another player to beat them and score more consistently. The only Heat player who came close to scoring 20 points was…journeyman forward Simone Fontecchio. Miami’s guards did next to nothing while their bigs had a performance for the ages. Brian Keefe should or could have played all his centers and forwards at the same time.
The fact Washington didn’t adjust raises a lot of questions. Commissioner Adam Silver and various companies and executives have started more conversations on how to limit tanking. The average viewer wouldn’t be crazy to suggest that the Wizards intentionally lost that game. This also happened at a time when Silver is trying to preserve what he can of the sports’ ratings. As mentioned in previous power rankings, things look more grim by the day for the NBA. There are so many issues and Silver seemingly has no idea what to do. This is a game that could define Silver’s tenure more than we’d like to admit.
Possibly the wildest thing about Bam Adebayo’s 83 point performance is how sports media’s coverage had no idea how to cover this. It came out five nights later that the 150-129 win in Washington D.C. was on the same day as Bam’s now-deceased grandmother’s birthday. How was that buried despite ESPN and basketball fanatics staying on top of stats for almost everything? Granted, sports journalism isn’t the same now as it was 20 years ago (I should know), but it still stuns how there are more people than expected who are baffled rather than celebratory.
It was a battle between unstoppable force Bam Adebayo (13) versus movable object in a double digit win in Washington March 10th.
Here are the final 2025-26 NBA regular season power rankings.
#30 Washington Wizards (last ranking: 29)
NBA Twitter made jokes that ever since Washington re-named their team from the Bullets to the Wizards, everything has gone downhill. Seriously, seeing the list of most embarrassing moments in franchise history, it’s hard to argue against that. I would also add a 16 game losing streak this season to the franchise’s ongoing fiascos.
#29 Brooklyn Nets (last ranking: 26)
We might remember how bad a lot of teams were this season but Brooklyn might be the most forgettable. I can’t think of a single positive the Nets had. How is it possible for a team based in New York City to be so irrelevant and forgettable? That is a wild accomplishment from owner Joe Tsai.
#28 Indiana Pacers (last ranking: 28)
I don’t think anyone had Indiana being a bottom three NBA team this season at any point. Sure, they would probably be bad without star guard Tyrese Haliburton but wow they’re terrible without him. Everything that could have gone wrong this season, did. The worst part is that all of this would have been fine if the Pacers won that NBA finals game seven in Oklahoma City.
#27 Sacramento Kings (last ranking: 30)
Sacramento failed to be a playoff contender this year but there were bright spots. Forward DeMar DeRozan has been one of them. After an exciting March 16th win against Utah, DeRozan became the oldest player to post a 40 point and ten assist game at 36 years and 220 days old. DeRozan has had a lot of bad luck before he landed with the Kings, but to his credit, he has always been a solid and dependable player.
#26 Utah Jazz (last ranking: 25)
It didn’t look like it most of the season, but Utah took a few steps forward with their young talent. Star point guard Keyonte George impressed viewers before he landed on IR. Center Kyle Filipowski will be a pillar in the Jazz’s success the next five years and guard Isaiah Collier was the focal point of a league high-passing offense.
#25 Dallas Mavericks (last ranking: 24)
Dallas won three games in March and five total since the All-Star break. The Mavericks went from play-in team to irrelevant fast despite number one overall pick Cooper Flagg playing better each game. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Dallas’ unstable front office puts the blame on Jason Kidd and fires him after the season ends.
#24 Memphis Grizzlies (last ranking: 23)
If you wanted to know how far Memphis has fallen in not even three seasons, take a look at the team stat leaders. There is not one recognizable name anyone who watched the Grizzlies two years ago would recognize. To make it worse, former second overall draft pick Ja Morant has played a total of 79 games in three seasons. The NBA board of governors will vote for which cities get new franchises, and it would not be a surprise if the Grizzlies relocate–again–because of the few resources and talent available.
#23 New Orleans Pelicans (last ranking: 27)
New Orleans had a solid March compared to a lot of other teams. However, it didn’t mean much because the Pelicans were eliminated from play-in contention. If this is their last season in Louisiana, it ended with a bizarre whimper.
#22 Chicago Bulls (last ranking: 21)
Say what you want about guard Josh Giddey, but he plays hard no matter how depleted the talent is. If Chicago wants to compete next season, they will need Giddey to stay and lead what will be a rookie dominated roster.
#21 Milwaukee Bucks (last ranking: 22)
Whatever people think about Milwaukee’s issues this season, it appears everyone is united in how the organization should move on and replace coach Doc Rivers. Rivers had a longer coaching career than he should have despite a lot of highlight moments and games. The Bucks need someone who can get the best out of Antetokounmpo and the roster around him again.
#20 Golden State Warriors (last ranking: 14)
With all the teams locked in for the play-in and playoffs, coach Steve Kerr made the right move keeping star point guard Steph Curry out this long. The Warriors needed to see who could play well without any veteran stars. Golden State can still build off of forward Draymond Green and guard Brandin Podziemski playing well almost every game, but they still need to see how consistent Kristaps Porziņgis can be. One plus has been the emergence of guard Pat Spencer. He could be a valuable bench player once Steph Curry returns.
#19 Portland Trailblazers (last ranking: 17)
Center Donovan Clingan took a big step in his second NBA season. Clingan quickly discovered that while he isn’t a scorer, he is a good rebounder, defender and perimeter player. Portland has a bright future because of how Donovan Clingan does all the uncomfortable work few players want to do.
#18 Los Angeles Clippers (last ranking: 19)
This feels like the last season we could see Los Angeles make a playoff run. The Clippers are second to last in rebounds and last in assists. They like defense and free throws, but are average at best. Los Angeles hasn’t played well against most playoff favorites lately and that is a clear sign a rebuild is coming.
#17 Miami Heat (last ranking: 15)
The Heat had a hot start to March with five wins in their first six games in the month. They have one win in the last three weeks. Every time viewers think they have a clear grasp with what’s going on in Miami, something unexpected happens. Good luck figuring this team out.
#16 Orlando Magic (last ranking: 16)
Throughout Orlando’s disappointing season, one stat has stood out like a sore thumb. Franchise star power forward Paolo Banchero leads the Magic in rebounds with 8.3. He cannot do it alone. Orlando is 20th in total rebounds and struggle getting second chance opportunities on offense while giving opponents second plus scoring chances. The Magic need to find a quality rebounder in free agency or the draft.
#15 Charlotte Hornets (last ranking: 18)
Since the five game winning streak, Charlotte has cooled off a bit. They’re still a dangerous team learning how to play well against quality opponents. What has helped is better shooting accuracy and bench players buying into coach Charles Lee’s system. The Hornets might not go far in the playoffs this year, but they will be an interesting team to watch next season.
#14 Phoenix Suns (last ranking: 12)
Despite forward Dillon Brooks being out of the lineup, Phoenix has played a lot of playoff teams hard. In six of their last seven losses, the Suns have lost by single digits. Phoenix has over-performed and will be a tough out in the playoffs.
#13 Toronto Raptors (last ranking: 11)
While Atlanta keeps winning, Toronto and Philadelphia are fighting for the sixth seed. Fortunately for the Raptors, they have at least six winnable games and only a couple against serious playoff teams the next few weeks. If Toronto wins the games they should, it’s possible all six eastern conference spots will be locked up by next week.
#12 Philadelphia 76ers (last ranking: 13)
ESPN broke a stat that star center Joel Embiid has missed as many games as he’s played since Philadelphia drafted him 11 years ago. One day we will find out about the extent of Embiid’s leg and knee injuries, and we won’t be surprised he missed that many games.
#11 Atlanta Hawks (last ranking: 20)
There were predictions Atlanta could play better and have better game plans after Trae Young was traded to Washington but wow, the Hawks look almost unstoppable. Atlanta dominating the NBA in assists and assists-to-turnovers shows how bought in this young roster is with coach Quin Snyder. Wild how the Hawks and Orlando Magic switched season fates in the eyes of many analysts.
#10 Houston Rockets (last ranking: 7)
Remember when I wrote last month that the Kevin Durant leaks at the All-Star game was a much bigger deal than just jokes? It has shown with how Houston has played. The Rockets were humiliated in two critical games against the Lakers, were upset by the depleted Warriors and Bulls, and were crushed against San Antonio and Denver. Houston clearly won’t have home court advantage, but what could be worse is how coach Ime Udoka and viewers are realizing both guard Amen Thompson and forward Alperen Sengun aren’t the long-term answers on both sides of the ball. There are a lot of things to say about Durant outside of his championship tenure in Golden State, but one that’s gaining traction is team killer. Whether that’s fair or not, the results wouldn’t deny it.
#9 Minnesota Timberwolves (last ranking: 10)
Minnesota deserves some leniency for how they’ve played recently after Anthony Edwards was out for an inflamed right knee injury. The Timberwolves may have a bumpy start to the playoffs, but their depth is getting quality minutes most teams wouldn’t allow. Minnesota’s trade for Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu is again paying off, much to Bulls fans’ chagrin.
#8 Cleveland Cavaliers (last ranking: 9)
As of this writing, Cleveland is finally playing like they did last season. If the Cavaliers keep playing like this heading into the playoffs, there is no doubt they’ll have a longer postseason run than last year.
#7 Los Angeles Lakers (last ranking: 8)
The nine game winning streak was a great show of March dominance, but I’m not convinced Los Angeles is an elite or top tier team right now. The Lakers have to play a critical end of their schedule the next week and a half, and that will show if they’re actually ready for the playoffs. We shouldn’t forget that Los Angeles has struggled on defense most of this season. Can this team win at least two series in shootout fashion? Their first round opponents will be either Houston, Denver or Minnesota. It looks more like no than yes.
#6 Denver Nuggets (last ranking: 6)
A lot of viewers don’t know how good Phoenix has been this season because the NBA doesn’t know how to flex games. The Suns are well coached and even without star players, their defense flusters a lot of opponents. Last week, Denver center Nikola Jokic shredded them in Arizona for one of their most important wins of the season. A 23 point, 17 rebound, 17 assist game may not be seen as impressive as an 83 point game, but you cannot deny that Jokic is the most complete center we’ve seen in at least two decades.
#5 New York Knicks (last ranking: 5)
New York is finally out of their slump and are one of the hottest NBA teams to start April. The biggest factor might be everyone coming back from IR and being healthy at the same time. If the Knicks stay healthy, they’re an easy pick to make the conference finals.
#4 Boston Celtics (last ranking: 4)
There’s no take right now that should say anything about Boston panicking. The return of star forward Jayson Tatum gives the Celtics plenty of time to play their stars together before the postseason. Everyone in that organization wants this right now if that means a deep playoff run.
#3 Detroit Pistons (last ranking: 1)
J.B. Bickerstaff is doing his best coaching right now with point guard and former MVP favorite Cade Cunningham lost for the season. The number wins without Cunningham shows how determined and improved top to bottom the Pistons are. While there are serious doubts Detroit can keep this going the last week and a half of the season and most of the playoffs, we should remember that the Pistons played well without Cunningham during most of their 15 game winning streak months ago. Detroit isn’t bowing out of the playoff race anytime soon.
#2 San Antonio Spurs (last ranking: 3)
With Cade Cunningham out of the MVP conversation, the should-be favorite pivots to San Antonio center Victor Wembanyama. Wembanyama’s taken such a massive leap in his third year that it has elevated both the team and future expectations. The Spurs have just two losses in the last 57 days. That is not possible without Wembanyama dominating almost every game. What does it say about how great the French phenom is that we now view elite, veteran point guard De’Aaron Fox as underrated to the Spurs success?
#1 Oklahoma City Thunder (last ranking: 2)
Oklahoma City lost only one game in a month. Most of the struggles the Thunder had to start 2026 were taken care of and worked through. Outside of one matchup in the western conference, Oklahoma City looks the favorite to return to the finals and repeat their title.
Thunder star point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gets around Magic forward Tristan de Silva in a five point win on March 17th. The win made Oklahoma City the first team to clinch a playoff spot this season.
Toronto captain Auston Matthews is out the rest of the season with a torn MCL after a collision against Anaheim’s captain Radko Gudas during March 12th’s 5-4 comeback win.
Player safety in physical contact sports will always be hotly debated by well, everyone. It is a fact. On one hand, foundations for physical contact sports like American gridiron football, Canadian ice hockey, MMA and boxing are necessary because of their evolution, their popularity and their elevation of competition. On the other, there has to be a good amount of player safety left intact. Most people like a balance of hard contact where safety is emphasized. We know that can be difficult in high pressure situations and with split-second decisions.
Within the NHL, the most recent example is Anaheim’s captain Radko Gudas’ leg-on-leg collision with Toronto captain and elite goal scorer Auston Matthews during a March 12th comeback home win. Anyone who understands the game and watched the collision knew Gudas was in the wrong and Matthews was seriously hurt. Hockey, unlike other major sports does not completely prohibit player fighting as long as it is controlled. It’s not the first time Radko Gudas has done something like this. He is a scrappy defenseman who needs to play physical since he isn’t a well-known goal scorer, which makes the loss of Matthews to a struggling Maple Leafs team even worse. Fortunately, Toronto did find a way to rally the last period of the game and pull out a win. It was their first since early February, and it tied the NFL Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks for total wins in a month and a half.
Despite the rally, there was a big problem after Auston Matthews was carried to the locker room: none of his teammates stood up for him and there were no fights. Why? For those who watch any professional team sport, you know that there are players who will get in each others’ faces should there be threats or actual injuries. Toronto had nothing the remainder of that period. In fact, the Maple Leafs only pulled out a win because their coach, Craig Berube, a former enforcer and Stanley Cup champion himself, ripped into them during intermission for how little passion they showed and for not jumping on their opponents for some fights once play resumed. That is unbelievable given how hockey teams work and who is on Toronto’s roster.
If a team cannot get fired up for the loss of their own team captain and Olympian, that says what viewers need to know about the team’s current direction. Last year the Maple Leafs were up 2-1 in their second round series against the reigning Stanley Cup champion Panthers before a game four meltdown. Since that loss, Toronto has been a shell of its former self. Forward Mitch Marner bailing for Las Vegas was seen as a relief and a way for the Leafs to turn the page on inconsistent play. Now it seems Marner might have held a lot of things together.
What is really strange now is how Toronto has become one of the weakest willed teams with little fight. Berube was a perfect hire for this roster. He had everyone buy in and take the next few steps to being a championship caliber team…and then they weren’t. It felt like a switch flipped. The Maple Leafs have 77 points and are all but eliminated from playoff contention. They’re easily the worst team in the competitive and stacked Atlantic division. Even before captain Auston Matthews was lost for the season, he had multiple goalless streaks almost every month. William Nylander doesn’t play with the same passion, and former captain John Tavares looks old. The defense isn’t bad but goaltenders Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz are giving up more than three goals a game. This was a premier net-minder tandem a year ago.
If Marner was the canary in the coal mine, this year’s 2025-26 roster are the miners. General manager Brad Treliving previously showed Canada how much control he shouldn’t have when he was the general manager in Calgary. The Maple Leafs executives are more than likely to begin a massive re-build that will last two different decades. Again. Berube will unfortunately get the blame and likely lose his job despite being a proven leader and winner wherever he has been. Then stars like William Nylander and Matthews will be dealt for picks. You can’t blame the latter for leaving either. If players don’t stand up for you without being yelled at to do so, then there’s no reason to keep playing with them. A lot of viewers questioned why he was named captain over Tavares before the season began anyway. It hasn’t worked out.
There is a joke that ever since the NHL expanded past six teams, Toronto “died” after their last championship in 1967. Too bad that joke is more accurate than many want to admit. The Leafs are not a tough team and the organization has grown mentally and internally softer by the decade. That has led to what most people define as, “The Maple Laughs Curse”. Whatever one may think of whether this is hyperbole or honesty, this is one thing physical contact sports are great at reinforcing: a team has to be tough and fortified in every aspect if they desire victory on every level. Even if a few things are off or someone’s not paying attention, a loss is all but guaranteed. Defenseman Radko Gudas didn’t expose anything unknown about Toronto. He brought both clarity to Maple Leafs ownership on where to go next and turned to another page in the long chapter of championship drought.
Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube goes off on his players during a loss to Washington on December 19th, 2025. Berube has tried to get his roster to play better, more complete hockey all season after a second round exit last postseason.
Here are the final 2025-26 NHL regular season power rankings.
#32 Vancouver Canucks (last ranking: 32)
The only good thing this season for Vancouver is how they get three first round picks in the upcoming draft. They have their original pick, Minnesota’s first from the Quinn Hughes trade, and their 33rd overall pick that gets bumped to 32nd with Ottawa’s pick forfeited. Now they need to hire the right people to develop whoever they pick in the next draft.
#31 Chicago Blackhawks (last ranking: 29)
General manager Kyle Davidson quickly realized his roster didn’t have the depth to compete with actual playoff caliber teams and went to work planning for future at the end of January. The Blackhawks aren’t a bad team as the standings suggest. They’re just young and on the rise with little depth. Unlike San Jose, the defensive weaknesses stand out and weigh down a great season for a young, superstar number one overall pick.
#30 Calgary Flames (last ranking: 30)
Nazem Kadri, who was traded to Colorado at the beginning of March, still leads Calgary with a middling 41 points. How any team has let the Flames score the last few months is beyond me.
#29 New York Rangers (last ranking: 28)
Everyone expected New York to unload almost all their talent at the trade deadline. The Rangers not only didn’t do that, they went on a few winning streaks after. Then they followed up with a dismal 2-1 home loss to Ottawa where they tied a franchise worst ten shot attempts. That loss eliminated them from playoff contention and is the fastest they’ve been eliminated from postseason contention in the salary cap era. What a memorable 100 year anniversary for New York!
#28 St. Louis Blues (last ranking: 31)
Unlike the eastern conference, the west is wide open for whichever teams want the wild card spots. St. Louis oddly remains in competition for at least the eighth seed. After all the offensive issues and lack of depth on special teams, the Blues have gotten points in eight of their last ten (including six wins). It would be mind-numbing to see one of the worst scoring NHL teams somehow clinch a playoff spot and give the number one seeded central division winner another hard time.
#27 Seattle Kraken (last ranking: 21)
A bottom ten defense spoiled one of the most complete years of play in franchise history. Seattle had some quality wins against Tampa Bay and Carolina, but did almost nothing else last month. The Kraken will kick themselves for wasting a golden opportunity to clinch a wildcard spot.
#26 Toronto Maple Leafs (last ranking: 13)
Toronto was done after they had to be yelled at in the locker room to fight Anaheim players for injuring their captain and ending his season. If a Stanley Cup winning coach has to scream at adult men to play tougher and more physical, then everything from the game to the season is lost. The cherry on top is it being in the Maple Leafs’ own building. If ownership and management were smart (massive if here), everyone should be purged at the end of the regular season.
#25 Winnipeg Jets (last ranking: 20)
Winnipeg looked all but done a month ago. Like St. Louis, they’ve hung in long enough to be a threat for one of the two wildcard spots. Of all the eighth seed options, the Jets would be the most dangerous team to get in.
#24 Nashville Predators (last ranking: 26)
Nashville is a good example of why you don’t write off a team on the fringe of the playoffs early. A five game winning streak was enough the past two weeks to get them a point behind the eighth seed. If the Predators can win four of their six upcoming matchups against the Pacific division (four on road, two at home), they’ll get that last spot.
#23 New Jersey Devils (last ranking: 23)
In many ways, it’s hilarious both New Jersey and Toronto are in the same place this late in the season. Sheldon Keefe did a great job with the Maple Leafs before he was fired. Keefe’s struggles with the Devils have been head scratching after they were one of the NHL’s best teams before Thanksgiving weekend. It’s possible Sheldon Keefe returns next season, but if things don’t look better by next calendar year, he will likely be out of New Jersey.
#22 Florida Panthers (last ranking: 12)
No pun intended but the Panthers really are a different breed of cat. That is why a number of analysts telling us Florida should have traded star players like goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky had no idea what they were talking about. General manager Bill Zito wouldn’t make that move unless he knew something of equal value would be sent back. Injuries de-railed their season and still the Panthers put up 75 points in one of the most cluttered eastern conference years this century. The other 15 eastern teams are lucky injuries came in the way of a probable championship three-peat.
#21 Los Angeles Kings (last ranking: 17)
Los Angeles fired coach Jim Hiller and Anze Kopitar became the franchise’s all-time leading scorer after a March 14th win in New Jersey. The Kings are lucky it’s not too late to catch fire and be the hardest team to beat in the playoffs. The defense carried Los Angeles further into the season just for them to be a fringe playoff contender. Now the offense and power-play have to do their part and get them into a high spot in the pacific.
#20 San Jose Sharks (last ranking: 19)
It’s gotten to where even the NHL on TNT analysts said they don’t know what the argument would be for center Macklin Celebrini not winning league MVP at this point, even if San Jose doesn’t make the playoffs. The Sharks are one point back of Los Angeles and five back of Las Vegas despite being a bottom four defensive scoring team. Celebrini leads the team in every important statistic on offense while the second best player is Will Smith. That’s incredible from the sophomore standout.
#19 Utah Mammoth (last ranking: 22)
It is both impressive and unexpected that Utah is the best team in the central division after the dangerous trio of Minnesota, Colorado and Dallas. The Mammoth are playing their best hockey at the most important time of the season. Whichever team draws Utah in round one will have their hands full and should have one of the better series in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
#18 Washington Capitals (last ranking: 8)
I don’t think people realize how important the trade deadline move of John Carlson to Anaheim was. Carlson was assumed by many analysts to stay with Washington for his entire career like captain and NHL great Alex Ovechkin. This move not only sets back the Capitals on every side of the puck, but it could lead to Ovechkin having an earlier retirement. Ovechkin was mulling retirement when asked a month ago, which was progress after he said at least a year ago that he would retire once his current contract ended. This could be a move we go back and look at years (and decades) from now wondering what might have happened for Washington had they not traded their star defenseman.
#17 Vegas Golden Knights (last ranking: 7)
Anyone who thinks the goaltending position is starting to look overrated and overpaid should pay attention to Vegas. The Golden Knights should be one of the NHL’s best teams with their deep roster. However, there is no solid number one in net and that will be their undoing in the playoffs. Vegas leads the NHL in time spent trailing after last weekend with over 1900 minutes, and the lack of consistently good goaltending cost Bruce Cassidy his job. Cassidy’s firing interestingly gave John Tortorella another chance to coach an NHL team.
#16 Philadelphia Flyers (last ranking: 16)
There was a lot of debate if coach Rick Tocchet was holding Philadelphia back on offense before the mid-season break. Turns out the Flyers simply needed the time off more than any other team. They’re 7-2-1 in their last ten games and Philadelphia’s improved play will determine which eastern conference teams clinch what seeds.
#15 Edmonton Oilers (last ranking: 11)
Make no mistake, the loss of star forward Leon Draisaitl for the rest of the regular season is massive. Not only does it mean captain Connor McDavid has to carry Edmonton the rest of the regular season, it also means every team on their schedule will play them harder to expose every flaw on both sides of the puck. While the Oilers benefit from playing in the weakest NHL division, a few losses mixed with some winning streaks from Los Angeles and San Jose could quickly bump Edmonton out of the playoff picture.
#14 Anaheim Ducks (last ranking: 24)
I’m mixed on Anaheim’s success this season. On the one hand, their season is a success given how many viewers didn’t see the Ducks making the playoffs. Coach Joel Quenneville again showed why he is still one of the league’s all-time best coaches. On the other, the Pacific division was awful and Anaheim was better off at third or fourth place if Vegas and Edmonton had better goaltending and Los Angeles and Seattle had better offenses. A lot more teams will break down Ducks film this summer and prepare for them better.
#13 Detroit Red Wings (last ranking: 10)
Dylan Larkin’s injury had massive repercussions for not only Detroit, but the entire eastern conference playoff picture. Ironically, his first game back in a home loss against Ottawa will stand out most. The Senators played two back-to-back road games and came into Little Caesar’s Arena down star defenseman Thomas Chabot. Larkin returned for the Red Wings, but Ottawa was the team that claimed victory. Detroit being one of, if not the biggest loser in the playoff race this late in the season shows yet again how much work lies ahead for general manager Steve Yzerman.
#12 Ottawa Senators (last ranking: 25)
Despite how hot Ottawa was in March, it cost them defensemen Thomas Chabot (broken forearm) and Nick Jensen. Rookie Carter Yakemchuk was called up and had an impressive NHL debut against Detroit, but that’s a dicey situation for a rookie to be in late in the season. The Senators will miss their best defensemen the next couple of weeks against some of the conference’s best playoff teams. This is where goaltenders Linus Ullmark and James Reimer must play some of their best hockey.
#11 New York Islanders (last ranking: 9)
The play of rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer has elevated teammates Bo Horvat, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Anthony Duclair. There are still issues with the Islanders’ offense, but they are getting better at the right time. Oh, and they’re close to the playoffs. That means Mathew Barzal is heating up. New York will be a rough out in the playoffs if they clinch.
#10 Columbus Blue Jackets (last ranking: 27)
Buffalo and Ottawa may have dominated March in the Atlantic, but Columbus ran the month in the Metropolitan. The biggest reason for the Blue Jackets renewed success is coach Rick Bowness finally stabilizing the goaltending depth. Outside of who’s in net, defenseman Zach Werenski remains Columbus’ most important player. Werenski should be the favorite to win the Norris (best defenseman) trophy in a few months.
#9 Pittsburgh Penguins (last ranking: 15)
Nagging injuries for Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin interestingly made defenseman Erik Karlsson the best Penguins player and one of the hottest in March. Pittsburgh’s schedule is easier compared to what Detroit, Ottawa and Boston have to end the season. It would be a genuine surprise if the Penguins didn’t make the playoffs with Karlsson leading the way.
#8 Boston Bruins (last ranking: 14)
Amazing how wrong everyone can be on a team or group of players, present company included. Forward Morgan Geekie has thrived in Boston ever since he was traded from Carolina. Pavel Zacha is more efficient with the Bruins than with the Devils and defenseman Victor Arvidsson has rejuvenated his career. How did general manager Don Sweeney pull it off?
#7 Minnesota Wild (last ranking: 3)
Minnesota is easily the worst of the top three central division teams after a sub-.500 March. Injuries and lack of depth at forward and center doom the Wild to another first round exit. Still, credit coach John Hynes for how well he has done getting the most out of Minnesota’s lower lines. It would be hard for another coach to do what he has done with a hot-and-cold roster.
#6 Montreal Canadiens (last ranking: 6)
He won’t win MVP, but forward Cole Caufield becoming the first Canadien to score 40+ goals in a season since Vincent Damphousse during the 1993-94 season is a big deal. If you’re new to the NHL or a budding fan of ice hockey, Caufield is one of the more underrated scorers. What a time to watch this many skilled, talented players all in one timeline.
#5 Buffalo Sabres (last ranking: 18)
I don’t like breaking the numbering rule on here but what Buffalo has done this season is nothing short of miraculous. The conversation around the Sabres’ turnaround has been hard to pinpoint, but there is one good place to start: the play of goaltender Alex Lyon. Lyon was a free agent signing last offseason and started Buffalo’s good fortune by holding Edmonton to just three goals in a 4-3 OT win (he didn’t finish the game due to injury, so the win went to Colton Ellis). That started a ten game winning streak and where they are today.
#4 Dallas Stars (last ranking: 5)
Dallas had the potential to be the number one team in these rankings until the last two weeks. The Stars have seven losses in their last ten games despite being the second best team in the western conference and clinching a playoff spot. Dallas could have some anxiety before the postseason starts but that kind of thinking could cost them home-ice advantage against Minnesota. If the Stars lost that advantage, it could drastically affect which team wins the west. Right now, coach Glen Gulutzan has to show he was the right hire.
#3 Carolina Hurricanes (last ranking: 4)
Until Carolina proves they can make exorcise their past playoff demons, they’ll be second fiddle to Tampa Bay in the east for another postseason. The Hurricanes are peaking at the right time, but their March 24th road loss in Montreal after a dominant first period is why many analysts are still wary about picking them to win a championship under coach Rod Brind’Amour.
#2 Tampa Bay Lightning (last ranking: 2)
Of the last ten Stanley Cup winners:
Nine were in the top ten on five-on-five goals for percentage
eight were in the top 12 for five-on-five xGF%
all were top 12 in five-on-five save percentage
nine were top 12 in power-play and penalty-kill percentage
nine were in the top half in power-play percentage
Tampa Bay is the only team that checks all of these heading into the playoffs. It is a another reason the Lightning are favored to make the Stanley Cup finals.
#1 Colorado Avalanche (last ranking: 1)
Colorado flipped a switch after their 2-1 shootout loss to Dallas on March 18th. The Avalanche were sleep-walking and needed to wake up. Although star defenseman Cale Makar is out for a few weeks with an upper body injury, I’m not sure there’s a team in the west that can beat Colorado four times if this is how Jared Bednar’s team plays moving forward.
Colorado woke up after a 2-1 home shootout loss to Dallas March 18th and haven’t looked back since. The Avalanche were the first team to clinch a playoff spot.
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