Month: May 2026

2026 NHL Western Conference Finals Prediction

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What a fun end to the second round. Colorado had their first true test of the playoffs with a five game series against Minnesota. Jared Bednar’s tinkering of the roster and goaltender usage showed yet again why he is one of the best coaches in the league. The Avalanche stars keep playing better each round. Meanwhile, Vegas looks like the juggernaut many predicted at the beginning of the season. Free agent addition Mitch Marner is playing the best playoff hockey of his career, Carter Hart has stabilized and locked down the number one goaltender position, and the defense has done a great job at shot-blocking under interim coach John Tortorella. Both teams will have their hands full, and many believe whichever team wins this series will win the championship. Time to break down which one has the best shot to win the western conference and advance to the Stanley Cup finals.

#4 Vegas Golden Knights v. #1 Colorado Avalanche

It will be a gritty, grind-it-out series between Vegas and Colorado.

This is a conference final series every hockey fan will love. Both teams have great coaching, deep rosters, can score a lot of goals, and usually play stellar defense. In many ways, one could pick either team to win both this finals and the championship round, and those picks would be believable.

Both teams also mirror each other in their deficiencies. The weakest links for Vegas are the lack of goaltender depth behind starter Carter Hart, and how a lot of the veterans have seen more injuries than usual after blocking shots on net. Colorado’s goaltending issues are similar. Last round, the Avalanche had no idea what they would get from either Scott Wedgewood or Mackenzie Blackwood. Both struggled and were pulled because division rival Minnesota tore through the defense. The Avalanche defensemen have not been as consistent as those of the Knights. Devon Toews and Cale Makar all but disappeared after game one’s 9-6 scoring barrage against the Wild.

Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog has played great this postseason. He will be a determining factor if the Avalanche make it back to the championship round.

There is one surprising factor that will determine which team advances to the next round. Colorado has been mentally sharp in almost all their nine previous games. Say what you will about the Avalanche’s sloppiness from last series, they knew when to dial in and stay committed until the clock hit four zeros. The Golden Knights haven’t been as sharp. Vegas let both of their series go six games each because they mentally checked out for at least one game or let the younger team claw back and take at least one game to overtime. Colorado isn’t the younger, inexperienced Mammoth or Ducks. They could bury the Golden Knights at any hint of hesitation or after a small mistake. That will make it hard for Vegas to outlast Colorado for four wins.

Prediction: Avalanche win the western conference and series 4-2

Western conference playoff predictions record: 2-2

2026 NBA Western Conference Final Prediction

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The remaining two teams in the NBA west had a good second round. San Antonio and Oklahoma City were more committed and better coached than the teams in Minnesota and Los Angeles. While the Thunder are on a roll, there’s a lot of hype on the Spurs because they figured out how to beat the reigning champions multiple times. One of these two teams must advance to the championship round. Time to break down which one has the best chance to represent the west in the finals.

#2 San Antonio Spurs v. #1 Oklahoma City Thunder

Stephon Castle (5) v. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) will be a fun matchup to watch.

Similar to last series with Minnesota and San Antonio, the easy pick between a reigning champion versus an inexperienced playoff team would result in the former winning this round. In fact, history has shown this happening the majority of the time. However, the Spurs are not your average inexperienced playoff team.

If anything, this could be utter domination by San Antonio. Phenom center Victor Wembanyama could be held in check at times by Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert last series. At times. The centers who must face him in the conference finals don’t stand a chance. Wembanyama takes playing against Chet Holmgren personally, and Isaiah Hartenstein can only do so much against the Spurs best player.

It’s possible no one on Oklahoma City’s roster can stop center Victor Wembanyama (1) this round.

If Victor Wembanyama doesn’t dominate each game, then Oklahoma City’s guard depth will have their hands full. Yes, reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Alex Caruso, Jared McCain and Jalen Williams are a great core of players. Yet, San Antonio’s core of Stephon Castle, De’Aaron Fox, Devin Vassell and Dylan Harper have put up record numbers throughout these playoffs.

The Thunder have playoff experience on their side and know what it’s like to play this late in the season. While the Spurs will have some struggles for at least two games, they are the better team. Center Victor Wembanyama takes playing against them personally and usually plays his best basketball against Chet Holmgren.

Prediction: Spurs win the western conference and series 4-2

Western conference second round playoff picks record: 2-0

2026 NBA Western Conference Second Round Playoff Predictions

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The first round was fun but didn’t have many surprises or upsets. Los Angeles’ game six rout in Houston avoided a full, seven game series. Oklahoma City swept Phoenix and San Antonio took care of Portland in five games. Two teams in this upcoming round made it to last year’s semi-conference finals. The Thunder and Spurs have great offenses and defenses to make a fun series while the Lakers and Timberwolves will do their best to steal a few games. Two of the remaining four will advance to the conference finals. Time to break down which of the two have the best chance to make round three.

#4 Los Angeles Lakers v. #1 Oklahoma City Thunder

Oklahoma City’s depth is too much for Los Angeles to handle.

The easiest series in this conference, if not the whole NBA second round. Oklahoma City beat Los Angeles by an average of 29.3 points per game in their four regular season matchups. Not only is it the worst of any playoff matchup in NBA history, the Lakers might not have star point guard Luka Doncic the entire series. There is no way this series goes more than five games.

Prediction: Thunder win series 4-0

#6 Minnesota Timberwolves v. #2 San Antonio Spurs

San Antonio should have an easier series with the number of injuries Minnesota has. Stars like guard Anthony Edwards will be out for at least one game.

Usually the more inexperienced team in the second round is not favored. That opinion is more accurate against an opponent that has made the conference finals the last two seasons. No. San Antonio is not your average, inexperienced playoff team. Spurs star center Victor Wembanyama and guards Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox were unfazed in their first playoff series.

The decisive factor will not be one-on-one matchups. It will be how healthy Minnesota can stay in this series. The Timberwolves lost guards Anthony Edwards, Ayo Dosunmu and Dante DiVincenzo last round against Denver. Dosunmu will return but likely not at full health. DiVincenzo is out the rest of the season and Edwards should not play the first two games. The lack of guard depth will lead to different matchup problems that already tilts in San Antonio’s favor before game one begins. If Minnesota can’t stop the mounting injuries, the Spurs could make this a fast series.

Prediction: Spurs win series 4-1

Western conference first round playoffs record: 3-1

2026 NBA Eastern Conference Second Round Playoff Predictions

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What a shocking and thrilling first round of basketball!! All four teams that advanced played at least six games and were down at least one game in their series at some point. New York, Detroit, Philadelphia all made franchise and NBA history, from points scored to game seven wins. Now the conference is open for any team to make the finals since none of the four have championship experience. Only two teams will advance to play in the next round, so now it is time to decide which two have the best chance of meeting in the eastern finals.

#7 Philadelphia 76ers v. #3 New York Knicks

Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe (77) will have a hard time stopping Jalen Brunson (11) this series.

New York was fortunate they dominated the poor shooting Hawks in their closing, game six performance. The Knicks were the first team to clinch a second round spot and got more rest than any other eastern conference team.

This will be an interesting series to watch because Philadelphia center Joel Embiid hurt his knee near the end of game seven in Boston. Without Embiid, the 76ers will need a lot more from center Andre Drummond and forwards Paul George and Kelly Oubre Jr. That will be difficult when the Knicks have better depth at center and forward. Coach Mike Brown played his starters better in the first round and it paid off with New York wearing down Atlanta and sealing the earliest series win. Expect the same this round.

Prediction: Knicks win series 4-2

#4 Cleveland Cavaliers v. #1 Detroit Pistons

Detroit will need more than star point guard Cade Cunningham (with ball) to beat Cleveland.

This one may be the hardest matchup to predict in either conference. Both Cleveland and Detroit went a full seven game series last round. The Cavaliers didn’t win a road game despite having every advantage against Toronto. The Pistons came down from another 3-1 series deficit to beat Orlando, and even then Detroit needed a lot of luck to pull out a critical game six win.

The biggest factor in this series is scoring and defensive depth. Center Jalen Duren struggled every game against the Magic. That’s a big issue for Detroit because Orlando struggled to rebound the ball on both sides of the court. Cleveland’s starting center Jarrett Allen has the edge over the struggling Duren, and other centers Evan Mobley and Larry Nance Jr. present obvious problems for coach J.B. Bickerstaff. The Cavaliers clearly have the upper hand at guard and forward and should take advantage of the differences almost every game. It will be odd to watch the Pistons struggle to clamp down on a deep, veteran offense.

Upset prediction of the second round: Cavaliers win series 4-2

Eastern conference first round playoffs record: 3-1