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The 2026 NBA playoffs are set to begin, with bold predictions highlighting potential chaos and surprises in the first round. Upsets and emerging stars are expected to shape the postseason narrative.
The playoffs are where expectations meet reality, and where chaos usually wins. As the 2026 NBA postseason tips off, every team enters with a path to the Finals on paper. But history tells us that the first round rarely follows the script. Upsets happen, stars emerge, and narratives shift fast. So instead of playing it safe, letās lean into the unpredictability. Here are five bold predictions that could define the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
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The New York Knicks offense runs through Jalen Brunson. He is their best and most consistent player, along with being their leader. But itās not going to be easy for him against Dyson Daniels and the speedy Atlanta Hawks.
Thatās not to say Brunson isnāt going to have a good series, but Karl-Anthony Towns will lead the Knicks offense. For as fast and athletic as the Hawks may be, they donāt have the size and strength to go along with it. Towns had success against Atlanta in the regular season, and now that heās truly found his groove within the Knicksā offense, look for him to go nuts this round.
With no Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves, itās all about LeBron James to begin the postseason. Itās not going to be easy for James and the against the , but we know heās going to give it his best effort. After all, a down season for James was seeing him average 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game this year.
The article outlines five bold predictions that could define the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs.
Every team entering the playoffs has a path to the Finals, but specific matchups are not detailed in the excerpt.
Jalen Brunson is highlighted as the best and most consistent player for the New York Knicks.
Jalen Brunson will face challenges against Dyson Daniels and the speedy Atlanta Hawks in the first round.

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We know that James can rise to the occasion, and he certainly has to here. This isnāt the way heās going to want to go out, so look for him to be heavily involved and have three triple-doubles.
Stop me if youāve heard this before, but Joel Embiid is injured. The Philadelphia 76ers begin the postseason without Embiid, and that means the focus is on their backcourt. Itās an easy matchup against the Boston Celtics, and Iād expect them to focus on shutting down Tyrese Maxey. Thatās not to say he wonāt have success, but it will open things up for VJ Edgecombe.
In a strong rookie season, Edgecombe averaged 16 points per game, but that jumped to 20.6 in his last 11 games. Based on game context, Iām looking for that number to rise even more in the first round of the NBA playoffs, as the 76ers will likely be trailing as well.
Yes, Cade Cunningham is healthy and returned before the end of the regular season. This is the NBA playoffs, so the urgency is also there. However, itās also the first round of what should be a long postseason journey for the Detroit Pistons.
Over a 10-game stretch when Cunningham was sidelined, Daniss Jenkins averaged 19.9 points per game, so we know heās capable. The Pistons will be heavily favored in round one, so look for them to manage Cunninghamās workload where possible. That will open up more opportunities for Jenkins, who could be one of the best bench players of the postseason.
Credit is due to Neemias Queta as heās seemingly taken the center role for the Boston Celtics and run with it. In 25 minutes per game during the regular season, Queta averaged 10.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. The 76ers wonāt have Joel Embiid available against Queta and the Celtics, and Iād expect Boston to lean even more heavily on Queta in what should be a relatively stress-free first-round series.