This is the final week of the 2025-26 NBA season. With the standings nearly locked and the season almost finished, there are still some key battles that remain. The Oklahoma City Thunder sit firmly at 1st in the West with a 63-16 record, while the Detroit Pistons control the East with a 57-22 record.

Both teams are entering the playoffs as clear favourites, both statistically and physically. Still, a great question has emerged that must be answered: Is this postseason already predictable, or will we see a series of upsets and devastation once more?

The Case the Playoffs Are Already Decided

OKC’s dominance has just become overwhelming. They boast the best record in the NBA, and with 1 more win, can become the 3rd team in NBA history (2015-17 Warriors, 1996-97 Bulls) to win 64+ games in back-to-back seasons. They are elite at home with a 34-6 record, and on the road with a 29-9 record.

Historically, this team is nearly impossible to beat. As we saw last season, though, there is still one undefeated opponent: injuries. We saw it in the Denver series, and we saw it in the NBA finals vs the Pacers. If the Thunder can not get healthier before the real challenges arrive, then we might see a new champion for the 8th time in 8 years.

Next, the Pistons have become that team again. With a 57-22 record, Detroit owns a +7.7 differential, one of the best in the league, while having a strong conference record. The Pistons have set a clear separation from the rest of the East, but to be honest, it’s not that hard to catch.

The San Antonio Spurs have a higher chance to win it all, with a 60-19 record; the Spurs have a better record than the Pistons and were so close to overtaking the Thunder for the best record in the NBA. Victor Wembanyama has been leading the MVP race for weeks, and the Spurs have finally returned to the top.

Next in the West are the Denver Nuggets, who recently overtook the injury-riddled Los Angeles Lakers for the 3rd best record in the West. When I look at the Nuggets roster, it is far better than the one that won the 2023 NBA Championship, even better than the roster that pushed OKC to 7 games. I see no reason why they can’t win it all.

In the East, the Boston Celtics have become overwhelming favourites to capture the Eastern Conference Finals this season. With the rise of Jaylen Brown and the return of Jayson Tatum, the Boston Celtics ceiling has gone straight up to the NBA Championship. They have what it takes, but can they pull it off?

The Case the Playoffs Are Wide Open

The West is still a bit unstable as of now. The Los Angeles Lakers have fallen from 3rd to 4th, and now it looks like the Houston Rockets are taking over the 4th seed, as they hold the same record as the Lakers at 50-29. The Lakers have the experience, but Houston has everything else. Who wins?

As I talked about earlier, injuries create not only massive uncertainty, but also general issues on teams that look to contend. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are out for Los Angeles, Nikola Jokic is still recovering, Jalen Williams is out for OKC, Cunningham has his lung issue, and the Celtics are monitoring Tatum’s situation. Health over seeding may truly decide the playoffs over anything.

Final Word

The top of the NBA is predictable; the final playoff push is not. The playoffs have always been defined by the best teams winning the most, but in the NBA, the underdog now more than ever, is finally being recognised. Favourites exist, but there has never been a guaranteed champion.

Dominance vs Unpredictability. This season has been defined by the most predictable top seeds, but the playoffs are still completely unpredictable. The favourites have been stated, Oklahoma, San Antonio, Boston, there is still no way that any of them will win the championship.

Injuries, combined with matchup scenarios and the play-in teams, just create instability, and in a season that was defined by a few teams absolutely dominating, the postseason might just be defined by pure chaos.

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