2026 NBA Playoffs: Key Inquiries, Forecasts, and Points of Interest

By Marcus Hill On Mar 18, 2026 13

The NBA is approaching the final month before the transition from the 2025-26 regular season to the playoffs. The competition is heating up as teams in both the Eastern and Western conferences strive to secure their postseason positions or shift their focus to the offseason.

Some franchises are refining their strategies and assessing their performance as the playoff picture continues to evolve. Others are contemplating how their rosters might change in the upcoming season. Regardless of their current standings, the final month of the regular season is a busy time for all 30 teams, particularly for those aiming for favorable playoff seeding or a spot in the play-in tournament.

Our ESPN insiders address the most pressing questions for the title contenders in the East and West, discussing what each team is concentrating on in their remaining regular-season matchups.

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Jump to a topic:
East: BOS | CLE | DET | NYK | MIL
West: GSW | HOU | LAL | MIN | OKC | SAS
Leaguewide questions

Biggest questions facing East teams

What has caused the Detroit Pistons‘ recent struggles, and how can they adapt for the playoffs?

Since the All-Star break, the Pistons’ defense has declined, leading to losses that have raised concerns. During their strong 40-13 start, their defense ranked second in the league, allowing 108.3 points per 100 possessions. However, after going 9-6 post-break, their defensive rating has slipped to 112.1 points per 100 possessions, still placing them in the top 10. Their strength lies in preventing opponents from performing at their best.

As they prepare for the postseason, their shot creation will be crucial, particularly around Cade Cunningham. However, they can influence their defensive intensity, and regaining that will significantly contribute to their success this season. — Vincent Goodwill

How will the Boston Celtics manage Jayson Tatum‘s playing time in the coming month?

They plan to gradually increase his minutes, similar to their approach in the first week, to prepare him for what they hope will be an extended playoff run. In his initial three games, Tatum logged 27 minutes before moving up to 32 minutes in his fourth and fifth games. The Celtics have a month to build his endurance for playoff demands and are expected to utilize this time effectively. — Tim Bontemps

Are the New York Knicks in a better position a year after parting ways with Tom Thibodeau?

Statistically, New York is performing slightly better than last year’s pace, yet it doesn’t feel that way. The Knicks have shown improvement with a top-five offense and a top-10 defense, both of which surpass last season’s performance. This is largely due to the historical reputation of Thibodeau’s teams for their defensive prowess, the Knicks’ inconsistent play this season, and the high expectations placed upon them. The starters’ minutes have decreased as Mike Brown has implemented a deeper rotation.

While the current atmosphere may not seem positive, it mirrors last year’s sentiment. The true evaluation will come in May and potentially June. Time tends to alter perceptions of the previous year in ways that may not reflect reality. The Knicks have an opportunity ahead of them, and it is essential for them to acknowledge it. — Goodwill

In what ways has James Harden instilled confidence in the Cleveland Cavaliers to advance past the Pistons, Celtics, and Knicks?

Since acquiring Harden, the Cavaliers have recorded a 12-6 record, including 11-4 with him on the court, and are beginning to resemble the team that was initially viewed as a conference favorite. Cleveland boasts the second-best offensive rating in the NBA since the trade deadline, as Harden’s playmaking has enhanced the team’s offensive capabilities: he has eased the burden on Donovan Mitchell, unlocked Jarrett Allen in pick-and-roll situations, and provided easy passes and open shots for the surrounding shooters.

Crucially for the Cavaliers, Harden’s availability has been a significant factor in their decision to seek an upgrade over Darius Garland, and coach Kenny Atkinson noted to ESPN that Harden’s presence has brought a “renewed confidence” to his squad. — Jamal Collier

What impact will the next month have on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s and Doc Rivers’ futures in Milwaukee?

Not much. The Bucks have relied on time as their strategy throughout their prolonged evaluation of Antetokounmpo. The organization has maintained that there is still sufficient time for an in-season turnaround, to rebuild as a contender, or to persuade Antetokounmpo to sign another extension to remain in Milwaukee.

However, the reality of their current standings (5½ games behind the No. 10 seed) and the gap between Milwaukee and true contenders is apparent. Regardless of how the final month unfolds, the Bucks will need to confront this reality come summer. — Collier

Projected end-of-season East standings

Which East game do you have marked on your calendar?

I’m going to select two since the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat will face off on April 7 and April 9 in Toronto. As of Tuesday afternoon, Toronto is ahead of Miami by half a game, so the results of this two-game series could determine which team secures an automatic playoff spot and which team must navigate a challenging play-in scenario. — Zach Kram

Other significant games for the playoff race:

Orlando Magic at Raptors: March 29
Heat at Raptors: April 7
Atlanta Hawks at Heat: April 12
Hawks at Magic: April 1
Philadelphia 76ers at Heat: March 30

Biggest questions facing West teams

How serious are the Oklahoma City Thunder‘s injury concerns one month before the playoffs?

Jalen Williams’ hamstring is the Thunder’s primary injury concern at this stage. Oklahoma City must proceed cautiously after he aggravated the strain in his second game back following his return just before the All-Star break. The expectation is that Williams, who missed the first 19 games due to offseason wrist surgery and has been sidelined for nearly two months, will be able to regain his rhythm by the time the playoffs commence.

The Thunder can afford to be patient, as they hold a 36-8 record without Williams this season and have a three-game lead over the Spurs at the top of the Western standings. However, Oklahoma City understands how vital Williams is to their title defense. His 40-point performance in Game 5 of last season’s NBA Finals may have been the most significant individual display in franchise history. — Tim MacMahon

How confident are Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs as they approach the final stretch of the regular season without a playoff berth?

Their confidence is high, especially after San Antonio achieved a 5-1 record during a six-game homestand that included impressive wins against expected playoff contenders such as Detroit, the LA Clippers, Rockets, Celtics, and Hornets. The Spurs entered the homestand eager to embrace the variety of playing styles, personnel, and potential on-court scenarios they would face as they prepared for the stretch run and their first playoff appearance since 2019.

Wembanyama missed one game during the homestand due to an ankle injury but returned to deliver his fifth consecutive game with 25 points on 50% shooting or better, tying LaMarcus Aldridge (2018) for the third-longest streak of such performances by a Spur in the last 25 seasons. – Michael C. Wright

What steps can the Minnesota Timberwolves take in the next month to demonstrate their readiness for another deep playoff run after consecutive trips to the West finals?

Establishing consistency would be ideal for the Timberwolves. Their unpredictable performance can be frustrating, but the past couple of seasons have seen many ups and downs that culminated in conference finals appearances. This season, they have significantly regressed defensively, currently ranking ninth in efficiency, down from sixth last season and first in 2023-24.

Since the All-Star break, they have struggled defensively, allowing 116.4 points per 100 possessions, ranking 21st during that period. This trend must be reversed for Minnesota to make another playoff push. Additionally, star player Anthony Edwards is dealing with right knee soreness and will be reassessed in one to two weeks. –– MacMahon

Can the Houston Rockets compete in the Western Conference playoffs without a traditional point guard?

Yes, but their chances of advancing are slim if they cannot address other issues, such as turnovers and closing out games, that have plagued the team throughout the season. Without a conventional point guard, Houston believes it can devise strategies to mitigate the shortcomings at that position, as noted by an assistant who mentioned that the Rockets could design plays to enhance Amen Thompson’s offensive effectiveness while adjusting schemes to shield defensive liability Reed Sheppard.

Houston also needs center Alperen Sengun to overcome his recent defensive challenges while improving his role as an offensive facilitator. –– Wright

How are the Los Angeles Lakers addressing the fact that, statistically, they are less effective with their three stars (Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Austin Reaves) on the court together?

Whether his response stemmed from experience, patience, or sheer optimism, Lakers coach JJ Redick articulated a clear vision when discussing his team’s prospects in the final stretch of the regular season and the playoffs.

“I’m confident we’re going to find it,” Redick stated last week. “How we’re going to find it, that’s where it’s … you got to figure it out on a daily basis sometimes.”

While the net rating of their trio is positive (plus-3.2 in 20 games played together), their individual combinations vary. James and Doncic have a net rating of minus-2.1, James and Reaves are plus-1.2, while Reaves and Doncic are plus-8.0. Redick has attempted to improve their synergy in two ways: by staggering their minutes to allow James to take on more ball-handling responsibilities with the second unit and by encouraging James to adopt a more complementary role when sharing the floor with the other two.

“I know he wants to win, and he wants to do everything possible to help this team win,” Redick remarked about James. — Dave McMenamin

Will Stephen Curry’s return be sufficient to lift the Golden State Warriors?

To any level of fringe contention? No. Jimmy Butler III’s ACL tear has effectively dashed those hopes. However, there remains a competitive team within the current roster, provided Kristaps Porzingis is healthy and Curry is back and energized for the play-in tournament. It is becoming increasingly apparent that the Warriors will need to navigate the nine versus ten matchup.

This means they must defeat the Portland Trail Blazers in an elimination game and then win against the loser of a matchup that would currently involve the Phoenix Suns and LA Clippers. If they succeed, needing Curry’s contributions, they will face the West’s top seed, likely the Oklahoma City Thunder, in the first round. The path to relevance this season is challenging. — Anthony Slater

Projected end-of-season West standings

Which West game do you have highlighted on your calendar?

The Denver Nuggets are expected to remain a top-six team in the West, thanks to a relatively manageable schedule as the season concludes. (Two of the Nuggets’ most challenging remaining games are against the Thunder and Spurs to finish the regular season, but those teams might be locked into their playoff positions and resting players at that time.)

However, if the Nuggets lose to the Suns on March 24, the situation could become intriguing. Denver would certainly prefer to avoid the play-in tournament and a potential first-round matchup with either San Antonio or Oklahoma City. — Kram