Basketball
S6 Ep50: Every NBA Playoff series previewed and every Play-In pick made
The Hoop Genius Podcast›
5 days ago39:47
Listen now
Episode Notes
The NBA playoffs are finally here and we're breaking down every confirmed first-round matchup before a single ball is tipped. Mo and Coach Brendan Suhr run through the Knicks and Hawks, the Cavaliers and Raptors, the Nuggets and Timberwolves, and the Lakers and Rockets, with real picks, real takes and no hedging. Minnesota's numbers against winning teams don't lie. Denver is on a 12-game winning streak... and LeBron might be doing this alone (again).
Before we get to the first round, the play-in has to sort itself out and we've got a pick for every game. Then we shift to coaching, where Doc Rivers and the Bucks have parted ways. Mo's argument: don't blame Doc. The front office built this situation piece by piece, and this is where it landed.
Topics covered:
- Knicks vs Hawks series preview and pick
- Cavaliers vs Raptors series preview and pick
- Nuggets vs Timberwolves: the hardest series to predict in the first round
- Lakers vs Rockets: can LeBron survive without Luka and Austin Reeves?
- Luka Doncic's injury treatment in Europe and the case for a comeback
- Play-in tournament picks for all four matchups
- Doc Rivers and the Bucks: who is actually to blame?
- Brendan Suhr on why coaches can only be as good as their players
- Denver's momentum entering the playoffs and the pressure on both coaches
- Hornets as a dark horse and whether they belong higher than their seed
- Regular season awards teaser: MVP, Rookie of the Year and Coach of the Year coming next episode
🎧 Listen to the full Hoop Genius Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & all platforms.
📺 Subscribe for new episodes 2x a week.
This podcast is brought to you by NBA2K26:
https://nba.2k.com/2k26/buy/
Next listen
All from The Hoop Genius Podcast →
Next listen
S6 Ep52: Every 2026 NBA Playoff Series Predicted: Our Full Bracket Picks
Today33:10
