The first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs in the Eastern Conference lived up to the hype and then some. While the Western Conference saw quicker resolutions and blowouts in several series, the East delivered non-stop drama with three of four matchups going the full seven games. This showcased real parity across the conference, where seeding often mattered less than execution, health, and momentum. Higher seeds were pushed to the brink (or beyond), and upsets highlighted how competitive the East has become.

Here is a look at how each series unfolded, with key moments, standout performances, and what it means heading into the semifinals.

(1) Detroit Pistons Defeat (8) Orlando Magic 4-3

This series was a roller coaster from the start. The eighth-seeded Magic stunned the top-seeded Pistons in Game 1 with a 112-101 road win, then built a 3-1 lead by taking Games 3 and 4. Orlando looked poised for a massive upset behind Paolo Banchero’s scoring bursts.

Detroit responded with resilience. They forced Game 7 by winning Games 5 and 6, including a stunning 24-point comeback in Game 6 (93-79). In the decisive Game 7 on May 3, the Pistons cruised to a 116-94 victory at home. Cade Cunningham delivered a masterpiece with 32 points and 12 assists, while veteran Tobias Harris added 30 points. It marked Detroit’s first playoff series win in 18 years.

The takeaway? Experience and home-court advantage in Game 7 proved decisive for the Pistons, while the Magic showed some life. Still, that Game 6 collapse will haunt them.

(2) Philadelphia 76ers Defeat (2) Boston Celtics 4-3

One of the biggest upsets in recent playoff history. The Celtics jumped out to a commanding 3-1 lead, but the seventh-seeded 76ers refused to fold. Philadelphia won three straight to force Game 7, capping one of the rare 3-1 comebacks in NBA postseason lore (only the 14th in history).

Game 7 in Boston on May 2 was electric. The 76ers pulled out a 109-100 road victory despite Jayson Tatum missing the game with a knee injury. Joel Embiid dominated with 34 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists. Tyrese Maxey added 30 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists, while rookie V.J. Edgecombe chipped in 23 points off the bench. Jaylen Brown led Boston with 33 points in a losing effort.

This series snapped Philadelphia’s long playoff struggles against Boston and set up a fascinating rivalry rematch in the next round. Going forward, can Embid thay healthy? That’s the critical question.

(3) New York Knicks Defeat (6) Atlanta Hawks 4-2

The most straightforward series in the East, though it still had its share of competitive moments. The third-seeded Knicks used strong defense and home-court advantage to control the matchup and advance in six games.

New York pulled away decisively in the later contests, including a blowout Game 6 win of 140-89. The Knicks were consistent throughout, avoiding the late drama that defined the other East series. Atlanta showed flashes, particularly early on, but could not sustain the intensity against New York’s balanced attack.

This result reinforced the Knicks as one of the more reliable teams in the conference heading into the semifinals.

(4) Cleveland Cavaliers Defeat (5) Toronto Raptors 4-3

Another seven-game thriller that kept fans on the edge of their seats. The Raptors pushed the fourth-seeded Cavaliers hard, forcing overtime in Game 6 and keeping the series tied heading into the finale. The Cavs got off the a great start to the series, winning the first two games at home, but they couldn’t win in Toronto.

The Raptors won on a miracle shot in Game 6 at home, and they took an early lead on the road in Game 7.

But Cleveland pulled away, winning Game 7 114-102 at home. Jarrett Allen was a beast with a dominating performance in the second half, while Max Strus also provided a spark. The Cavs needed that as they erased a halftime deficit with a dominant third quarter. Donovan Mitchell was mediocre after the first two games, but he also came to life at key moments in the second half.

Toronto’s Scottie Barnes and the supporting cast made it a true test, but Cleveland’s experience and depth at home proved too much in the end.

Why the East Felt So Competitive

Three Game 7s in one round is rare and speaks to the depth and balance in the Eastern Conference this season. Unlike some years where top seeds cruised, every series had genuine doubt until the final moments. Upsets, comebacks from 3-1 deficits, and key injuries all played major roles.

The advancing teams — Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, and Cleveland Cavaliers — now face off in the conference semifinals:

• Pistons vs. Cavaliers
• Knicks vs. 76ers

These matchups promise even more intensity as the East continues to prove it is anyone’s conference.

In early February 2026, the Cavs made a blockbuster midseason move: they traded young guard Darius Garland (then 26) and a 2026 second-round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for 11-time All-Star James Harden (then 36). The deal was driven by Cleveland’s push for immediate contention after strong regular-season performance but playoff shortcomings in prior years.

Many of us Cavs fans loved the trade, though the move also raised some eyebrows at the time due to the age gap and the fact that Garland was part of the team’s young core. Critics questioned trading a younger, cheaper player for an older veteran with a player option looming after the season.

Since then, the Clippers were bounced from the play-in tourny as Garland acknowledged he was basically playing on only nine toes. Meanwhile, Harden and the Cavs are thriving.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are off to a stong start in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, taking a commanding 2-0 lead over the Toronto Raptors in their Eastern Conference first-round series. Other top seeds are faring as well.

In Game 1 (April 18, 2026), the Cavs won 126-113 behind Donovan Mitchell’s 32 points. James Harden contributed a double-double with 22 points and 10 assists.In Game 2 (April 20, 2026), Cleveland pulled out a 115-105 victory. Mitchell scored 30 points (on efficient 13-23 shooting, including 4 made threes), added 7 rebounds and 5 assists, and closed strong with 9 points in the fourth quarter. Harden added 28 points on efficient 9-14 shooting (including 3 threes), plus 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and a standout 5 steals. The duo combined for 58 points in Game 2, and across both games they’ve been instrumental in forcing turnovers and creating high-quality shots.

Together with Evan Mobley (who scored 25 in Game 2), the trio has delivered multiple 25+ point performances, a rare feat in Cavs playoff history. Mitchell and Harden have shown strong chemistry on and off the court, with Harden often acting as a playmaker who keeps the offense flowing while Mitchell attacks as the primary scorer. Harden has also brought defensive intensity (steals and disruption) that complements the Cavs’ overall scheme.

Analysts note that Harden appears to have unlocked a new level for Mitchell in the postseason. Mitchell has now scored 30+ points on 50%+ shooting in back-to-back playoff games for the first time in his Cleveland tenure, looking more mature and efficient with a veteran facilitator like Harden alongside him.

It also helps that the Cavs are generally healthy, which gets back to why they traded Garland for Harden. Garland is younger, but he’s had issues with his big toes, and the Cavs just couldn’t go into the playoffs again with a banged up small guard.

Enter James Harden, one of the all-time great NBA players. He’s 36 but he’s still playing at a high level. Frankly he’s also one of the best passers I’ve ever seen. And he’s embraced his role next to Mitchell, which has allowed both of them to thrive.

We’ll see if this is enough for the Cavs to make a deep playoff run, but they’re showing that they are a team to be reckoned with.

The Detroit Pistons will have the top pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, with the Rockets, Cavs, Raptors and Magic rounding out the top five. Most scots believe this draft is loaded, particularly with the top five prospects.

Cade Cunningham – He’s the consensus top pick, though the Pistons will certainly do their homework on all the top prospects. Cunningham is a 6’8″ point guard who many believe can do it all. He can create his own shot or make plays passing, and is the type of wing player most GMs crave in the modern NBA.

Evan Mobley – Mobley is a modern-day big man who can handle the ball like a guard and shoot from the perimeter while also protecting the rim. As a seven-footer he’s certainly an intriguing prospect.

Jalen Green – He’s a 6’5″ wing player who is probably the most dynamic scorer in the draft. He would be an ideal for for a team like the Cavs but frankly fit the prototype of the NBA wing player who can dominate the game with his athleticism.

Jalen Suggs – A 6’4″ guard who can play the point or off the ball, Suggs is an elite athlete who has a complete game. He’s probably the best known prospect given his time at Gonzaga.

Jonathan Kuminga – Like Green, Kuminga is another G League player who will likely go in the top 5. He has prototypical size at 6’8″ but is more of a raw talent at this point. He’s very athletic with speed, strength and the ability to play above the rim.

It will be interesting to see how things play out as opinions vary on the order that these five should go after Cunningham likely gets picked by the Pistons.

However, there is a split of opinion since a section of the fanbase believes that there isn’t any competitiveness when players start combining forces to challenge a trophy win. There has been a recent development where there is a possibility of James Harden leaving the Houston Rockets and joining the Brooklyn Nets.

The seasoned star will be joining the likes of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, forming another one of the coveted superteams. This speculation is what has brought forth new debate over the matter.

The Brooklyn Nets will now stand a higher chance of becoming the 2020/21 NBA champions if James Harden joins them. But that won’t be the only superteam in the recent past. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the most successful superteams of the 2010s. The infographic below, taken from a Betway NBA article outlines the latest NBA Superteams.

Boston Celtics (2007-12)

The 2007 Boston Celtics team became the first superteam in the NBA across this modern age. The team boasted of having the 5-time NBA All-star Player Paul Pierce. Pierce was still in his prime at this point. However, the season 2006 season wasn’t an easy one for the Celtics since they came in last that year.

But that didn’t stop Danny Ainge, the general manager at the time, from adding two key players to the team. First in was Kevin Garnett, who had won the MVP award in 2004. The other superstar was Ray Allen, a reputed sharpshooter who had already made his mark in the world of Basketball. Garnett was previously a part of the Minnesota Timberwolves team while Allen was from the Seattle SuperSonics.
The impact was immediate, with the three players helping Celtics clinch the NBA title with stiff competition from the Los Angeles Lakers. However, Allen later joined Miami Heat in 2012, which saw the end of the formidable trio.

Miami Heat (2010-14)

Miami Heat in 2010 is arguably the most popular superteam there’s ever been although, it attracted its fair share of controversy. LeBron James was the most awe-inspiring talent at the time and was approaching the final stages of his contract.

Rumors started spreading around that he would be teaming up with Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade, who were also All-Stars. They would form part of the formidable Miami Heat team, although it took a while to taste glory. LeBron James faced a lot of criticism for ditching his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers Team both from fans and players.

It wasn’t long before James and his teammates led Miami Heat to the two consecutive NBA titles in 2012 and 2013. LeBron clinched the MVP award on both occasions. The team went on to reach the finals four times until James made a return to his former Cleveland team.

2014-17 Cleveland Cavaliers

LeBron James decided to return to his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. This was after winning back-to-back titles with Miami Heat, during which time he had already made his mark as the best NBA player. He would go on to join Kyrie Irving, a rising superstar with promising potential. But the two of them weren’t enough to achieve superteam status.

Not long after, the 3-time All-Star player Kevin Love was on his way to join the Cavs making the team a formidable superteam. They went on to reach the finals that season but were beaten by the Golden State Warriors.

The next season was the Cavs’ breakthrough season, who went on to clinch their first-ever NBA title. In 2017, Irving chose to join the Boston Celtics, which meant that the team wasn’t as powerful as t once was. LeBron later left the Cavs, but this time with favor from the fans as well.

Golden State Warriors (2016-19)

The Golden State Warriors had already achieved superteam status in 2016. They were the NBA champions in 2015, led by the stellar partnership of Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson.

Right before losing to the Cavs in 2016, the team had broken the record for having the best regular season of 73-9. Kevin Durant, already among the best in the competition, later became part of the Warriors team, which meant that they were the most talented NBA team of all time.

Durant and teammate Curry were the winners of the last three MVP awards. The offensive ability of the two playing together was unmatched. The team went on to clinch two successive league titles in 2017 and 2018.

Ehlo took no offense by anything in the documentary but didn’t remember Harper saying anything like that, though Ehlo concedes that Harper may have said something directly to Jordan.

It’s a great interview, as Ehlo is a class act, and he tells some great Jordan stories that show a good side of Jordan.

This article from Richard Jefferson in the Players Tribune is amazing. His account of the 2016 championship run with the Cavs beating the Warriors after falling behind 3-1 in the series is fascinating. This quote sums it up nicely:

Some titles……. they just mean more than other titles. That’s just the truth. I know it. You know it. Golden State knows it.

And Cleveland definitely knows it.

Some titles mean the world.

We agree

If you’ve been watching Lebron James this season, you’re seeing an all-time great actually improve his game. Lebron is shooting the ball so much better this season, and you see a greater emphasis at times with posting up and using the fade-away jumper. And then you see him hitting his threes.

This article explains how Lebron has committed himself to improving his shot. The results have been impressive – “This season he is shooting 58.5 percent from the field, 42.7 percent from beyond the arc and 78.2 percent from the foul line — all career-bests.”

I think having Kyle Korver as a teammate has helped as well. Lebron was always the hardest worker on the team, but now he has Korver as well – someone who is obsessive about working on his game and his shot.