2026 NBA Season

[OgNasty]

I don’t think I’ve ever wanted my hometown team to lose before, but I just plain don’t like this Phoenix Suns roster. I’m looking forward to the post-Booker era and wish they would trade him for a more likable superstar. Would love to see Brooks elsewhere too.

[yenerbatmaz]

Clippers have won three games in a row and are about to embark on a five-game home run. Their first game is against Detroit, and their final is against Golden State.

If they win both of those games, the Los Angeles Clippers could become strong contenders.
In their three-game winning streak, they beat Houston and the Lakers.

I'll be watching to see what happens in the five-game series.
I'm looking forward to seeing the Clippers perform, as I see them as an experienced team.

[Stavri]

I don’t think I’ve ever wanted my hometown team to lose before, but I just plain don’t like this Phoenix Suns roster. I’m looking forward to the post-Booker era and wish they would trade him for a more likable superstar. Would love to see Brooks elsewhere too.

I had called Phoenix Suns the weak link before the season started. I'm taking my words back for now. They have been a pleasant surprise for me this season. If they keep up this form, they can probably make the play ins and advance to the playoffs from there. Lets see.

[cryptomaniac_xxx]

I don’t think I’ve ever wanted my hometown team to lose before, but I just plain don’t like this Phoenix Suns roster. I’m looking forward to the post-Booker era and wish they would trade him for a more likable superstar. Would love to see Brooks elsewhere too.

I had called Phoenix Suns the weak link before the season started. I'm taking my words back for now. They have been a pleasant surprise for me this season. If they keep up this form, they can probably make the play ins and advance to the playoffs from there. Lets see.

It's because we really didn't see that Brooks will become a offensive threat with the Suns. He is used to known to play tough defense on the opposing team, specially against Lebron as he knows how to rage bait him and several players.

So they might be playoff bound this season. However, I still think that Booker should really lead this team, he is the heart and soul I would say as he is the only one left if I'm not mistaken to the season that they went into the finals against the Bucks.

[Spack17]

I really started to think like Jaylen Brown is doing this on purpose. He scored exactly 30 points in 5 out of his last 7 games.    Once again he was the most influential player of his team.

He is still carrying Celtics on his shoulders while Tatum is out. By the way it's said Tatum could be back by April 1. After he is back I wonder how good they can be in playoffs.


I saw the Clippers game as well and what an effort by Lopez! 31 points by him and the best performance of him by far this season.

[tech30338]

I really started to think like Jaylen Brown is doing this on purpose. He scored exactly 30 points in 5 out of his last 7 games.    Once again he was the most influential player of his team.

He is still carrying Celtics on his shoulders while Tatum is out. By the way it's said Tatum could be back by April 1. After he is back I wonder how good they can be in playoffs.


I saw the Clippers game as well and what an effort by Lopez! 31 points by him and the best performance of him by far this season.

I also think Brown is doing a silent playing, when Tatum is around, if you can see all his games, if Tatum scores a lot brown never try hard to score, he just disappear, if he is doing this, because he want's to be the face of the Celtics then there is a problem, hopefully I'm making a mistake, but every time each of those to score lots of points the other guy will not try their best to match the other one, if Tatum will be back I'm still going to check if brown will score more, and try to challenge each other in scoring, which is healthy.

[Braticf]

I really started to think like Jaylen Brown is doing this on purpose. He scored exactly 30 points in 5 out of his last 7 games.    Once again he was the most influential player of his team.

He is still carrying Celtics on his shoulders while Tatum is out. By the way it's said Tatum could be back by April 1. After he is back I wonder how good they can be in playoffs.


I saw the Clippers game as well and what an effort by Lopez! 31 points by him and the best performance of him by far this season.

He had a career high 9 threes joining Steph and Lebron.

[Stavri]

I don’t think I’ve ever wanted my hometown team to lose before, but I just plain don’t like this Phoenix Suns roster. I’m looking forward to the post-Booker era and wish they would trade him for a more likable superstar. Would love to see Brooks elsewhere too.

I had called Phoenix Suns the weak link before the season started. I'm taking my words back for now. They have been a pleasant surprise for me this season. If they keep up this form, they can probably make the play ins and advance to the playoffs from there. Lets see.

It's because we really didn't see that Brooks will become a offensive threat with the Suns. He is used to known to play tough defense on the opposing team, specially against Lebron as he knows how to rage bait him and several players.

So they might be playoff bound this season. However, I still think that Booker should really lead this team, he is the heart and soul I would say as he is the only one left if I'm not mistaken to the season that they went into the finals against the Bucks.

Exactly... Brooks maybe was the missing piece in Suns team. For years the Suns were criticized for being too soft and he’s completely flipped that narrative by bringing a grit we haven’t seen for long. He’s essentially playing the Rodman role. Like he’s the bad boy that allows everyone else to play tougher. With this style, Brooks has become the heartbeat on the floor. If Suns keep this chemistry Suns will be a legitimate problem for the West.

[Pulsar77]

I'm losing my faith in Lakers to be competitive enough in playoffs this season. They look like a strong team in offense when they don't have important members injured. However the real problem is their defense man.

Deandre Ayton won't be enough for them to do solid defending. I don't say he is too bad but just not enough for playing bigger. Lakers definitely needs a center who can stand strong and claim rebounds.

Rockets just swept them in rebounds too easily in their last game.

[püsür]

Clippers have won three games in a row and are about to embark on a five-game home run. Their first game is against Detroit, and their final is against Golden State.

If they win both of those games, the Los Angeles Clippers could become strong contenders.
In their three-game winning streak, they beat Houston and the Lakers.

I'll be watching to see what happens in the five-game series.
I'm looking forward to seeing the Clippers perform, as I see them as an experienced team.

I actually thought that in the last year's playoffs, they performed much worse than their potential and Clippers are a better team than people give them credit for. The thing is the old superstars are not always reliable. They can't perform like their prime, naturally, but they also play worse than they should. They can be much better. And when they play decent, Clippers get good results. I actually wrote here before that Clippers GM has actually done a good job, what could he do more? Zubac is a good center and with all other players Clippers seem like a very good team. Just they need the superstars to be more consistent. Nobody should be surprised if they get good results in the playoffs.

[Uhde]

I'm losing my faith in Lakers to be competitive enough in playoffs this season. They look like a strong team in offense when they don't have important members injured. However the real problem is their defense man.

Deandre Ayton won't be enough for them to do solid defending. I don't say he is too bad but just not enough for playing bigger. Lakers definitely needs a center who can stand strong and claim rebounds.

Rockets just swept them in rebounds too easily in their last game.

I think LeBron has held this team back. Lakers actually plays much better without him. As soon as he returned from injury he messed up the team chemistry. Also there is no defense... No bench depth at all. At the end of the season the Lakers definitely need to find and sign high quality defensive players.

[el kaka22]

Lakers are fourth on west even after having a three loss in a row streak. However, they really need to recover right away if they want to be good, otherwise things will not be easy, a matchup with fifth place will not be easy. They will go down harder if they keep this up, and there is a potential they will end very badly.

This is why I honestly think that it is not going to be easy to see something like this as a good way of making them get the title. Spurs are doing fine, even with limited Wemby, I think they are the team to look for.

[Fredomago]

I'm losing my faith in Lakers to be competitive enough in playoffs this season. They look like a strong team in offense when they don't have important members injured. However the real problem is their defense man.

Deandre Ayton won't be enough for them to do solid defending. I don't say he is too bad but just not enough for playing bigger. Lakers definitely needs a center who can stand strong and claim rebounds.

Rockets just swept them in rebounds too easily in their last game.

I think LeBron has held this team back. Lakers actually plays much better without him. As soon as he returned from injury he messed up the team chemistry. Also there is no defense... No bench depth at all. At the end of the season the Lakers definitely need to find and sign high quality defensive players.

Sad to say but it's true I also noticed the same, when he's still resting both Reaves and Luka playing so well together with whoever playing with them, but after he came back the chemistries shows so low, they are struggling and can't find that good combinations to be more competitive, they need to play defense with Smart and Ayton, they need to adjust and make it more competitive knowing that the team in the west side are really tough and if they wanted to chase for the title they need to adjust to whatever system they are using, they need the win to start gaining their confidence back.

[tech30338]

I'm losing my faith in Lakers to be competitive enough in playoffs this season. They look like a strong team in offense when they don't have important members injured. However the real problem is their defense man.

Deandre Ayton won't be enough for them to do solid defending. I don't say he is too bad but just not enough for playing bigger. Lakers definitely needs a center who can stand strong and claim rebounds.

Rockets just swept them in rebounds too easily in their last game.

I think LeBron has held this team back. Lakers actually plays much better without him. As soon as he returned from injury he messed up the team chemistry. Also there is no defense... No bench depth at all. At the end of the season the Lakers definitely need to find and sign high quality defensive players.

Sad to say but it's true I also noticed the same, when he's still resting both Reaves and Luka playing so well together with whoever playing with them, but after he came back the chemistries shows so low, they are struggling and can't find that good combinations to be more competitive, they need to play defense with Smart and Ayton, they need to adjust and make it more competitive knowing that the team in the west side are really tough and if they wanted to chase for the title they need to adjust to whatever system they are using, they need the win to start gaining their confidence back.

They need to work at the moment if they really want to win no matter if he is in or out, because they still pays him, so others should work or everyone has to find a way to co -exist or else those money spend on them are just going to waste, the coach should make an adjustment if its not working for them, find a way to make sure they are being maximize because as a coach, he should know better, and controlling him should not be the case, he should be on top of the situation, even if its LeBron because he's the coach.

[jakdanyel]

Jazz finally managed to win after a streak like 4 losses... They even beat Pistons which is the leader in the Eastern Conference. It was a really tough fight though. But can they make it to playoffs? 

Markkanen and Keyonte George are both doing really nice but they are still one win away from top 10. The roster isn't good enough. I wonder any of those players would find themselves a new team next season.

[rbynxx]

I don’t think I’ve ever wanted my hometown team to lose before, but I just plain don’t like this Phoenix Suns roster. I’m looking forward to the post-Booker era and wish they would trade him for a more likable superstar. Would love to see Brooks elsewhere too.

So you'll have to keep Jalen Green or probably Mark Williams? Well, I think they aren't the best roster and probably they're not that have that best chemistry and probably they'll struggle next games, Jalen Green need to play I guess, he got that impact on the floor.

Jazz finally managed to win after a streak like 4 losses... They even beat Pistons which is the leader in the Eastern Conference. It was a really tough fight though. But can they make it to playoffs? 

Markkanen and Keyonte George are both doing really nice but they are still one win away from top 10. The roster isn't good enough. I wonder any of those players would find themselves a new team next season.

In terms of playoffs for Jazz, that's doubtful I don't think they've got that power to take that spot even for play-in. I honestly think these two players need to have a solid Center other than Nurkic who's not that consistent. Hope they'll rebuild the team with George and Markannen and Collier.

[Beparanf]

Jazz finally managed to win after a streak like 4 losses... They even beat Pistons which is the leader in the Eastern Conference. It was a really tough fight though. But can they make it to playoffs? 

Markkanen and Keyonte George are both doing really nice but they are still one win away from top 10. The roster isn't good enough. I wonder any of those players would find themselves a new team next season.

It will be tough for them even if they manage to get on the playoffs. Their current roster is full of rookie players with average NBA talent while the West is currently full of power house team that complete with roster including bench as 2nd unit team.

They will be lucky if they manage to win on the play-in since Grizzlies and Mavs are their potential opponent there in case they will manage to get on top 10 since Portland will be kick out on that position soon.

[sana54210]

I also think Brown is doing a silent playing, when Tatum is around, if you can see all his games, if Tatum scores a lot brown never try hard to score, he just disappear, if he is doing this, because he want's to be the face of the Celtics then there is a problem, hopefully I'm making a mistake, but every time each of those to score lots of points the other guy will not try their best to match the other one, if Tatum will be back I'm still going to check if brown will score more, and try to challenge each other in scoring, which is healthy.

Because Brown knows that he shines on defense a lot more, and trying hard on offense when not needed would tire him out all game long. Just think of it like MJ and Pippen, because MJ never won without Pippen, doesn't mean Pippen is better, of course not, but MJ couldn't do it without him.

Brown decided to be Pippen, and he is amazing defensively and allows Tatum to focus on offense and rest on defense without much hard defensive lockdowns. This way the tanedem works great, and of course when needed both help each other on both offense and defense, not like they do zero defense or offense, they do bit of both but have their priority that they focus on. This is a great system that works for them without much trouble.

[xzone]

Jazz finally managed to win after a streak like 4 losses... They even beat Pistons which is the leader in the Eastern Conference. It was a really tough fight though. But can they make it to playoffs? 

Markkanen and Keyonte George are both doing really nice but they are still one win away from top 10. The roster isn't good enough. I wonder any of those players would find themselves a new team next season.

It's highly unlikely the Utah Jazz will make the playoffs; to be honest, they're not playing well enough. Their win against the Detroit Pistons is interesting, considering they couldn't beat their previous, much weaker opponents, but this time they beat what's perhaps the best team this season.
That's just how the NBA is; they play so many games back-to-back every day that sometimes you see unexpected results

[danherbias07]

Sad to say but it's true I also noticed the same, when he's still resting both Reaves and Luka playing so well together with whoever playing with them, but after he came back the chemistries shows so low, they are struggling and can't find that good combinations to be more competitive, they need to play defense with Smart and Ayton, they need to adjust and make it more competitive knowing that the team in the west side are really tough and if they wanted to chase for the title they need to adjust to whatever system they are using, they need the win to start gaining their confidence back.

But a problem came.

Austin Reaves will miss at least a month with calf injury
https://www.nba.com/news/austin-reaves-will-miss-at-least-a-month-with-calf-injury

Lakers guard Austin Reaves will miss at least four weeks due to a strained gastrocnemius muscle in his left calf. The Lakers announced the extent of Reaves’ injury on Friday; he will be re-evaluated late in January.

So there's no chance that Coach JJ Redick could try that duo again. Reaves will be gone for a long time, and if this duo with Lebron and Luka is not working, then he might look at his bench to see what he can work out.
The Lakers had lost 6 of their last 10 games and are now on their 3rd losing streak. This ain't really a good thing to watch, and one of their wins is actually questionable. I believe we all know that game.
It's up to the coaching staff to see what pieces are missing, and I think it's their fast break points that gone low. They need speed. The young guns will help a lot. They cannot use the reason of being up against strong teams in their last 3 games. They will just admit that they are weak if that is the case.