NBA playoffs 2026 preview: Why OKC is primed for a repeat, and the Knicks may fall short

“It’s wide open!”That’s everyone’s favorite saying when the NBA postseason begins, and in recent years, it’s been more true than ever. Favorites have been unusually vulnerable in the post-pandemic NBA, with teams seeded fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth all making at least the conference finals, the eighth-seeded Miami Heat winning the Eastern Conference in 2023 and the fourth-seeded Indiana Pacers being one half away from winning the 2025 title.Advertisement