Vibing With Sleezy: The Podcast 2026 NBA Playoffs Episode

Hey, what's up, everybody? Welcome to Bibin' What's Cleasy the podcast. This is season seven, episode 14. I want to thank everybody for listening, tuning in, and downloading. It's been a great season so far. Season seven's had great guests, and this is another solo episode. I'm actually dropping 12, 13, and 14 all on the same day on Saturday, April 18th. WrestleMania 42, night one, and night two were episodes 12 and 13. And then episode 14 is breaking down the 2026 NBA playoffs. We already have the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors have tipped off. It was uh like 3533 Cleveland at one point. Um that's the uh fourth and fifth seed, but we're gonna break down the whole bracket. I'm gonna get this episode out this afternoon before the three o'clock games start, and that way we can um, you know, get you all the NBA playoff bracket information you need to know, and I'm gonna give my predictions. And uh I've done this before, so it's always fun. I love breaking down a bracket. So I'll go over the Western Conference, the Eastern Conference, and I'll give you my finals champion prediction. Um, overall, the 2026 NBA season was a blast. Um, there was uh great storylines, you know, with the Detroit Pistons and Cade Cunningham. There was shockers with like the Pacers being so bad. Um, Julius Randle, uh Anthony Edwards for the Timberwolves have been a very uh strong force. You got Danny Abegida from uh Portland Trailblazers, you got Victor uh Wimbanada from the Spurs. I mean, I I'm just overall, um it's just been great, great players overall that have been playing this year. Shea uh Gilgis Alexander with the Oklahoma City Thunder have been fantastic. Um then, you know, the Lakers who had Luca there for a while. They uh they've had a lot of injuries, so it's kind of LeBron carrying the Lakers into the playoffs. And then with that Eastern Conference, you know, the Hawks have been very well. Uh they got Jalen that's been great. Uh you got the Celtics who, you know, got Tatum back finally, and then Orlando being that eighth seed playing Detroit, you know, they've had a good run. Um, they had a lot of good offense this year. So overall, everybody in these playoffs, anybody can win it. You know, Jokic has had another MVP type season. I believe Cade Cunningham for the number one seed Detroit Pistons is your NBA MVP. I'm glad that he won his appeal to be able to win awards. They actually uh granted uh Cade Cunningham uh and Luca opportunities to win awards and to win NBA all-team awards there at the end of the season because if they didn't win their appeals, uh NBA's been so big on people sitting out and you know resting and says it hurts money and viewers and fans get mad. So they try to punish the players by saying they don't qualify, they don't play a certain amount of games. But with Cade Cunningham collapsed lung with Luca's injury, they won their appeal. Now, Anthony Edwards, he did not win his appeal. But if you had players like Cade Cunningham and Luca not winning awards, it would kind of act like, how did this season even play out? What happened? So I just believe that rule is really stupid. I understand you got to manage load management, but they could do a better job of it. But I'm glad Cade Cunningham, who I believe is the MVP the best this season, really carried his pistons. He deserves the MVP award. But Jokic for the the Nuggets, I mean, he's putting up bigger numbers than he's had in other other years. I also uh naming a lot of these players, sometimes I butcher names and pronunciation because it's hard. These players now are playing from all over the world, so you got some some big names. I'll say that part of this NBA uh season and just the NBA overall, there is so many different players with with wild names and from other places, but it's cool. That's because basketball is an international sport, and the NBA's done a really, really good job of giving um all these uh places um you know exposure and bringing players in. Uh, but injuries have been a killer, like usual. You know, you have a long NBA season, injuries happen. So uh with 82 games plus playoffs, you know, things are bound to happen. But I'm really excited to see how it plays out. Um I'm really also excited to break down this bracket. So I want to start with the Western Conference. Um, we got the number one seed Oklahoma City Thunder uh playing the Phoenix Sun. That's the number one seed versus the eighth seed. Uh, there were play-in games for teams to qualify. Uh they they did that this year, and uh the playing games were really intense and brought a lot of um action and and eyes on on the NBA, and so I think what they did with the uh playing games was just super well done. I was very impressed, and it just really brought the attention that they needed to kind of get this this build, and with the playoffs starting here the 18th, it's cool. So, overall, uh with the NBA playoffs, you know, games will be played on ABC, Amazon Prime, Peacock on NBC. So you're gonna be able to watch games on different streaming services that you have. But yeah, so let's break down um Thunder versus Suns. I think the Thunder are gonna dominate the Suns. It's gonna be a sweep. Uh the Oklahoma City Thunder have been unbelievable. Even with injuries, Shea Gilgis Alexander is the most consistent player um across the board. Every time he's in, every time he's got to play a big game, he is bringing um the the presence, he's bringing the dominance, and he just seems like he never um drops the ball. So I'm really, really excited to see how um it, you know, how far the thunder can go because I just feel like again, there's such a dominant force, and especially in this Western Conference. But yeah, I got the Thunder advancing against the Suns. Uh, the Lakers versus the Rockets. That's the four seed versus the five with the Lakers at the four seed. I think the Rockets will win this. Um with the Lakers injuries with Luca out. Um, I just don't see LeBron being able to carry this team across the board. Yes, he's still dominant. Yes, he's still bringing the A game at 40 years old or plus, but at the end of the day, the Lakers just they they're not gonna be able to carry the distance. So the Rockets will get that um upset in that series, uh, being the fifth seed, and they'll play the Thunder the next round. The Nuggets versus Timberwolves. I got the Nuggets beating the Timberwolves. Jokic has been such a force that he can't be stopped. Rudy Gobert is not gonna stop uh Jokic and Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle playing such a dominant uh force this year and scoring big points. I still don't think they're gonna be enough. Thumbiing at the sixth seed shows how their season had the ups and downs, and Anthony Edwards did miss a lot of games. Uh, but I overall believe the the Nuggets will will get this win for the next round. The Spurs versus Trailblazers. This one's I'm very excited to watch. The Trailblazers have been that sleeper team. They've been a lot of fun with Danny. Um, I was saying it earlier, Abegida, you know, he's he's the Israeli guy. Um kind of came from you know a big trade uh that he was over in Washington. Now he's become the star for the Trailblazers. Same thing with Drew Holiday, who was uh you know had a legendary career, star for the Celtics there for a while, uh, you know, won one with their championship. He's he's now with the Trailblazers, so they got a good offense there, but the Spurs are too dominant. And again, Victor, uh, I was saying earlier, Wimbad Nada, you know, I saw him in Indianapolis his rookie year at the All-Star Game, and when I went up there, and he's such a just crazy cool player to see. He he's he's built like you've never seen, like so tall. He stands out, but he has just been so legendary. His confidence has been huge, and what he's done overall has been brilliant. And seeing Antonio, I believe, will actually win big. I just don't think anybody is gonna be a force from the Trailblazers stopping Victor. Yes, they have um good big men in Portland, but it's gonna be the Spurs making it to the next round playing the Nuggets. Uh then to break down the Thunder versus the Rockets, I think again the Thunder is gonna sweep. I think the Thunder is a force, and they're gonna they're gonna make that run to the finals. They're just too dominant this year. And Shea Gilgis Alexander, their coach, there's just there's like a legacy they're they're uh, you know, getting in Oklahoma City that they always wanted with those Durant Westbrook years, and now they're finally getting it. Um, I think the Rockets just won't be able to stand tough against the Thunder. Kevin Durant's been fun to watch this year. Uh Reed Shepard, the Kentucky kid, you know, I'm from Kentucky, so it's cool watching him, but the uh Thunder will make that run. Uh the Nuggets versus the Spurs, that's gonna be fun. Jokic versus Victor is always great. They both always bring their A game, you know, dropping 30 plus on PRA across the board for both guys, usually when they're battling out. And it's always fun to watch. These games can always go back and forth. You never know which level it's going to go. But I'm gonna give you an upset. I just think Jokic is playing too well towards the end of the season. And I think Jokic will upset the Spurs, even though it's a 3-2 seed, I see it being the Denver Nuggets versus Oklahoma City Thunder there in the semifinals. And then my finals uh contender from the West is gonna be the Oklahoma City Thunder. I think a lot of people could predict that across the board. Um, yeah, of course, it's easy to say the number one seed will make it, but what they've done this year again with the injuries and having Shay, Jalen Williams playing out of their mind, it is going to be fun to see what they can do in the finals. So, but I'm going with the Oklahoma City Thunder uh as your Western Conference champions that will play in the finals. Now breaking down the Eastern Conference, you got the number one seed Pistons versus the Orlando Magic, the eighth seed. Detroit's gonna sweep them big time. Orlando's tough, but they've not been that tough. And Detroit is so dominant. With Cade back healthy, Jalen Duran, uh their coach who already had successful years in Cleveland. It's huge. Detroit is just playing out of their mind. Their role players play great, their starters play great, and Detroit and the Motor City are so behind them. So they'll move on to the next round. The Cleveland Cavaliers versus Toronto Raptors, like I said, right now you have um the game going on with the Cavaliers up by two. It's a very close game. It's that four and five seed. I believe, though, even though Cleveland's winning by two right now, I believe the Raptors will win. The Raptors added such a momentum, and the Raptors have such a dominant roster, but people I don't feel like pay attention enough for them being the one Canadian team for the NBA. You don't get to always watch their games. But who they have overall is just been unfreaking believable. I mean, you look at the Raptors uh starting lineup, Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett, Scotty Barnes, Jacob Potell, she it's like, what are you even talking about? That is a star-studded lineup. So I always wonder, you know, that 46-36 record for Toronto, I always felt like it could be better because they're just such a dominant fun force to watch. So I think the Raptors will move on and play the Pistons, and it'll be a battle there because you know that's only a four-hour drive from Detroit to Toronto. Then you got the Knicks versus the Hawks, 3C versus 6. I think the Atlanta Hawks will win it. Uh, a lot experts have the Knicks, but I believe of Atlanta, they have been very, very good this year. They have had already a lot of trades, and a lot of guys have stepped up. They've had two core players that played great. The Knicks have a dominant team, like always, you know, star-studded uh Brunson, you know, Carl Anthony Towns. Um, you know, these guys who have have been there can play, but I think the Hawks will get that upset in that series and move on. And then the Celtics 76ers, very interesting. Uh, the two-seed Celtics versus seven-seed 76ers, Boston will win this series. It will be a little bit of a battle. Um, the problem is Joel and Bede's had injuries. Uh, Paul George has had injuries, of course. It's been uh up and down with their lineup, but Tyrese Maxie, he always carries a team. He can drop 30 points on any night that you really want him to, but I don't think he will be enough for this Boston Celtics team. And the Celtics, again, with the two seed, they're just they're just a force. They just have not been able to get over that hump against the Detroit Pistons. Now, the Pistons versus the Raptors, I have that as the Pistons winning. I believe it would be like a 4-2 in the series. Again, Toronto has that star power and good coaching, but Cade Cunningham and Jalen Brunson, or excuse me, not Jalen Brunson, uh Jalen Reed for the uh Detroit Pistons is just going to be just just too good. I mean, or excuse me, Jalen Dern, why I keep saying that. Um, now he is actually to speak on Jalen Dern. I'm getting all the players mixed up because I got Brunson from the Knicks and I got Durin here, but overall, uh Duren has uh he was out with a little bit of a knee injury, so uh he could be out for this game to uh against Orlando. I don't think they'll need him. I think K can carry the the load, and I think with the Pistons being 60 and 22, having that best record uh in the East, I just don't think they the Raptors can can beat them. But the Pistons won't need Durin for that magic series if he doesn't come back right away. I think they can still advance, and I still think they'll have a strong, strong enough effort going into the playoffs there. So with the Pistons playing the Raptors, the Pistons will move on to the semifinals. I think Durin will be back healthy. I think you got Cade, you got all those role players, and it's gonna be a lot of fun to see what the Pistons can do. Um, to get down to that bottom half of the bracket with the Hawks playing the Celtics, I think the Celtics will dominate the Hawks. Uh the Hawks have had a good story, but then, you know, again, they've lost some players this year, but I think with the Celtics, they'll move on, and you're gonna have the Boston Celtics with the Detroit Pistons in the semifinals at 1-2. It just seemed like it was gonna play that way uh towards the middle of the year on, and they had some great battles. The Pistons, you know, again, were always a little bit better than Boston, and but Boston had some injuries again. Like I said, talking about the West, there's been just a lot of key injuries that have affected players, but I just believe this is the way the Eastern Conference will play out. And I'm just such a believer in the Detroit Pistons and Cade Cunningham having his MVP year. I think the Detroit Pistons will move on to the finals to play the Oklahoma City Thunders. So my Eastern Conference champions are the Detroit Pistons, the number one seed. Um, I believe when you get to the finals, it's going to be Oklahoma City Thunder coming out on top. And even though Detroit's had this beautiful season, even though Detroit has had this great story with Cade and the Motor City struggling with basketball for so long, I just see the Thunder has just been too much of a force. Even when they have injuries, they still prevail. And Shea Gilgis Alexander puts that city and team on his back, and he's going to win the finals MVP. He's already a Hall of Famer, in my opinion, with what he's doing. Uh Cade Cunningham, uh, you know, still early in his career, has a has a beautiful run in the future. Detroit could be back there. I think Detroit again next year could be that number one seed again. They just were too much of a force. But um, I just believe the Thunder are too strong, and this was the Thunder season. I think people even predicted it a year out before the season even started that they could do it again and they can do it back to back. Them already winning the finals and already having a taste of that championship success and their coaching. Oklahoma City Thunder will win the finals. So the NBA finals overall, my MVP is Shea Gilgis Alexander, the Thunder's the champs, Pistons representing the East, and it's going to be a great NBA playoffs overall because the basketball this year has been great. You've had star players, and again, I just love what the NBA's done bringing basketball to an international um stage, and it's just huge. And so this is how I think the season is going to finalize and play out. So uh this is BibleSleazy.com, is my website, Bible Sleazy the Podcast. This is the podcast, and this is my NBA playoff uh preview episode. Uh it's coming out here April 18th, the day that the playoffs have started. Like I said, Cavs are rolling there in game one, which is a two-point lead over the Raptors, but I think the Raptors will play out with that. But uh, but I'm excited to watch some games today, enjoy this Saturday. I hope everybody enjoys WrestleMania weekend and got to listen to episodes 12 and 13. I hope everybody has got to listen to this episode and getting ready for the NBA playoffs. And I hopefully my predictions and and accuracy come out right for all my picks. And uh, even though I would love to see the Pistons win, even though I'm a Pacers fan, um I just because I'm I'm a big Cade fan, I just think the Thunder and Kentucky, Shea Gilgis Alexander, which I love, he comes from Kentucky, they'll come out on top. But BabinwithSleazy.com, the website. I don't say that enough. So definitely visit the website and get the episodes, get info on the show. Babin with Seazy the podcast, Facebook, Instagram. Keep showing love, keep listening. Uh only got about uh seven episodes left. Um, gonna have a derby episode coming out, got a couple cool guests. So this season's been a blast. And uh, if you haven't got to listen to the Whitney Yadon episode, check that out. But I love you all. Peace. Have a great weekend. Enjoy all the sports and coverage you can watch. Enjoy peace.