Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective Revealing The True NBA Finals Contenders + Tight NBA Awards Races & Things To Watch Down The Stretch
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Feb 18, 2026 They debate which teams actually belong in Daryl Morey’s 5% title club and argue about Western contenders like Denver, OKC and the Spurs. There is a deep dive into Eastern parity, Cleveland and Detroit’s chances after recent moves. They weigh tight award races for Defensive Player, Coach and Rookie of the Year. They close with three unmissable storylines to watch down the stretch, including Victor Wembanyama and Minnesota’s surge.
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Spurs' Confidence Mirrors Thunder's Leap
- San Antonio's Spurs and Oklahoma City are compared to past rapid ascents from non-playoff teams to contenders.
- MacMahon argues Spurs believe they can win now without needing deadline moves to prove it.
East Has Multiple Real Contenders
- BPI gives three East teams ≥5%: Cleveland (5.3%), Detroit (9.3%), and New York (9.7%).
- Those probabilities highlight the East's unusual parity and multiple legitimate playoff threats.
Defense-First Teams Can Surprise
- Detroit and Spurs share profiles: strong defense and improving offenses that make deep runs plausible but historically unlikely to jump to champion.
- Bontemps notes such leaps happen rarely but aren't impossible with unique ascending talent.