The Athletic NBA Daily Contenders Revealed + Pistons handle Thunder
Feb 26, 2026
Law Murray, an NBA reporter who adds historical context, and Hunter Patterson, Detroit Pistons beat reporter with locker-room access. They break down contenders' standing and Denver vs Boston. They recap Detroit's win over an injured Oklahoma City, team culture, Cade and Jalen’s chemistry, Duren’s impact, shooting concerns, and what Detroit might add for spacing.
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Phil Jackson 40 Before 20 Is A Strong Predictor
- Phil Jackson's 40-before-20 rule is a strong historical predictor of NBA champions this century.
- 18 of the last 19 champions hit 40 wins before 20 losses, making it a useful early contention filter.
Pistons And Thunder Both 40 Before 20
- Detroit and Oklahoma City both qualified as 40-before-20 teams, framing their matchup as top-seed versus top-seed.
- The game wasn't a full finals preview because OKC was missing key personnel, but it still highlighted structural strengths.
Spurs Win In Toronto Fueled By Devin Vassell
- San Antonio reached 42-16 and won in Toronto by leveraging Devin Vassell's perimeter shooting and bench lineup adjustments.
- Vassell hit multiple threes and Spurs bench minutes outperformed Raptors' bench by wide margins.