NBA | 2026 Eastern Conference Postseason Preview: Larry or Bust

The NBA's regular season has come to a close and now we're just a few days out from the official start to the NBA's postseason. With play-in games set to go off tomorrow, a few of these matchups are still in the air. I'm going to do my best to preview each Eastern Conference series and give you my best bets in every one.

It's the best time of the year, let's jump straight into it.

For a full breakdown of the Western Conference, click here. 

For additional information on picks, props, money lines and more on today's NBA slate, take a look at our NBA Picks Page or our NBA Odds Page. 

(5) Toronto Raptors vs. (4) Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland is the Reason

The Cavaliers finished the year as the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland's performed markedly better after the James Harden trade and the team's rolling into the playoffs as one of the hottest teams in the NBA.

The Cavs finished the year winning five of their last six games and went 19-7 with Harden in the lineup. The team's got the 4th best offensive rating in the NBA since Harden joined the team and scoring an average of 120.7 points per 100 possessions.

More importantly, the teams' shooting just under 50% from the field and they've only played seven games with all four members of their big four. The Cavaliers went 5-2 in those seven games and scored an average of 119.4 points per game.

Cleveland's big four includes Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. With all four guys on the floor the team's offensive rating jumps to 122.9 with their defensive rating dropping as low as 97.7. That's a net rating of +25.2 in just 80 minutes of game time.

It's a very small sample size, but it also shows how much of this Cavaliers team remains to be seen. Harden's now made the postseason for his 17th straight season and with that has come a ton of experience. He's played in 173 career playoff games and that experience might be exactly what Cleveland needs.

These two teams played each other three times this year, with the Raptors winning all three games. All three matchups took place before the end of November and this Cavaliers team looks a lot different than it did in November.

Six Gods

The Raptors are a team that not a lot of people believe in. Their record against the top three seeds in both conferences is terrible, they rank 15th in offensive rating and if not for their defense, probably don't make the playoffs.

Toronto ranks 5th in defensive rating, 9th in points allowed, 7th in opponent effective field goal percentage and 3rd in opponent three point percentage. Toronto's done a great job guarding the perimeter, giving up just 12.5 threes per game (6th) and holding opponents to 34.9% from outside.

The problem is the Raptors offense has continued to struggle, especially against good defenses. Their offense ranks 21st in points scored, 21st in 3-point percentage and 15th in team free throw rate. They haven't done a good job of getting on the offensive glass but lead the league in fast break points.

The Raptors play at a bottom 10 pace in the NBA but do a lot to get out on the fast break and score points off turnovers. The offense ranks 4th in points off of turnovers, 4th in forced turnovers per game and 10th in steals per game.

Both teams have great size, especially in the front court. Both Evan Mobley and Scottie Barnes were drafted back to back in 2021 and this will be the first time the two meet up in the postseason.

Game 1 – Saturday, April 18th, 2026

• Location: Rocket Arena; Cleveland; Ohio
• Tipoff: 1:10 PM EST

Key Players

• Scottie Barnes (TOR): 33.5 MPG | 18.1 PPG | 7.5 RPG | 5.9 APG
• Evan Mobley (CLE): 31.9 MPG | 18.2 PPG | 9.0 RPG | 3.6 APG

Prediction: Cavaliers in 6

Odds via Lucky Rebel, an industry leader in the sports betting world.

(6) Atlanta Hawks vs. (3) New York Knicks

New York State of Mind

The Knicks finished the year as the No. 3 seed and will host the Atlanta Hawks in the first round. This will be just the fourth time, all time that the two have met in the playoffs; the most recent being back in 2021 when Trae Young lead the Hawks to victory in five games.

This Knicks team is completely different, not just from that 2021 squad; but even from last year. New York ranks 4th in offensive rating, 7th in defensive rating and allow the 5th fewest points in the league.

Head Coach Mike Brown has the Knicks playing much slower this year, ranking 4th in pace and averaging just 97.7 possessions per game. It's lead to an offense that ranks 10th in points per game (116.5) and is dominated by their All-NBA PG; Jalen Brunson.

Brunson's averaging 26.0 points per game this year, exactly the same number he averaged last year. Karl-Anthony Towns is where we've seen a little bit of regression. After averaging 24/13 in his first year with the Knicks, Towns is averaging 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds per game this year.

The bigger problem for the Knicks comes on the defensive side. Their two best players also happen to be their two biggest defensive liabilities. With both Brunson and Towns on the floor, the team's defensive rating jumps to 116.6.

Their starting five of Brunson, Towns, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart and O.G. Anunoby has a defensive rating of 117.7; which ranks bottom five among regular starting lineups this year. If the Knicks want to win this series, they'll need to lock in on the defensive side.

HOTLANTA

The Hawks have the 4th most wins since the All-Star break, but enter the postseason on a little bit of a slide. Atlanta's lost three of their last four games, with one of those losses also coming to the Knicks. The two teams have played each other three times this year, with New York taking two of the three games.

Atlanta's been a completely different team since the deadline and it has everything to do with Jalen Johnson. Johnson's averaging career high numbers across the board and in his first year as the No. 1 in Atlanta, he's lead the team back to the playoffs.

Since the trade deadline, the Hawks have gone 20-6, they rank 11th in offensive rating since then and more importantly; 2nd in defensive rating. Since trading Trae Young, the Hawks are giving up just 108.6 points per 100 possessions and have the 4th best net rating in the NBA.

Atlanta's starting lineup of Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Onyeka Okongwu, Dyson Daniels, C.J. McCollum and Jalen Johnson has the 3rd best net rating in the NBA with an offensive rating of 121.0.

With this new lineup, the Hawks rank 6th in rebounding rate, 2nd in opponent offensive rebounds per game and 5th in opponent second chance points. The Knicks rank 4th in second chance points this year and 5th in offensive rebound rate. If the Hawks can contain the Knicks second chance opportunities, they might really have a chance at an upset.

Game 1 – Saturday, April 18th, 2026

• Location: Madison Square Garden; New York, New York
• Tipoff: 6:10 PM EST

Key Players

• Jalen Johnson (ATL): 35.2 MPG | 22.5 PPG | 10.3 RPG | 7.9 APG
• Jalen Brunson (NYK): 35.0 MPG | 26.0 PPG | 3.3 RPG | 6.8 APG

Prediction: Hawks in 7

Odds via Lucky Rebel, an industry leader in the sports betting world.

(7) [TBD] vs. (2) Boston Celtics

Green Machine

The Celtics are currently the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference and it's for good reason. In what many labeled a 'gap year' for the Boston, the team's won 56 games, finished 2nd in the Eastern Conference and top five in both offense and then defense.

Boston finished the season 2nd in offensive rating (120.0), 4th in defensive rating (111.7) and they did it while playing at the slowest pace in the NBA. The Celtics looked like a top three team in the east, even prior to Jayson Tatum's return; but since he got back, the team's been unstoppable.

Boston went 13-3 with Tatum in the lineup this year and 11-1 with both Tatum and Brown playing the full game. With both of the Jays on the floor, the Celtics offensive rating jumps to 120.9 with their defensive rating dropping to 107.3.

In 286 minutes on the floor together, the Tatum/Brown duo has a +17.9 net rating. That is significantly better than even 2024, the year they won a championship.

The Celtics played the Magic four times this year, winning three of the four matchups and averaging 118.0 points per game. The Celtics split their four games against the 76ers this year, but all four games came without JT back in the lineup.

Boston's looking good in Round 1, no matter who comes out of the play-in game.

76ers or Magic?

With the play-in games set to tip off over the next two days, you'll have to stay tuned for the Celtics opponent. For a full breakdown of the Magic/76ers game, click here.

Game 1 – Sunday, April 19th, 2026

• Location: TD Garden; Boston, Massachussetts
• Tipoff: 1:10 PM EST

Key Players

• Jaylen Brown (BOS): 34.4 MPG | 28.7 PPG | 6.9 RPG | 5.1 APG

Prediction: Celtics in 5

Odds via Lucky Rebel, an industry leader in the sports betting world.

(8) [TBD] vs. (1) Detroit Pistons

DETROIT BASKETBALL

The Pistons are back in the postseason for the second straight year and  they've got their very own MVP candidate leading the way. Cade Cunningham's averaging 24/12 in his fifth year in the NBA and he's been the driving force that's lead this Pistons' team to a No. 1 seed.

Cade finished with the 2nd most assists in the NBA this year, he recorded the 7th most blocks at the guard spot and his two-way ability was on display every single night.

Detroit ranks 9th in offensive rating, 2nd in defensive rating and 2nd in net rating. The team's giving up just 109.6 points per game (3rd), they rank 1st in opponent three point percentage, 3rd in opponent rebounds per game and 1st in forced turnovers.

The Pistons are scoring the 2nd most points off of turnovers, the 4th most second chance points and 4th most points on the fast break. At the same time, they rank top five in points allowed in the paint, opponent points off turnovers and fast break points allowed.

They do everything well and they continue to force teams to play at their speed.The Pistons have set the tone in nearly every game they've played this year and I'm expecting the same here in the playoffs.

This team got a taste of the postseason last year and now they're hungry for more. Not only is Cade playing like an MVP, but Jalen Duren's playing so well he's being talked about as this year's 'Most Improved'. The big man's averaging a career high 19.5 points per game, while simultaneously averaging 10.5 rebounds per contest and 1.6 stocks.

Duren's been the anchor of this defense and without him the in the paint, it's a completely different ball game.

Short Straw

Detroit's opponent is still completely in the air. Whoever draws the short straw and has to face this Pistons squad in the first round is not going to have a good time.

Before we know who will take on the Pistons, the Heat/Hornets are to set to face off in the No. 9/No. 10 game later today. For a full breakdown of that one, click here.

Game 1 – Sunday, April 19th, 2026

• Location: Little Caesars Arena; Detroit, Michigan
• Tipoff: 6:40 PM EST

Key Players

• Cade Cunningham (DET): 33.9 MPG | 23.9 PPG | 5.5 RPG | 9.9 APG

Prediction: Pistons in 5

Odds via Lucky Rebel, an industry leader in the sports betting world.

Looking for More

More NBA News

NBA Betting News

2026 NBA Finals | Spurs vs. Knicks: Game 4

Varun Sharma Wed Jun 10 2026

NBA Betting News

2026 NBA Finals MVP Odds: Race Tightens After Spurs' Game 3 Win

Eddie Griffin Tue Jun 9 2026

NBA Betting News

2026 NBA Finals | Spurs vs. Knicks: Game 3

Varun Sharma Mon Jun 8 2026

NBA Betting News

2026 NBA Mock Draft: Predicting the Top Five Picks

Nate Hornung Mon Jun 8 2026

Follow me on 'X' @VSaaauce for all my picks and sports takes you didn't ask for! Follow Betting News on 'X' and Twitch and catch us on stream! Betting News is also on TikTok! Follow us for more picks, and news!

Looking for a great promo for a new sportsbook? Check out our reviews of the best sportsbooks.