The Knicks are the team to beat in the East.
After defeating the defending champion Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals this spring, the New York Knicks immediately became the favorites to represent the conference in the NBA Finals. Indiana Pacers, a team that will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the best the most exciting stories about Cinderella in modern NBA history, he had other plans.
But this year the East is more open than ever (though the Knicks guard Jalen Brunson insists he's “not a fan” of the wide-open conference narrative). The Detroit Pistons have made a remarkable turnaround from near the bottom of the East a few years ago to the top, but the Knicks' record in the Cup game We end up lifting the trophy in their third year of competition, they showed what many believed heading into this season: they are the team to beat.
Brunson continues to be the superstar his franchise needs, Mikal Bridges is having a fantastic season, and (knocks on wood) they are as healthy as ever. New head coach Mike Brown seems to be just the breath of fresh air the doctor ordered after things got stale with Tom Thibodeau: he got more creative on offense and went deeper into the rotations, and NBA Cup The Knicks champion will certainly be heard in April.
Your dynasty
The stage was set for Oklahoma City this weekend: in tears, bulldozing every team in the league and practically tearing their way to a 24-1 record, they were poised to make it 25-1 on Saturday night at NBA Cup semi-finals.
Victor Vembanyama and San Antonio Spurs there were other plans. Wembanyama, a 7ft 5in French prodigy who possesses the all-too-rare combination of off-court Zen master tendencies with a healthy dose of Kobe Bryant and a Michael Jordan-style psychopath on the hardwood, had clearly embraced the role of strong underdog heading into Saturday's semi-final match. The game marked his first appearance in several weeks with a calf strain, and Spurs, presumably due to Wembanyama's minutes restriction, missed him for the entire first quarter.
The difference in the entire Spurs team after Wembanyama entered the game was staggering: It wasn't just the renewed offensive crispness, his unparalleled defensive skills or his looming presence in the paint that clearly intimidated any Oklahoma player who dared step beyond the free throw line. It was a confidence: palpable, noticeable and spreading throughout the Spurs squad. I remarked to a colleague sitting next to me during the competition that it felt like someone’s older brother was showing up for a fight at recess: suddenly his chest puffed up.
There was a moment in the second quarter of the Championship Cup when Wembanyama blocked four or five consecutive Knicks attempts at the rim and didn't even seem to break a sweat while doing it. It's hard to understand what This when it comes to the next face of the league, the next NBA superstar who will take the sport into the future. But whatever that is, Wembanyama has it in abundance. It's hard not to think about the Frenchman's “greatest ever” potential if his body can cooperate, potential dynasties south of the Mason-Dixon line be damned.
Lifting the Cup
While it was met with mixed reactions from both fans and NBA players (and caused quite a bit of confusion for both), the NBA Cup is clearly starting to pick up steam. I mentioned in my conclusions Based on last year's event, it inevitably takes time for something like this to become meaningful. Gravity doesn't form overnight, and while the merits of adding a jolt to the rhythm of the NBA regular season are debatable, the event is clearly starting to carry some level of gravity and cachet, with highly competitive games throughout the weekend to prove it. There were body collisions while jumping for loose balls, about a million offensive rebounds and not a single ejection. It took a couple of years (and a huge investment from Amazon), but the trophy is here to stay.
Avalanche in Oklahoma City
While the fearsome 2025-2026 Oklahoma City Thunder freight train was destroyed in a battle with stranger and company in the Cup semifinals, the loss only sent them to a still-staggering 24-2 record on the season: and much of that record was achieved thanks to their second option, Jalen Williams, cheering on the bench due to a wrist injury.
There were plenty of moments throughout the game that showed why they are still, despite not being NBA Cup champions, in a class of their own in the league. For starters, the nearly indestructible Shai Gilgeous-Alexander appears to be on his way to a second straight league MVP award (and possibly a second straight Finals MVP). His entire range of offensive skills was on full display in the Cup semi-final, from stunning stealth and control to deft and fluid footwork and, yes, to blatant cheating (you can hardly blame him if he's bloody effective at it).
But the Thunder's most impressive characteristic was their defense. It was, as always, teeming, overwhelming and tireless. I can't imagine how demoralizing it must be to be caught in a barrage of interceptions and forced turnovers, staring at a scoreboard that just moments ago was broadcasting a single-digit deficit, only to watch it balloon to 12 or 13 in the blink of an eye. Oklahoma City is relentless: They keep coming, and they come in tidal waves. Just when you think it's safe to get back in the water… the resilient Thunder proves why you can't catch your breath around them. Wembanyama and Spurs certainly pulled off an impressive upset on Saturday night, but make no mistake, the Thunder should still strike the fear of God into every team.
Honorable Mention: Keep an eye on Magic.
I couldn't end the weekend in Vegas without a quick word for the Orlando Magic, who are starting to really take shape as a formidable dark horse in the Eastern Conference. They put together an impressive run in the Cup semi-finals and Desmond Bane is finally starting to look worthy of the draft picks he commanded.
