Post-Season RD1 Recap and RD2 Matchups: 2025

 👑 Playoffs RD2

2 MELO vs 8 SOUR

3 SCRM vs 4 SWMP

Playoffs RD2 Consolation

1 SQSQ vs 7 ILCN

5 SPDE vs 6 KSKT

🚽 Toilet Bowl RD2

9 SBUK vs 12 BUFF

10 CHMK vs 11 FUNK

Toilet Bowl RD2 Consolation

13 FJUB vs 16 UFOS

14 ABCX vs 15 TRUO

Playoff RD1 Recap

Unfortunately for SQSQ, it’s deja vu all over again as they get toppled as the top seed by a lowly eighth seed, just like back in 2022. Sadly, our must-win all-in team was missing Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, and Richuan Holmes, leaving a big hole in the middle. While James Harden and Derrick White had some heroic games, Miles Bridges and Steph Curry equaled their insanity and then some, giving SOUR a gigantic upset. Suddenly, SOUR looks like a real threat to win the title, again!

We almost had another huge upset between #2 MELO and #7 ILCN. Their match went down to the wire and even tied up at 4-4-1 apiece. ILCN was down Jaren Jackson Jr., Dereck Lively, and Mark Williams, leaving their interior wide open to assault. MELO fought through their own long list injuries but pulled out the win, with STL being the tied category but 3PT and BLK being very closely contested. And now MELO are the highest seed left, but they’ll have to face off against SOUR for an in-family matchup for a Finals appearance!

SCRM used solid defense and rebounding to take down the defending champs, KSKT. Despite Cade Cunningham and Anfernee Simons’ offensive explosion, SCRM was just too good behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Dyson Daniels’ thievery.

SWMP and SPDE tied in REB but that was about all the positives SPDE had for their opening playoff week. With no Wemby, they still dominated BLK—thanks Walker Kessler—but tripling up the opponent in blocks won’t help the other categories, and SPDE went quietly into the playoff consolation bracket with a 3-5-1 loss. They’ll have a tough time ahead with Wemby and Tyrese Maxey both still injured. On the other hand, SWMP is showing seven players OUT to start the week, and while they have a very deep and talented roster, the Nikola Jokic, Zach LaVine, and Jalen Williams show will have to really drag this team forward.

I can’t believe it… is eighth seeded SOUR somehow the odds-on favorite of the 2025 title?!

Toilet Bowl RD1 Recap

Nothing too exciting here, as all the higher seeds advanced. SBUK had 27 GP versus UFOS 19, and yet only won BLK by three and REB by twelve, so conceivably UFOS had a chance at a big upset there. But UFOS’ coach hasn’t adjusted his lineup in weeks so a win would have been undeserved.

The same thing with ABCX, who basically didn’t adjust their roster—with Bobby Portis still in SSPD and yet starting—and with all the injuries they had, ABCX actually managed to get one extra GP over FUNK, which still resulted in a close 4-5 loss. There was possibly an upset shot here too but as they say, “that’s why they play the games!” Or not, in UFOS and ABCX’s cases.

BUFF did take out FJUB by a mere two BLK and three 3PT, which was pretty exiting down the stretch, as the matchup was pretty close throughout. CHMK waxed TRUO to easily advance, and is looking like the best of the four remaining teams.

Playoffs Teams: 2025

[ Power Rankings 2025 | Toilet Bowl Teams 2025 | Midseason Tiers 2025 ]

We ended the regular season with an exciting matchup between #1 and #2, and there were tie-breaks to be had at the bottom of the playoffs, as four teams vied for positioning. At the end of the 2025 regular season, SQSQ emerged as the winner, with a victory over MELO. Let’s take a look at the eight teams into the 2025 playoffs.

#1 SQSQ (14-4)

ODE: 13/4/1

SQSQ started the regular season off with six straight wins and ended the season with six as well, securing their fourth regular season crown and third in the past six years. Unfortunately, all that regular season success hasn’t translated to the postseason, as SQSQ has never made a SlamNation Finals. To rectify that, SQSQ’s already all-in roster went even further all-in in February as GM Brian traded for James Harden, Rudy Gobert, and CJ McCollum to create a potential playoff juggernaut. The only remaining question heading into their best shot at a title is the health of Anthony Davis, and to a lesser extent Daniel Gafford. Still, this is the team to beat and we love seeing owners go all-in!

#2 MELO (12-5-1)

ODE: 5/13/11

Recovering from a bit of a midseason slump, MELO finished the regular season strong, with a 5-1-1 record and the H2H tie-breaker to take the second seed in the playoffs—and winning their first ever Russell Conference title. This will be MELO’s second playoff appearance—their first came in 2021 when Jack entered the league—and they are well positioned to challenge for a title. Likely R.O.Y. Stephon Castle (2025 RD1.7) has been fantastic lately and he’ll have to pick up the slack from a hurt Brandon Miller. Otherwise, MELO is all locked in and ready for a long playoff run!

#3 SCRM (12-5-1)

ODE: 9/1/15

Another team that ended the regular season on a hot streak, last year’s crowns winner SCRM has been 8-1-1 since mid-December and has now gone 43-10-3 over the past three years. Even with a slight pivot to more youth—trading away James Harden for Scoot Henderson—SCRM has managed to ride SlamNation’s best defense to a top-three seed. With a healthy Kawhi Leonard on-board, maybe this is Jordan’s shot to get to their first ever Finals after building another deep and talented roster. Note: With their 0.694 regular season this year, SCRM Jordan has overtaken SOUR Trieu as the winningest regular season owner in SlamNation history—by winning percentage. Congrats!

#4 SWMP (11-6-1)

ODE: 2/5/6

After missing the playoffs last year—after making five in a row—SWMP is back to their winning ways, finishing up 2025 with a 4-1-1 streak. While SWMP’s glory years of leading the league in wins might in the rear window, it looks like they could still be a dark horse contender for the title as they have the league’s most balanced combined ODE. It’ll be a tough road ahead with Jalen Johnson—and Deandre Ayton—out, but SWMP still has Nikola Jokic and to lead the way. They took the Toilet Bowl last year, can they add a long awaited title this time around?

#5 SPDE (10-6-2)

ODE: 5/6/10

After starting off the season 3-5-2 and looking like a bottom tier team, SPDE went on a seven game win streak, ending their season on a 7-1 run and are now back in the playoffs as a mid-sized threat. Note: SPDE finished with the second most regular seasons last year. Interestingly, a lot of the win streak was done with Victor Wembanyama out and Tyrese Maxey and Tyler Herro bouncing in and out of the lineup. Unfortunately for SPDE, those injury woes persist and even the reappearance of Chet Holmgren won’t fix the Wemby-sized hole in the middle. So that’s a sigh of relief from the rest of SlamNation, as the franchise with the best keeper core heading forward seems to have taken a pause this year on contention. Next year/decade though…

#6 KSKT (11-7)

ODE: 4/9/13

After an electric title run last season, KSKT has slipped just a little back to the pack. Their title defense will be an uphill one, even as Cade Cunningham has elevated himself to All Star level. Kristaps Porzingis is likely out for a few weeks while Tyrese Haliburton will miss the first round of the playoffs at least. That leaves KSKT a bit shorthanded, even with Zion Williamson available. KSKT did take out ILCN, SBUK, and SOUR during their four game win streak to end the season, proving that they still have some bite in their championship follow up season. Are their back to back chances legit?

#7 ILCN (10-7-1)

ODE: 12/7/3

As our top rated combined ODE team, ILCN has a strong defense and efficiency paired with a lackluster offense. However, that lack of offense is deceiving because Paolo Banchero and Luka Doncic have traded off being injured. Given full health, ILCN can score with anyone, giving them a very solid all around team. However, ILCN has stumbled a bit since midseason, registering only two wins in their last six, and looking a bit out of sorts. For the playoffs, they are going to need Mark Williams to step up, as Jaren Jackson Jr. and Dereck Lively II will likely start the week on the shelf. Will Luka magic be enough for ILCN to go further in the postseason this year?

#8 SOUR (10-7-1)

ODE: 1/9/14

The ever dangerous SOUR franchise has been good this year but not great by any measure. Still, SOUR are in the playoffs—fourth year in a row, after two years in the Toilet Bowl in 2020-21— and are always a tough out. The loss of Dejounte Murray for the season is a big blow to the backcourt but the rejuvenation of Jimmy Butler—now on the same real life and Slam team as Steph Curry—could result in playoff magic for SOUR. There’s a top ranked offense to contend with here for SOUR’s opponents and as Trieu has proven over and over: never count SOUR out!

Toilet Bowl Teams 2025

[ Power Rankings 2025 | Playoff Teams 2025 | Midseason Tiers 2025 ]

The tournament for the losers. We love to see people duke it out to the finish and this year’s on the bubble teams were stellar in their competitiveness. With Capture the Flagg draft coming up in 2026, the incentive must have been great to tank. However, that wasn’t what our bubble teams chose to do and we commend them for that. Let’s take a look at the eight teams who will be fighting for high draft picks next season.

#9 SBUK (10-8)

ODE: 14/11/2

Giving us a masterclass in fighting till the end, SBUK went 5-1 down the stretch to try to the make the playoffs. Their last three games were against bottom feeders FJUB, UFOS, and TRUO, but SBUK resisted any urge to tank and fought hard all the way through. Bravo, bravo! Now, SBUK are looking at the best odds for a Toilet Bowl win—they captured a TB win in 2019—while being subject to the dreaded SWMP Rule of not being able to pick first or second overall next year. However, let the record show that SBUK is here to win and not roll over, even as Joel Embiid and Kyrie Irving are out for the season. Winning a 2026 RD1.3 would still be a great accomplishment, as GM Josh has already started to go younger, trading off Rudy Gobert and CJ McCollum for the promise of Alex Sarr (2025 RD1.11). Let karma reign for SBUK!

#10 CHMK (9-9)

ODE: 7/2/15

After last season’s pre-postseason trade extravaganza, CHMK has stayed quiet this year as they watched their talent-consolidated roster play a full season together. Evan Mobley emerged as an All Star, Anthony Edwards faced the pressure of being “The Guy,” and 2024 RD1.3 Amen Thompson broke out and might now challenge Edwards as the most fun guy in the NBA to watch. All that and a 0.500 record, not bad! While CHMK suffered a five game losing streak midseason to take them out of playoff contention, they did rally for a 2-2 finish. CHMK is a team on the rise and a high draft pick in 2026 could be just the thing to take them out of the loser’s bracket, where they’ve been mired for four long years.

#11 FUNK (8-10)

ODE: 8/11/4

Back-to-back eight win seasons have sent FUNK to the Toilet Bowl again. Despite getting the top overall selection this past season—misspent on Reed Sheppard aka “White Yuki Kawamura”—FUNK has struggled gathering any momentum all season long. Even after a series of midseason trades to try to right the ship—bringing in Jakob Poeltl, Collin Sexton, and Goga Bitadze—FUNK only managed to pick up one win in their last six games, relegating them to the bottom tournament once again. With Lauri Markkanen out and still no real point guard around—Sexton is also hurt—FUNK will need Jayson Tatum and Trey Murphy to both get white hot to have a shot at picking first overall again. Maybe FUNK can grab Sheppard with 2026 RD1.1 and run it back!

#12 BUFF (7-10-1)

ODE: 3/15/6

Speaking of a team that finished the season on a downturn, 2025’s surprise SlamNataion Finalist BUFF went 1-6-1 over the past two months, squandering their successful early season. Somehow BUFF was still third in in the league on offense, as they led everyone in 3PT and was fifth in PTS. There is a dangerous team in here somewhere, with Jalen Brunson and Domantas Sabonis leading the way—plus the pre-draft trade for Coby White has been great—but BUFF is entering the Toilet Bowl a little wounded all around, with the biggest missing piece being Brandon Ingram, who is unlikely to see any time before the 2025 SlamNation season ends. Still, BUFF could get a juicy high pick if they manage to get a win or two in the Toilet Bowl, and Cooper Flagg is looking mighty good as a defensive centerpiece for any team, particularly this one!

#13 FJUB (5-12-1)

ODE: 11/3/12

FJUB led the league in Games Played this season, but all those GPs still resulted in this long time franchise’s worst regular season ever. Yep, after missing only one playoffs in the past fifteen seasons, the 0.306 winning 2025 FJUB find themselves not only in the Toilet Bowl, but as a low low seed. Strangely, the pairing of Trae Young and Karl-Anthony Towns should give any team a good offensive baseline, but FJUB is instead back to their traditional ways, as a top-three defensive squad. What gives?! Overall, FJUB is likely looking at a rebuild, with time needed for 2025 RD1.10 Zaccharie Risacher to grow and the rest of the roster to be shifted around. A midseason trade for OG Anunoby was a nice add but more will likely be needed for FJUB to return to their winning ways.

#14 ABCX (4-13-1)

ODE: 15/8/9

After throwing up the rest regular season in SlamNation history last year, it’s a bit of a shock to see ABCX with four huge wins. They cleared out all the teams underneath them in these ratings, and took out FUNK in WK16 as well. ABCX started the season off 0-9-1, meaning they actually went 4-4 the rest of the way! Woohoo! The return of LaMelo Ball to mostly full health certainly helped, as the underrated crazy great Ivica Zubac season as well. Now we’ll see if ABCX can make any noise in the Toilet Bowl, even as their roster is dotted with injured and suspended players. We can’t say ABCX is ready to win much, but at least they won some this year!

#15 TRUO (3-13-2)

ODE: 10/14/6

Over the past eight seasons, TRUO has thrown up a 0.311 winning percentage. In their first eight years, they were winning at a 0.613 clip. Since 2020, TRUO has a record of 24-83-4 and they’ve been mired at the bottom of the standings. After starting the 2025 season off with three straight wins, TRUO proceeded to chuck out thirteen losses and two ties to close the year. Oof. 2025 was also the rare year where Coach Thien’s team wasn’t one of the Games Played leaders, which is something that has always been a strength. We would love for this once successful franchise to get a high 2026 pick, but with a slew of injuries—most notably to outstanding 2025 rookie free agent find Jared McCain—TRUO will likely have to do with a middling first round pick, yet again.

#16 UFOS (2-16)

ODE: 16/16/4

With only one win last season—UFOS’ first—the 2025 version of this team technically doubled last year’s success. And those two wins were legit, versus SBUK and BUFF. However, owner Victor was basically M.I.A. over the back half of the season and with multiple lineup violations and a paltry Games Played number, most fans are calling for a new owner. The roster was never devoid of talent, but there’s not franchise player on-board to hang their hat on—especially post-Damian Lillard deal—and whoever comes in to take over this franchise in 2026 will have some major revamping to do. Still, we hope UFOS had a good time in SlamNation and someone eager and competent will come aboard to take over the moribund FOBS/UFOS franchise.

Power Ranking 2025

 

Tie-Breakers

• 12-5-1 (0.694): H2H, MELO defeated SCRM twice, WK8 and WK16
• 10-6-2 and 11-7 (0.611): Despite more wins, the same winning percentage resulted in a H2H tie-breaker, with SPDE winning versus KSKT in WK14 so they get the higher seed
• 10-7-1 (0.583): ILCN beat SOUR in WK2

Au Revoir and Bonjour!

With the NBA trade season winding down—with some mega-trades obviously—we have a nice deal that dropped in Slam yesterday. It’s not quite as big as Luka Doncic becoming a Laker, but the SBUK and SQSQ deal could have championship implications and points to a new direction for SBUK as well.

Trade ID#170

• SBUK receive Alex Sarr
• SQSQ receive Rudy Gobert and CJ McCollum

For SBUK, this is a move to get younger. The 2022 championship core is aging fast and with a 7-8 record and just three weeks of regular season to go, it was time for GM Josh to make moves. Acquiring 2025 RD1.11 rookie Alex Sarr is a nice start. While Sarr has little offense to his game, his BLK are already at 1.6 per on the season, and Washington is invested in giving him big playing time. He could soon be a double double guy with good stocks, and more importantly, the nineteen year old has upside. He’ll join Franz Wagner (23 years old), Desmond Bane (26), and maybe Ausar Thompson (22) as SBUK’s young guns.

An eulogy for Gobert and McCollum while we’re here. McCollum was acquired by SBUK in 2017—via a trade for Myles Turner—which also doubled as Josh’s first SlamNation trade ever. After eight years of service to SBUK, he’ll be feted on his way out. And Gobert has been on this team even longer, as he was drafted in 2015 with a RD4 pick—along with Joel Embiid—making it ten seasons of continual service for the Frenchman.

Take a look at the list of players from one team that have stayed with their franchises the longest: Steph Curry (15 years), Paul George (13), Kyrie Irving (13), Joel Embiid (10), Rudy Gobert (10), Nikola Jokic (9), CJ McCollum (8)… You’ll notice that four of those players are on SBUK, and if thirty-one year old Kyrie Irving gets moved this season as well, the championship core of SBUK will truly be a thing of the past.

Cheers to the next generation of SBUKs and we’re excited to see where this youth movement will be heading!

As for SBUK’s trade partner, SQSQ is leading the league right now in win percentage and are perfectly positioned to win a title in this wide open season. SQSQ has been in this position before, as they took the regular season wins crown in both 2020 and 2022. Alas, one of those seasons was interrupted by COVID and the other by a first-round upset by eighth-seeded SCRM. This time around, SQSQ is taking no chances, as they level up for another championship chase.

SQSQ is led by LeBron James, new-Maverick Anthony Davis, DeMar DeRozan, Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, and the Doncic-less Daniel Gafford. Adding the still very productive Gobert (10.4 REB, 1.6 BLK, 0.650 FG%) and McCollum (22 PTS, 3.8 AST, 3.1 3PT) really rounds out the lineup. Heck, maybe new Clipper Bogdan Bogdanovic turns into a nice backup wing for them as well.

We’ve heard that SQSQ has been shopping Scoot Henderson around and that makes sense as the 2024 RD1.2 is miscast on this veteran team. Rumors are swirling that there are a few title chasing vets being shopped around in Slam, so this might be SQSQ’s chance to go even further all in. We hope to see SQSQ rewarded with their first ring this playoffs for their aggressive moves!