2026 Playoffs RD3

RD2 Recap

Once again we didn’t have any upsets, just like in RD1. Looking back, that may be historic as we’ve never had an entire set of #1-4 seeds make it past the first round unscathed. There has always been at least one upset in the first round, dating all the way back to our league’s beginnings in 2010. Heck, the last two years have featured #8 versus #1 upsets, as SQSQ took out #1 SCRM in 2024, and then got upset themselves by #8 SOUR last season. Is this the new reality, where the top seed just wins the matchup?!

Top seeded 1 ILCN took out 8 BUFF pretty easily, with a 7-2 victory, losing only AST and TOS. Similarly, 2 FJUB prevailed over 7 SWMP without too much trouble, behind big weeks from Kawhi Leonard, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Trey Murphy III.

We almost got an upset between 3 SQSQ and 6 CHMK, but the big ball Monkeys were ultimately taken down on Sunday, losing 3PT by one, STL by two, and BLK by three. New SQSQ center Bam Adebayo dropped in four big threes for the win, while Saddiq Bey contributed a pair of huge steals and ten rebounds as well. What an escape by SQSQ!

4 SPDE might be the new favorite heading into the semifinals. They are clicking on all cylinders, dropping in 578 PTS and an astonishing 75 3PT, behind double digit threes from Tyler Herro, Jrue Holiday, Devin Booker and Victor Wembanyama. Oh yeah, Wemby also put up nineteen blocks in four games. SCRM ran into a freight train and that was that. Who's scared of SPDE?!

RD3 Matchups

• 1 ILCN vs 4 SPDE
• 2 FJUB vs 3 SQSQ

While both semi-finals matchups are huge, we’re looking at ILCN versus SPDE for the big game of the week. ILCN is technically favored but we all know how scary SPDE can be while healthy. Tyrese Maxey will miss at least two games and Chet Holmgren and Jarrett Allen are both day-to-day so we’ll see how that shakes out. In Maxey’s absence, Tyler Herro is more than ready to step up.

As for ILCN, the big three of Luka Doncic, Donovan Mitchell, and Paolo Banchero are mostly fully healthy, with only Jaren Jackson Jr. and Egor Denim out—but we knew that pre-playoffs. So it’s gonna be a full strength ILCN versus the lower seeded juggernaut of SPDE, let’s go!

Meanwhile, for our #2 versus #3 matchup, both teams are about equal in health and depth. FJUB is gonna be missing Kyshawn George for the rest of the playoff run, while Peyton Watson is still M.I.A. In addition, Isaiah Hartenstein could be out for a few too. However, Trae Young is unexpectedly back and he’ll be a big boost for FJUB.

Meanwhile, for SQSQ, LeBron James has a left elbow thingy that has kept him out of the last two games. DeMar DeRozan is choosing a bad time to be hurt for the first time this season, and Kevin Porter Jr. could also miss some games. Otherwise, SQSQ’s deep and vet heavy team is looking for the big win versus FJUB.

Both of these teams made all-in moves during the season—FJUB acquiring Kawhi Leonard, SQSQ trading off Anthony Davis for Bam Adebayo—and so we’re not even sure which one of them should get more karma points. Can both teams win?

Offers Report

A lot of players shifted in and out of rosters as our playoff teams maneuvered for extra stats and category matchups. SQSQ scooped up recent double-double machine Nick Richards for $7, and got a huge REB boost from him on Sunday. ILCN dropped Scotty Pippen Jr. and grabbed Robert Williams III for $15, which could really help next week versus the Wemby and Chet double tower combo.

And then there was SWMP dropping Paul George—in favor of Tristan da Silva—thus ending George’s long tenured keeper status for Eddie. Opportunistic as ever, SCRM saw the writing on the wall versus SCRM and scooped up PG13 for free, netting a potential offseason asset. And then GM Jordan did it again with rookie Khaman Maluach, who could have some value...somewhere. [ Editor: I drafted Maluach at RD2.11 and he did nothing all year. 😭 ] Still, a great pair of pre-roster lock moves for SCRM!

It’ll be interesting to see who else might get cut as we go further into the playoffs. We love this part of the season, where every add/drop matters!