2026 NBA playoffs (updated May 5)
Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2026 3:11 am
This tourney will follow the 2026 NBA playoffs with 8 teams in the West and 8 teams in the East.
NBAWestBracket by David Ball, on Flickr
NBAEastBracket by David Ball, on Flickr
First round Game 5s
NBAFirstRoundG5a by David Ball, on Flickr
NBAFirstRoundG5b by David Ball, on Flickr
NBAFirstRoundG5c by David Ball, on Flickr
NBAFirstRoundG5d by David Ball, on Flickr
First Round Game 4s
NBAFirstRoundG4a by David Ball, on Flickr
NBAFirstRoundG4b by David Ball, on Flickr
NBAFirstRoundG4c by David Ball, on Flickr
Portland & Boston win ... Celtics takes series 4-0
https://flic.kr/p/2saT2sk
First round Game 3s
OKC & Detroit win
https://flic.kr/p/2sanpds
Houston & Toronto win
https://flic.kr/p/2satfA2
NBAFirstRoundG3c by David Ball, on Flickr
San Antonio and Boston win
NBAFirstRoundG2c by David Ball, on Flickr
First Round, Game 2s
OKC & Detroit win
https://flic.kr/p/2s9ES4Z
LA Lakers & Toronto win
https://flic.kr/p/2s9AzsC
NBAFirstRoundG2c by David Ball, on Flickr
Portland & Boston win
https://flic.kr/p/2s9A6VH
First Round Game1
Phoenix & Detroit win
https://flic.kr/p/2s8GE1i
Houston & Cleveland win
https://flic.kr/p/2s8FX4M
Minnesota & Atlanta win
https://flic.kr/p/2s8FX4w
Portland & Boston win
https://flic.kr/p/2s8FX4S
NBASeriesScores by David Ball, on Flickr
• Play style: 1 vs. 1
Map settings: Escalating, Chained, Foggy, Standard (20-round limit).
Each game will be broken into 8 maps (five representing the starters and three for the bench players). Each player will earn points based on a well-tested scoring formula I’ve conceived.
ABAMaps by David Ball, on Flickr
Basically, win quickly to connect on a higher percentage of your shots and to shut down your opponent (see shooting chart below). Percentages drop as the rounds advance and the count is capped at 12 rounds to prevent running up the score. This also rewards a losing player for fighting hard rather than simply giving up.
Also, starters are weighted to put up more shots than bench players, so like in a real game, the starting five will have a greater influence on the scoring.
Example for a starting SG
You gain 42 armies for regions held during the game, so 42/5 = 8.4 (8 FG attempts)
You gain 12 in bonuses, so 12/5 = 2.2 (2 FT attempts)
You turn in 14 in cards + have four owned terts, so 18/5 = 3.6 (4 3P attempts)
I then take you shot attempts and run it through the shot chart for how many rounds the game went.
Round limits
Terts are capped at 10 per round
Bonuses are capped a 7 per round
Cards sets are pre-set at 7 per turn-in for shooting chart purposes.
You can also earn bonus shots by winning more battles per round than your opponent – Bonus for beating neutrals.
If you win while attacking first, then your biggest round #s are cut in half.
Spoils won at the end of the game can also boost your FG attempts.
ABAShootingCharts by David Ball, on Flickr
Playoffs
The bracket will be the same as the NBA bracket to begin AFTER the play-in games have been decided, so 8 teams in the West and 8 teams in the East.
All playoff series are a Best of 7 games format.
I hope it doesn’t sound too confusing…in the end winning the most maps and winning quickly should end in success.
I’ll be trying to update scoreboards at least every 48 hours.
An extra showdown on Classic will be the overtime map.
Good luck to all and let’s have some fun with it, flex
Any questions, please post in the forum so they can be answered for everyone.
SIGN-UPS ... Still seven teams available in each conference.
ABASignUps by David Ball, on Flickr
NBAWestBracket by David Ball, on FlickrNBAEastBracket by David Ball, on FlickrFirst round Game 5s
NBAFirstRoundG5a by David Ball, on FlickrNBAFirstRoundG5b by David Ball, on FlickrNBAFirstRoundG5c by David Ball, on FlickrNBAFirstRoundG5d by David Ball, on FlickrFirst Round Game 4s
NBAFirstRoundG4a by David Ball, on FlickrNBAFirstRoundG4b by David Ball, on FlickrNBAFirstRoundG4c by David Ball, on FlickrPortland & Boston win ... Celtics takes series 4-0
https://flic.kr/p/2saT2sk
First round Game 3s
OKC & Detroit win
https://flic.kr/p/2sanpds
Houston & Toronto win
https://flic.kr/p/2satfA2
NBAFirstRoundG3c by David Ball, on FlickrSan Antonio and Boston win
NBAFirstRoundG2c by David Ball, on FlickrFirst Round, Game 2s
OKC & Detroit win
https://flic.kr/p/2s9ES4Z
LA Lakers & Toronto win
https://flic.kr/p/2s9AzsC
NBAFirstRoundG2c by David Ball, on FlickrPortland & Boston win
https://flic.kr/p/2s9A6VH
First Round Game1
Phoenix & Detroit win
https://flic.kr/p/2s8GE1i
Houston & Cleveland win
https://flic.kr/p/2s8FX4M
Minnesota & Atlanta win
https://flic.kr/p/2s8FX4w
Portland & Boston win
https://flic.kr/p/2s8FX4S
NBASeriesScores by David Ball, on Flickr• Play style: 1 vs. 1
Map settings: Escalating, Chained, Foggy, Standard (20-round limit).
Each game will be broken into 8 maps (five representing the starters and three for the bench players). Each player will earn points based on a well-tested scoring formula I’ve conceived.
ABAMaps by David Ball, on FlickrBasically, win quickly to connect on a higher percentage of your shots and to shut down your opponent (see shooting chart below). Percentages drop as the rounds advance and the count is capped at 12 rounds to prevent running up the score. This also rewards a losing player for fighting hard rather than simply giving up.
Also, starters are weighted to put up more shots than bench players, so like in a real game, the starting five will have a greater influence on the scoring.
Example for a starting SG
You gain 42 armies for regions held during the game, so 42/5 = 8.4 (8 FG attempts)
You gain 12 in bonuses, so 12/5 = 2.2 (2 FT attempts)
You turn in 14 in cards + have four owned terts, so 18/5 = 3.6 (4 3P attempts)
I then take you shot attempts and run it through the shot chart for how many rounds the game went.
Round limits
Terts are capped at 10 per round
Bonuses are capped a 7 per round
Cards sets are pre-set at 7 per turn-in for shooting chart purposes.
You can also earn bonus shots by winning more battles per round than your opponent – Bonus for beating neutrals.
If you win while attacking first, then your biggest round #s are cut in half.
Spoils won at the end of the game can also boost your FG attempts.
ABAShootingCharts by David Ball, on FlickrPlayoffs
The bracket will be the same as the NBA bracket to begin AFTER the play-in games have been decided, so 8 teams in the West and 8 teams in the East.
All playoff series are a Best of 7 games format.
I hope it doesn’t sound too confusing…in the end winning the most maps and winning quickly should end in success.
I’ll be trying to update scoreboards at least every 48 hours.
An extra showdown on Classic will be the overtime map.
Good luck to all and let’s have some fun with it, flex
Any questions, please post in the forum so they can be answered for everyone.
SIGN-UPS ... Still seven teams available in each conference.
ABASignUps by David Ball, on Flickr