With the opening round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs in full swing, Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger return to break down a pivotal stretch of postseason action as several series begin to take shape and others inch closer to the brink on the latest installment of The New Twenty Four.
The guys start off by taking a look back at the season that was for the Phoenix Suns following their opening round exit at the hands of the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder —discussing where the franchise by the desert goes from here after a year they managed to exceed expectations.
Before shifting straight into award announcements, as the duo shares their thoughts on San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama becoming the youngest player and first unanimous choice to win Defensive Player of the Year, Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg prevailing over his former college teammate in Charlotte's Kon Knueppel to take home Rookie of the Year and more before taking a look at the 2026 NBA Draft landscape. Where a growing trend of top prospects are opting to stay in school and what NIL may mean for the future of early entrants in the years to come following the recent announcements of UConn's Braylon Mullins, USC's Alijah Arenas and Florida's Thomas Haugh deciding to resume their college hoops careers on their respective campuses.
While also getting into all things playoffs, as the duo dive into a back-and-forth battle between the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks, along with elimination scenarios for the Philadelphia 76ers and Portland Trail Blazers as they fight to extend their seasons.
They also break down what they make of the top-seeded Detroit Pistons facing adversity against the Orlando Magic, the Toronto Raptors evening up their series against the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers taking control of their best-of-seven series against the Houston Rockets amid injury concerns with LeBron James leading the way.
Before closing things up by revisiting one of the league’s premier rivalries as the shorthanded Minnesota Timberwolves look to close out the Denver Nuggets in a hard-fought series defined by injuries, standout performances and playoff intensity.
Including another edition of Pass or Shoot, as the road to the conference semifinals is almost upon us.
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