THE DALY BUCKET
🏀Hoops. Heat. Highlights.
By Joey Daly • Volume 1, Issue 3 • Week of May 9, 2026
📋 THE RUNDOWN
Conference semifinals — Round 2 in full swing
The first round delivered. Three Game 7s in the East — and all three were classics. The Sixers shocked Boston. The Pistons survived Orlando. The Cavaliers beat Toronto. Now we're in the conference semifinals and the bracket is already getting wild.
Sixers vs Knicks: Philly is in trouble — down 0-3after a 108-94 Game 3 loss at home. Brunson is cooking. Maxey is running into walls every possession. (Joey's take below — it's rough.)
Pistons vs Cavaliers: Detroit leads 2-0. Cade looks fully back. Cavs need Game 3 at home to climb in.
Thunder vs Lakers: OKC up 2-0 after a third-quarter demolition (Game 2 ended 125-107). LeBron + Lakers need a miracle without Luka.
Spurs vs Wolves: Tied 1-1 — and what a swing. Game 1: Ant came back early and the Wolves stole one in San Antonio 104-102. Game 2: SAS hung 38 on them. Worst playoff loss in Wolves history. Wemby looks unbothered.
🎉 THE PHILLY GAME 7
The one I called in Vol 2
76ers 109, Celtics 100
May 2 • BostonThe Sixers became the first 7-seed to beat a 2-seed since the bracket expanded in 2003, and the 14th team ever to come back from down 3-1 in a series.
Tyrese Maxey
30 PTS
11-of-18 FG
Joel Embiid
27/10/6
Stayed on the floor
From Vol 2, my exact prediction:
“Maxey 35+, Embiid stays on the floor, Philly steals it in Boston. RIDE WITH PHILLY.”
✓ Called it.
I have to give credit to my dad — he kept his promise and took me to a Round 2 game in person.Walking into that arena after watching Game 7 from the couch? Best night of my year. (We'll get to the actual Round 2 score in a sec...)
🗂️ THE BRACKET
My picks — full tournament tree
🏀 Joey's Pre-Playoff Bracket
The Tree — Picks vs Reality
Filled out before tip-off. Status updates after every series.
🏆 Champion
SAS
🌅 WEST
Round 1
Semis
WCF
🏆 Champion
SAS
Joey picks: SAS vs NYK
🌃 EAST
Round 1
Semis
ECF
📋 BRACKET BREAKDOWN
Round-by-round detail with notes
📋 Joey's Pre-Playoff Bracket
My Picks vs Reality
6
Hits ✓
6
Still Alive 🟡
2
Misses ✗
🏆 Joey's Champion Pick
SAN ANTONIO SPURS
over the Knicks in the Finals — still alive 🔥
🌃 EAST
DET over CHA/ORL
→ DET beat ORL in 7
CLE over TOR
→ CLE beat TOR in 7
NYK over ATL
→ NYK routed ATL
BOS over PHI
→ PHI won G7 109-100
💬 But you flipped to PHI in Vol 2 — clutch save
DET over CLE
→ DET leads 2-0
NYK over BOS
→ NYK leads PHI 3-0
💬 Right team to advance, wrong R1 partner
NYK over DET
→ TBD
💬 Both teams winning their R2
🌅 WEST
OKC over GS/PHX
→ OKC advanced
HOU over LAL
→ LAL beat HOU
MIN over DEN
→ MIN won in 6 (no Ant G6)
SAS over POR
→ SAS advanced
OKC over HOU
→ OKC leads LAL 2-0
💬 Right team, wrong R1 partner
SAS over MIN
→ SAS / MIN tied 1-1
SAS over OKC
→ TBD
💬 Bold call — Wemby over SGA
⚔️ ROUND 2 STATUS
The conference semifinals
(3) Knicks vs (7) 76ers
NYK leads 3-0(1) Pistons vs (4) Cavaliers
DET leads 2-0(1) Thunder vs (4) Lakers
OKC leads 2-0(2) Spurs vs (6) T-Wolves
Series tied 1-1🐜 ANT WATCH
Tracking my favorite player
Back in the Lineup. Knee Still a Question.
Ant was supposed to be out longer. He came back for Game 1 vs San Antonio and went for 18 points in a 104-102 Wolves win. Walking into that game with a hyperextended knee and a bone bruise and still finding a way to win? That's superstar stuff.
G1 vs SAS
18 PTS
Wolves W 104-102
G2 vs SAS
12 PTS
5-of-13 in 38-pt loss
Game 2 was rough. He went 5-of-13 and the Wolves got buried by 38. Either the knee is still bothering him or Wemby is just THAT problem — probably both. Game 3 he was active again. The series is going the distance and we need 100% Ant to have a shot.
Health up, Ant. Wolves need you. 🐜
🎤 JOEY'S TAKE
Hot takes from the playoff couch
The Sixers Hangover Is REAL. But the Bracket Says I Knew All Along.
I'm not going to lie to you — being a Sixers fan this past week has been a roller coaster. Game 7 in Boston was the best night of my year. Then Round 2 against the Knicks started and it's been like watching the wheels fall off. 0-3.Brunson is unguardable. Maxey can't breathe.
Here's the funny part — look at my pre-playoff bracket above. I had NYK winning the East. I just didn't think it'd be MY team they did it to. Past me hates present me right now.
Bigger picture: SAS is still my pick to win it all.Wemby looks like the best player in the playoffs. SGA is great. But a 7-foot-5 unicorn in playoff mode? I'm sticking with my bracket.
— Joey Daly, The Daly Bucket
🔥 HEAT CHECK
Round 2 heating up / cooling down
🔥 HEATING UP
- 📈
Jalen Brunson
Cooking the Sixers. NYK 3-0 and he's the reason.
- 📈
Victor Wembanyama
38-pt blowout in Game 2. The unicorn is awake.
- 📈
Tyrese Maxey
30 in G7 to put away Boston. Now needs a miracle.
- 📈
Cade Cunningham
Pistons up 2-0 — fully healthy and cooking.
- 📈
SGA
OKC's 3rd-quarter assault on the Lakers. Locked in.
❄️ COOLING DOWN
- 📉
The Sixers half-court offense
Knicks D has stuck them in mud. 0-3.
- 📉
Lakers without Luka
No spacing. No second creator. Down 2-0.
- 📉
Boston Celtics season
Out in Round 1. Big questions all summer.
- 📉
Mitchell & Cavs
Down 2-0. Need to wake up at home.
- 📉
Ant's knee
Game 2 — 5-of-13. Hopefully Game 3 we get the real Ant.
🔢 NUMBER CRUNCH
Round 2 by the numbers
3-0
Knicks lead Sixers
38
Spurs blowout margin G2
14th
Team to ever come back from 3-1 (PHI)
2003
Last 7-seed to beat a 2-seed (until now)
🎰 UPDATED CHAMPIONSHIP ODDS
Round 2 board
| Team | Odds | Joey's Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| OKC Thunder | FAVORITE | Up 2-0. Mission mode. |
| San Antonio Spurs | +350 | Still my champ pick. Wemby is taking over. |
| New York Knicks | +450 | Brunson + healthy Knicks = scary. East favorite now. |
| Detroit Pistons | +1200 | Cade is back. Sleeper finals team. |
| Minnesota T-Wolves | +1800 | Need 100% Ant to have a shot. |
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