​Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY SportsThe 2026 NBA season gave us a Finals matchup nobody will forget. The New York Knicks ended a 53-year championship drought by beating Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs in five games, with Jalen Brunson delivering a 45-point masterpiece to close out the title.New York went 16-3 during the postseason, turning an already memorable run into one of the most dominant playoff performances of the modern era. Now, the fun part begins.The 2026-27 season has no shortage of potential heavyweight showdowns. LeBron James is back in the Eastern Conference with the Philadelphia 76ers alongside Jaylen Brown; Luka Doncic is the centerpiece of the Los Angeles Lakers; the Oklahoma City Thunder are going nowhere, and Wembanyama might be on the path to dominance next season.Here are the 10 Finals matchups we’d most want to see, ranked from No. 10 to No. 1. 10. Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City ThunderThere is something about Indiana and Oklahoma City that just makes sense as a matchup in a rematch of the 2025 Finals. Both teams want to play fast, and neither is particularly interested in grinding out 88-84 games if it can be avoided.If the Pacers can get back to the level that made them such a dangerous Finals team with Tyrese Haliburton cleared for action next season, this could be an exciting basketball storyline in the best possible way. Of course, assuming Haliburton is back to his All-NBA best.The Thunder, meanwhile, want to prove that they can beat the Pacers without a Tyrese Haliburton Achilles injury. Some still argue that they would have lost that Game 7 had Haliburton played. A Finals series between these teams could give each team a chance to prove they are the better squad. 9. New York Knicks vs. Minnesota TimberwolvesThe defending champions against one of the NBA’s most talented young teams that just added LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga to Anthony Edwards? Sign us up.New York spent the 2026 postseason proving that they are tough as nails, overcoming double-digit deficits throughout their championship run and refusing to panic when games started going sideways.Minnesota would bring a completely different kind of problem. The Timberwolves have retooled with fast and energetic players, and seeing this franchise in the Finals for the first time would be incredible to see so soon. The high-scoring games would be incredible to witness.A series like this would be decided in the margins: fast-break points, three-pointers made, and which team’s stars can consistently create something when the offense inevitably gets ugly. LaMelo vs Brunson? Edwards defended by Anunoby? What a matchup. 8. Detroit Pistons vs. San Antonio SpursThis could be the matchup that announces the arrival of two teams that believe their time has come. The Detroit Pistons have shown tremendous improvement over time, finishing 1st in the conference last season and making it to the second round of the playoffs. Seeing them make a