Go inside Portland’s win to clinch the 7th seed in the West, narrated by Jamal Crawford.
The NBA Mailbag is open with NBA legend and NBC analyst Jamal Crawford here to answer your questions during the 2026 NBA Playoffs as he calls games on NBC/Peacock. This weekend, he will be in San Antonio for Game 1 of the Spurs-Blazers series on Sunday (9 ET, NBC/Peacock).
Have a question for Jamal? Submit it here.
What’s something about playoff basketball that doesn’t show up on TV but changes everything for players on the court? – from Danijela in Germany
The emotional burden that a player carries, whether winning or losing. When you win, you feel like you’re on top of the world and going to win the championship. When you lose, you want to stay away from your phone and everything. You feel drained. It’s so much more than the loss.
So balancing that emotional roller coaster is something that players carry regardless of the outcome. Let’s say you had a great game. You think it’s just going to happen again because you just had one. Or if you don’t play a great game, you can’t stop thinking about it, and the next game can’t come fast enough because you want to get rid of that nasty feeling.
Who do you think is the favorite to win the title? Is it the Thunder or is it someone we don’t expect? – from Richy in Florida
I think the Thunder are the favorites, but I’m going with the San Antonio Spurs. I think they can be this year’s Thunder with how youthful and fearless they are, plus they’ve been consistent all year long.
Given your experience as the greatest 6th man in NBA history, how do you see the role of the bench in the playoffs? Can the bench be just as impactful as the stars in deciding a series? – from Jake in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
The bench absolutely can be just as impactful. I remember in 2011 when I was with the Hawks, and we played Orlando, I started the series with 4 straight games of 20-plus points off the bench, and I’m pretty sure it was a record at the time in the playoffs. So that definitely gave us a boost and I think it also relaxed the stars to know that even if they just played evenly with the other stars, then I was there to help swing the series.
In the playoffs, defenses lock in and take away your first option — what separates the players who can still get buckets from the ones who struggle? And what adjustments did you personally rely on when teams game-planned specifically for you? – from Sam in Los Altos, CA
In my first playoffs in 2010, I had a decent first game with Atlanta, but overall had a rough first series against Milwaukee. I was talking with my brother Will Conroy, who’s an assistant coach at USC, and he said, “Mal, think about it like this. We’re playing to 15 in the summer, and both teams have 14. That intensity, that last possession, just put yourself there for every possession of the playoffs.” That helped me a tremendous amount, because I knew exactly what he was talking about. When you begin a game, even in the summer, and it’s 0-0, you know the plays aren’t as intense. You can kind of float a little bit. Everything changes when the game is on the line. That’s the playoffs.
So it’s about who can make that mental adjustment and who has the mental fortitude to keep pushing forward when things aren’t going their way.
Do you think LeBron can lead the Lakers to a first-round series win against the Rockets? – from Kevin in Columbus, OH
LeBron leading them is possible, but not likely. The way Houston plays defense, plus having the great separator in Kevin Durant, makes it difficult for Los Angeles. Some guys are really good in the regular season, and in the playoffs, they take a dip. That’s not Kevin Durant. He raises his level of play. And I think having that presence with those young guys alongside him is enough to push them over the injured Lakers.
Who are the X-factors for each team in Spurs-Blazers? – from Mason in El Paso, TX
For the Spurs, I’ll go with De’Aaron Fox. He can really steady the ship for them. He’s been there before and knows this isn’t about him, per se, but how he can help them lead. He’ll be very important.
For the Blazers, Jrue Holiday. He’s one of the more underrated players ever. He has a certain calmness and demeanor to him that if you lose that first game or get blown out, he’s gonna be there saying, “Hey, you know what? It’s just one game. It’s one game that we can get back. We just gotta go steal one on the road.” He’s going to give them that quiet confidence to believe they’re never out of the series.
Jrue Holiday tonight:
21 pts
4 reb
4 ast pic.twitter.com/cTnzJWqpsK— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) April 15, 2026
Why do you think the Celtics have been so successful this season? – from Mary in Boston, MA
The obvious reason is Jaylen Brown. He’s showing he’s one of the very best players in the league and playing at an MVP level. I also think their total defense is underrated. Their defense has been playoff-ready all season. They don’t have to make adjustments or “flip the switch.” They’ve been here.
And I think Coach Mazzula and his staff have been quietly amazing all season. When you have a leader like him, who says his love language is violence, you know anything is possible. It’s been an impressive run – some people didn’t even think they could make the Play-In without Tatum, and they finished as the No. 2 seed.
Will Joker and the Nuggets get their revenge against Ant and the Wolves? – from Adonis in Piraeus, Greece
I think so. Denver has as good a chance as anybody to win a championship. They’ve been there before. They have that experience, but also they haven’t had their whole team healthy for most of the season. So even that plays into their mindset right now. Guys are motivated, guys are back. They don’t care who they play. They feel like they can win anytime, anywhere, and it doesn’t matter who is healthy.
It’s also tough for opposing teams to scout them. Yes, you know the tendencies of players and things of that nature, but how they actually work together is a totally different thing, and with those guys all together now, they could be a tough matchup.
Is there one specific team whose roster construction actually forces Denver to change its game plan? – from Swish on X
I don’t think any team forces Denver to change its game plan. But a person who can match up with Jokić is Wemby. And even if he did have a tough time with the shot below, that was unguardable anyway. Outside of Wemby, there aren’t many (if any) other bigs who can slow down Jokić.
Wemby can’t believe what Jokic did to him 😮 pic.twitter.com/7C9gJbDXSz
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 4, 2026
What makes it so difficult for teams to slow down Cade Cunningham? – from James in Chicago, IL
It’s his pace. He slows down everybody else with his pace, and he’s mastered that pace, so it allows him to see every right move. He’s able to see the whole floor and that’s why he makes such good decisions, because he’s not sped up. That confidence rubs off on everybody else.
What I do worry about, though, is what if teams all-out double-team him in the playoffs? How do the Pistons respond?
For Cavs-Raptors, who would you consider the biggest difference makers for each team? – from Parker in Ohio
For the Cavs, I’m going with James Harden. And I could easily say Mobley or Jarrett Allen here, but Harden was brought in for this time. The Cavs have been the No. 1 seed before; they’ve had regular-season success. But he was brought in to help take them further. So now is his time to deliver.
For the Raptors, Immanuel Quickley. Ingram, Barnes and Barrett are obviously the leaders, but Quickley has the chance to apply pressure on Mitchell and Harden. If he can make either one of them work on the defensive end, then that could help slow down the Cavs’ attack on offense.
What strategies can the Hawks use to beat the Knicks? – from Michael in Georgia
They need to get up and down the court, play with that energy, and make Jalen Brunson work all over the place because he is so good and he’s so clutch. If they can just wear him down a little bit and make things tough for him, then that could help a lot. He’s so smart, though. If you give Brunson time, he will figure you out. So if you can keep him under as much duress as possible, that could be key.
What does a team need most from its guards to make a real playoff run? – from Sam in Great Neck, NY
What teams need most is leadership, someone who can guide the ship. And then timely shot making. And it may not be just at the end of the game when you need a bucket. It might be during a stretch where your team is struggling to score and if you can get just two scores in a row, then your trajectory is different. That’s where guards can really make a huge difference.
Who do you think should win Coach of the Year? – from Roger in San Antonio, TX
J.B. Bickerstaff / Joe Mazzulla / Mitch Johnson / Tiago Splitter.
Tiago wins best interim coach, for sure.
What do you think is the most clutch shot in NBA history? – from Julian in Tampa, FL
Michael Jordan in the 1998 NBA Finals against Utah. Because if he had gone out that way, it would have been like a perfect storybook ending. But it was so great that it still feels like a perfect ending.
Who are the first players that come to your mind when you think of “clutch playoff performers”? – from Jasmine in Ann Arbor, MI
Michael, Kevin, LeBron, Kobe, Isiah … and my partner in crime, Reggie Miller.
Which fan base are you most excited to see in the playoffs? – from Mark in New York
The Knicks. Their fan base is just incredible. I didn’t get a chance to play in the playoffs when I was there, but even regular season games felt like the playoffs. The energy of that building is unmatched, especially in the spring when it’s a little warmer outside. There’s nothing like it.
What’s one adjustment coaches make in the playoffs that fans don’t notice? – from Galakpah in Liberia
Travel. Usually, immediately after games, you fly right back home or to the next city you’re going to. At times in the playoffs, coaches may say, “Hey, we had a big game last night. I want you guys to get a lot of rest, and we’ll travel tomorrow so you get a full night’s sleep.” So that’s one small adjustment off the court.
What should a fan look for when watching a game to better appreciate and understand its intricacies? – from Gerard in the Philippines
Watch all the small details. Footwork is always prevalent and worth keeping an eye on. Also, focus on how much defense is being played every single possession. Teams don’t want to give up any uncontested shots. So watch how much energy is being used on every single possession to deny easy opportunities.
Which defender in today’s game would you have least liked to face in your prime? – from Adam in Portland, OR
You mean which defender would I have most liked to face? I love challenges.
I would want to face Davion Mitchell … Off-Night, as they call him. He’s such a great defender and I would want to test my options to see what I could do.
How do you keep your jump shot consistent and effective after doing your moves? – from James in Maple Hill, NC
It goes back to Allen Iverson. I loved his handles, but what struck me was it seemed like after every fancy crossover, he made the shot. So that was so important to me to finish the play. My dad used to say you can have a $1 million move and a ¢10 finish. So I always tried to really concentrate on making the shot afterwards. That was so important to me. It was the “ooh” from the crossover, and then the “ahh” after hitting the shot. I didn’t just want the “ooh”. Your shot should feel like it’s part of the move.
If you don’t want to go to practice, but your mom wants you to, do you think you should or shouldn’t go? – from Harold in California
Was your mom next to you when you wrote this, Harold? If you want to be great in anything you’re passionate about, then you need to practice. Whether you want to go or your mom wants you to go, the drive you have towards your goals is what will ultimately get you there.
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