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The first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs tips off on Saturday. Can LeBron James carry the load for the Lakers? Which version of James Harden will we see this postseason? Let’s break down one key question in each series.
East: 76ers-Celtics • Hawks-Knicks • Raptors-Cavaliers
West: Blazers-Spurs • Wolves-Nuggets • Rockets-Lakers
EASTERN CONFERENCE
(7) 76ers vs. (2) Celtics
Key question: How close can Jayson Tatum come to peak Jayson Tatum?
He has the rebounding, the driving ability, the shooting form, the playmaking, most of what has made Tatum into Tatum. But he doesn’t have the elevation or explosiveness.
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After all, when last we saw him on a basketball court in the playoffs, he was putting together a 42-8-4 masterpiece over 40 minutes, just before his Achilles gave out. He was the best American-born player alive and one of the five best players on Earth.
He was, practically, what Jaylen Brown has been for the Celtics all of this season. If Tatum can return to an All-NBA level, he and Brown will have a case again as the best duo in the league, and then it won’t just be Philadelphia that has to worry about Boston.
Everything to know for the NBA playoffs: Predictions, series previews, X-factors
Concerns about Tatum and Brown and whether they can coexist are comical at this point. They delivered a title and were five minutes from taking a 3-1 lead in another NBA Finals. They have won 15 playoff series together. Few duos have ever enjoyed so much success. Tatum and Brown have never lost as a tandem in the first round, and they have a supporting cast, as unheralded as it may be, that can support them.
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They are 28 and 29 years old, respectively, in the prime of their careers. At their peaks, they are perennial title contenders. The Achilles injury threatened Tatum’s peak. We think he can get back to those heights. But can he this year? If each series is an opportunity for Tatum to find another gear, meeting this moment is a next step. — Rohrbach
Read the full 76ers-Celtics preview
Key question: Can the Hawks turn this into a track meet?
The Hawks finished the regular season fifth in…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/2026-nba-playoffs-key-questions-for-rockets-lakers-and-every-first-round-series-145203028.html
Author : Dan Devine,Ben Rohrbach
Publish date : 2026-04-17 14:52:00
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