Lead Briefing
Game 7 starts with Jayson Tatum's movement, but the bigger Celtics test is whether Boston can still create clean offense while keeping Tyrese Maxey out of rhythm.
What should fans track first in Celtics-76ers Game 7: Jayson Tatum’s calf, Boston’s pressure response, or Philadelphia’s Game 6 surge?
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Explainer
Nikola Jokic's commitment quote quiets the fake exit panic. Denver's harder offseason work is auditing secondary creation, two-way size, and how much reliability it can assume from Jamal Murray.
Debate
New York's 140-89 closeout is worth taking seriously, but the Round 2 argument hinges on whether Karl-Anthony Towns' control and OG Anunoby's scoring hold up against Boston or Philadelphia pressure.
Team Pulse
Minnesota's first Spurs problem is the usable rotation around Anthony Edwards: who handles pressure, who spaces around Rudy Gobert, and who keeps possessions alive when Victor Wembanyama bends the floor.
Team Pulse
The Knicks lead 3-2 after a 126-97 Game 5 win, but Josh Hart's lower back contusion matters through the CJ McCollum matchup: can New York keep the first screen under control if Hart is limited or out?
Team Pulse
Cade Cunningham and Paolo Banchero both scored 45 in Game 5, but Game 6 is about which star gets cleaner late possessions: Cade with a live-dribble advantage, Paolo with space before contact, or neither offense escaping the mud.
Team Pulse
Toronto's injury list matters through one floor question: which available creator can still bend Cleveland's defense before another fourth quarter turns empty?
Debate
Houston has earned a real threat upgrade, but the series only flips if the Rockets can make Game 6 look like another possession-by-possession grind for the Lakers.