NBA Mailbag: What's the biggest key for Celtics-Sixers Game 6?

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.

Have a question for Jamal? Submit it here. 

What’s the biggest key for Sixers-Celtics Game 6? – from James in Tampa, FL

I think whoever establishes themselves early in the game will win. If it’s Philly, they can feed off the crowd and being down just 3-2 with the mighty Celtics. And they can use that momentum to win the game.

If the Celtics can establish themselves in a hostile environment and not let the crowd have too much effect on the game, then that will be very, very important for them to win and avoid a Game 7 back in Boston.

So either way, I feel like the team that establishes itself early will win Game 6.

Who do you think is going to win Hawks-Knicks? – from Derrick in Brooklyn, NY

I think the Knicks win. I could easily see the Hawks winning Game 6, but then they have to go back to New York for that Garden crowd in a win-or-go-home matchup. That would be a hard environment for the Hawks, or any team, to leave with the win.

Do you think the Wolves will win this series without Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo? – from Zidane in Sioux Falls, SD

First of all, I hate to see Ant, Donte, or anybody get injured. So prayers up to them.

Even though the Timberwolves aren’t at full strength, they have a 3-2 lead. So they just need one more win to advance and hopefully buy time for Ant to return. Anything is possible at this point in the series.

But on the other side, you have the best player in the world. He’s had, to me, some uncharacteristic games so far this series. So if Jokic can get back on track, then it’s going to be tough for Minnesota. I still see the Nuggets pulling it out.

Are you surprised by the results of the playoffs so far? – from Jonah in Stephens, GA

I’m not surprised by the overall state of the playoffs. I am surprised about the Lakers and how LeBron has taken over with Luka and Reaves sidelined. He’s been a quarterback to help his team have a 3-2 lead going home. That’s been my biggest surprise.

How strong will the Lakers be when they have a full roster? What about the roles of the other players who won games against the Rockets? – from Ioannis in Athens, Greece

It will be interesting to see how they work players back in if they advance. They figured out the three-person look with LeBron taking the lesser role during the regular season. But I also like LeBron being this aggressive and engaged in almost everything the Lakers are doing. So if all three are back healthy, we know that means a smaller sample size for LeBron. And it can be tough to readjust again during the playoffs.

How do teams prepare for the next round when they have multiple days off and don’t know their opponent yet? – from Sean in Austin, TX

Shai alluded to it after Game 4 when he said he’s watching film on both the Lakers and Rockets. You know it will be one of them, so you watch as much film as you can to be prepared either way. And that’s part of playoff prep, because nothing is more important than knowing your opponent as good as they know themselves.

OKC: ZERO FIRST-ROUND LOSSES OVER THREE SEASONS ⚡️

▪️ First team to do it since CLE (2015-2017)
▪️ First in the West since LAL (1984-1989) pic.twitter.com/IANEO61Zmz

— NBA (@NBA) April 28, 2026

How much do you think Jalen Williams’ injury affects OKC’s playoff run? And do you think they can win without him at least until the West Finals? – from Maddox in Oklahoma City, OK

I absolutely think they can still reach the West Finals. The next-man-up mentality that Coach Daigneault and their staff have put together allows everybody to buy in. They play team basketball over everything, even with the reigning MVP in Shai on their side. They’re so deep and connected that they’re going to be a tough out for anybody. That said, I still think the Spurs will win the West.

What’s one playoff lesson young players always learn the hard way? – from Sahim in Sunnyvale, CA

The sense of urgency on every single possession. Something in the 1st or 2nd quarter can come back to bite you in the 4th quarter. It’s one thing to explain it. You can’t understand it until you’re in it.

How does it feel to narrate “Chasing History” during the playoffs? – from Mike in Columbus, OH

Narrating Chasing History is one of the coolest things ever. You dream about playing in the NBA and accomplishing that lifelong dream. But then you start remembering the things you heard during that journey, the soundtrack of your childhood. Hearing Bob Costas, Ahmad Rashad, Doug Collins, Marv Albert, Hubie Brown or any of these iconic voices. Then knowing that’s what I’m doing right now,  setting the stage in a way for this next generation with Chasing History, it’s the coolest thing.

What is it like to call an NBA playoff game vs. playing in one? – from Luka in Boston, MA

I was a lot more nervous playing in one. Just the butterflies all day. You’re not just playing in a game; you’re competing against all these great teams and players who know exactly what you’re coming to do.

When you’re calling a game, you’re just observing what you see and giving the intricacies about it. The game takes you places when you call it, versus you trying to control the flow of the game while you’re playing.

You’ve been a legendary mentor to guys like Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley. Looking at this current Celtics roster, which young player do you see having that ‘student of the game’ mentality that reminds you of the guys you took under your wing back in the day? – from Cam in Sayre, PA

Derrick White strikes me as one of those guys. I know him and have met him. He talked once about an offseason run we had when he was a D2 player.

He’s always trying to learn. He’s always curious. And the information he gets, he’s going to then give to somebody else.

Is there a play that you hated to run? – from Alyssa in Los Angeles, CA

There were plays I hated to defend. But there weren’t many I hated to run.

There were times when Mike Woodson would draw up two plays back-to-back in one timeout, and we had to remember both plays. It was meant to look like the first play the second time down, but it was different.

I think he got that from Larry Brown. I was with Larry Brown for a season, and he did that, too.

Who do you think is the next big name to come out of the Pacific Northwest? – from Manny in Guam

For the sake of fairness, I’m not going to say JJ.

Tyran Stokes, of course. Everything he can do on the court is at an elite level, and the way he thinks is his greatest asset, in addition to the way he passes the ball and sees the game. He’s this freak athlete, but he’s just as good a thinker. I learned so much about him when I had the pleasure of coaching him this season. He’s absolutely the next big thing out of the Pacific Northwest.

Breaking: Tyran Stokes, the No. 1 recruit in the SC Next 100 Class of 2026, has committed to Kansas, he announced on Inside the NBA. pic.twitter.com/tPjZWdLYPo

— ESPN (@espn) April 28, 2026

Hey Jamal, just want to say you’re one of my favorite players ever. Do you have a favorite drill/workout to improve non-dominant hand dribbling? – from Alex in North Carolina

It’s not necessarily a single drill. I just always over exaggerate with my left hand, especially when I’m teaching a player with a weak offhand. We do so many dribbles and drills with just that hand, where it gets so tired and burnt out. We go over the top, over the leg, underneath the leg, windshield-wiper dribbles with the same hand. My non-shooting hand is my left hand (notice I didn’t call it my weak hand), so coming up, I did so many drills with just the left.

Hey Jamal, I’m 13, headed to high school, and I’m a late bloomer. I’m smaller than the other guys, but I’ve spent my time obsessing over my craft — I’ve got a very tight handle and a high basketball IQ. Because organized leagues are expensive, I haven’t been playing in many official games lately, and I’m mostly training on my own. If you were me right now, knowing a growth spurt is coming but isn’t here yet, how would you spend your hours on the court to make sure you’re the most dangerous player in the gym? – from Ismaël in New Jersey

Work on your fundamentals. Work on the skills you know you’re going to need later on. Once you’ve mastered that, when the growth spurt hits, that’s when the magic happens. And it’s like, “Where did this guy come from? Oh, he can do this, this and that?” And you’re like, “Yeah, I was working on this, this, and that before I hit the growth spurt. I just knew it was a matter of time.” When the growth spurt hits, the world will see you.

So work on your game in silence. Play as much as possible. Go wherever you can to get in games. But go being very intentional. You try something in one game and it works, but then it doesn’t work in the next because the players are more athletic. So you need to figure out how you can make it work.

I was always collecting data, no matter who I was playing. Even as a pro at an LA Fitness when I knew I was the best player there, I would say, “OK, I’m only shooting off the dribble 3s in transition.” Or, “Today, I’m only working on going left.” So I still made it a way of training and developing my game, even with less superior talent.

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