Thunder Nuggets Cleveland Playoff Flaws Threaten Championship Hopes

"Let's get negative." Merlin sees a tour of the top 10 title favorites stripped down to one fatal flaw each. The piece names the Thunder’s scoring drop when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander rests, Denver’s lack of defensive pressure and Aaron Gordon worries, San Antonio and Detroit’s zero previous series wins as a unit, Harden’s shaky elimination-game history in Cleveland, Boston’s shortage of rim attempts and free throws, spacing problems for Detroit, the Knicks’ pick-and-roll gaps, Houston’s clutch scoring blackout, Minnesota’s poor record versus winners, and Philadelphia’s ever‑fragile Joel Embiid. Merlin knows the playoffs are where secrets get exposed. Some flaws can be patched by rotation tweaks or health luck. Others are structural and will be hunted by smarter opponents. Expect teams with late-game creators and dependable bigs to rise; the rest will learn what a true test feels like.