How important is playoff experience?

by Matt Watson on Apr 21, 2008 3:54 PM EDT

Just how important is playoff experience?

I know as Pistons fans we like to think it gives our favorite team an edge over every other up-and-comer, but I'm not sure I buy it anymore. This isn't a knee-jerk reaction to last night's game -- I actually made this idea the central theme of my latest FanHouse column, which I started before Sunday's Pistons-Sixers game and focuses on Chris Paul's dominance from Saturday:

What's experience worth in the NBA playoffs? If you believe the pundits, it's what separates serious contenders from "happy to be here" upstarts. When talking about the Hornets-Mavericks series on Friday night, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith predicted Dallas to win in six. Why? Because they've been there before. "I think they have the experience and savvy to close it out, plus the sense of urgency," said Smith, "because if they don't get it done and they lose in the first round, there's going to be some changes in the Big D."

Forget that Chris Paul turned in an MVP-caliber season or that the Hornets won the No. 2 seed in the most competitive Western Conference of recent memory. Never mind the fact that the Mavericks barely made the playoffs, or that they lost in the opening round as a No. 1 seed the year before (now that was a good experience). Instead, Dallas should be favored because they're "experienced," "savvy," and my favorite, "urgent." Yes, folks, closing windows of opportunity are now reasons for hope.

Well, we saw what that was worth Saturday afternoon, as poor, inexperienced, wet behind the ears Chris Paul took a steaming dump on conventional wisdom.

I know I do more than my fair share of self-promotion here, but I'm proud of how this piece came out, and not just because I slipped "steaming dump" past my editor. If nothing else, there's some fun throwback YouTube videos at the bottom that will provide a welcome distraction to being down 0-1, but I'm curious how much you guys think experience (as opposed to just plain "talent") actually matters.

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Just how important is playoff experience?
It depends on the team and the situation. Look at D-Wade or LBJ, of which Paul may be this year’s version. They’ve gotten the job done without much experience. Still, most of those talking points are just a bunch of garbage that gets over-analyzed by the sports versions of talking heads.

by Shinons on Apr 21, 2008 4:15 PM EDT reply actions

Experience matters a lot. Detroit chokes in the clutch, and they’re creatures of habit. They have experience in pissing hard work away since 2005.

by Sauce1977 on Apr 21, 2008 4:20 PM EDT reply actions

The experience I care about is the experience I am having of watching a team I have dedicated a significant portion of my young life to mail it in. It’s one thing to try and fail. It’s another to not even try.

by Rob G on Apr 21, 2008 4:31 PM EDT reply actions

Shinons: Dwyane Wade was young, but he won a title in his third trip to the playoffs, including a seven-game conference finals the year before. And LBJ broke through in his second postseason. Maybe it’s not a huge distinction, but this is Paul’s first trip to the playoffs.

by Matt Watson on Apr 21, 2008 5:18 PM EDT reply actions

Anyone here old enough like me to have seen a young Michigan State guy and rookie named Ervin take Dr. J. and the Sixers to school in the NBA Finals?

by Mike on Apr 21, 2008 6:06 PM EDT reply actions

More on Magic vs the Sixers.

That one game by Magic who was a rookie at the time could arguably be considered the greatest one game performance by anyone in Finals ever.

by Mike on Apr 21, 2008 6:08 PM EDT reply actions

In the playoffs, experience is EVERYTHING.

Remember, it’s an entirely different game in the playoffs. You need to play the guys who have been there before, since the young players won’t be able to adjust as easily. You can’t expect a rookie to make jumpers in the playoffs, what with the basket raised to 11 feet. And you need veterans who have been through the wear and tear of a full season since they won’t be worn down as easily by the extended 200 foot court. And don’t forget, young players have NO experience with the 4-point line that is added in for the playoffs. And why go so deep on the bench when you’re only allowed to use four players at a time in the playoffs?

Either that, or past playoff experience has little to no effect on future performance.

by Anonymosity on Apr 21, 2008 10:37 PM EDT reply actions

Playoff experience only takes you so far — and in the case of the Mavs, it problem won’t take them past the superior Hornets (even Stephen A. wanted to flip-flop his pick after Game 1). As for CP3, we’ll get the answer to the question based on how he performs the rest of the series and/or against Nash or Parker in the next round.

by Larry Brown on Apr 22, 2008 1:28 AM EDT reply actions