Playoff reality is fleeting: one moment a team is poised for Linsane success defined by fluid ball movement and excitement, before they have realized what has happened, a broken fire extinguisher case symbolizes the lost promise of another failure defined by selfish play and ball-stopping. One moment a team is first overall, the next last season’s Most Valuable Player is felled by another step in a series of unfortunate injuries. Teams which win – especially those who win consistently over the long-term – are those who remain true to their philosophies and rise above the fray.
Acting without Thinking: Some of the teams with the best results to date, such as Boston and San Antonio, have moved the ball freely without regard as to who scores. When Denver succeeded in their series against Los Angeles, it was a team effort that began in transition and usually ended with an shot attempt in the paint (that was assisted), a strategy that permitted them to lead a in the fourth quarter of game seven in a series where they should not have been competitive based on their roster.
Dallas, last year’s champions, didn’t care who got the credit so long as the team won. This was also an attribute of Chicago’s second unit, which contributed to many tough victories during the season and could have proved to be a valuable asset had the team not been overwhelmed by circumstances.
Finding Action within Inaction: Given the compressed season, roster depth will alleviate strain on the team’s stars. Oklahoma City features stretches where James Harden leads the second unit and fills Russell Westbrook’s role. When he finishes games, he can be a shooter or a weapon on the screen and roll. Other squads with proficient benches are 76ers, the Pacers and the Spurs; the Lakers needed Steve Blake’s shooting to win their series. Miami does not a deep rotation but Shane Battier and Joel Anthony were able to step up after Chris Bosh was injured Sunday and contribute effective minutes.
Like Chris Paul must know when to dish to the big who is rolling to the basket, kick to the shooter in the corner or keep it for himself, coaches must be able to make adjustments if the bench is not working. During Saturday’s Game 7, Jordan Hill was confused and ineffective during the Nuggets run. Los Angeles responded with Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum who provided countless offensive rebounds and tip-ins that saved the season. San Antonio has rested Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli more than ever this year but when they re-enter the game they are totally ready to pick up where they left off and dissect the opponent with passes.
Maintaining Indifference: Comebacks, especially in the Clippers-Grizzlies team have defined the playoffs. One reason that the Clippers lost Game 5 was that they lost their focus, battling the referees, the crowd and the opposing players (instead of the team). Frustrated by an inability to score, they picked up five technical fouls and shot thirty-seven percent because of many desperate shots. Due to the unknown variable of fatigue, no game is truly over until the final buzzer (with the exception of last night’s Thunder-Lakers matchup: that game was meant to send a message).
Champions know not to take it personally. Kevin Garnett could remain upset about last night’s illegal screen call on the potential game tying play but he will most likely take out his frustrations by hanging a double-double on Philadephia. Blake Griffin sometimes worries about battling other posts instead of creating the best opportunities for himself and it hurts his effectiveness. Amare Stoudamire cut his hand punching a pane of glass because he was upset that his ball-stopping tammate Carmelo Anthony wouldn’t give him more touches.
Controlling Chaos: The Clippers are capable of big runs when the guards force steals which lead to chances to distribute the ball on the fast-break. Any transition team, like the Nuggets, must first secure the defensive rebound before they can attack. When those squads achieve those aims, the points add up. When they fall short, fouls and second-chance points accumulate in their place.
The Heat prefer to pressure the ball, trap if possible and jump the passing lanes. Against most opponents, this leads to easy basketballs for their superstars. Last year, the Mavericks’ ballhandling was more precise and they were able to score and get to the line. Rajon Rondo and Tony Parker are the type of guards who can draw a trap and find the open man. If the Clippers or Thunder guards are given space on the ball screen, they will destroy the defense.
When an offense is predictable, it can be defended and shut down, like the Grizzlies’ Mike Conley was for stretches of the first round. When it is explosive and spontaneous, there are so many options that it is incredible difficult to adjust, as the Mavericks and Lakers have found while playing the Thunder. Everyone knows the threats posed by Garnett and Ray Allen and their track record have enabled better chances for teammates like Rondo and Paul Pierce. Winning and losing teams might feature a superstar in clutch time but the contrast between the two is that for teams which flourish in the postseason, that player is not the only viable option. Championship ways find an opening within the flow rather than forcing a way.