Why Wilt Chamberlain's scoring stats shrinked that much in the playoffs?

We all know the stats that Wilt's scoring number dropped a lot in the playoffs compare with regular season, any idea is welcome, and I want to use an example of 1961-62 season to settle a tone that it's not the reason of Celtics or any other Wilt's opponents, I would prefer the idea of the coach issue or the teamate issue or even the play call issue maybe?

In 1961-62 season, Wilt's scoring stats:
regular: [B]50 ppg[/B]
playoff: [B]35 ppg[/B] (on NATS and CELTICS)

during the playoffs, in the first round Wilt's scoring V.S. NATS:
G1: 32 pts
G2: 28 pts
G3: 40 pts
G4: 29 pts
G5: 56 pts
[B]Wilt's scoring stats has dropped to 37 ppg in the first round vs NATS already.[/B]

and the second round of playoffs vs CELTICS:
G1: 33 pts
G2: 42 pts
G3: 35 pts
G4: 41 pts
G5: 30 pts
G6: 32 pts
G7: 22 pts
Wilt averaged [B]33.6 pts vs CELTICS[/B]

Wilt scored 37 ppg vs nats and 33 pts vs celtics, hence, Wilt's scoring stats dropped in the playoffs [B][U]has nothing to do with CELTICS or Bill Russell[/U][/B], I think the reason could be the same in some other seasons as well. Anyone care to share some insight how come Wilt's stats dropped in playoffs?

Because it was harder to be a statpadder in the playoffs than it was during the regular season?

Oh god....

are we hatin on wilt again?

I think that season's playoffs were covered in another thread, but, at least in the Syracuse series, I believe that Psileas dug up a newspaper article which cited the fact that Wilt had been more of a facilitator until the last game of that series.

As for the Celtic series, let's give some credit to Russell and the Celtics. Not only that, but Wilt averaged a staggering 50 ppg during the course of the regular season, but it dropped to 40 ppg against Boston during the regular season. So, in essence, his scoring dropped by about 5-6 ppg against the greatest Dynasty, and the greatest defensive center in NBA history. I certainly don't think that is such a huge drop.

And, really, that 61-62 season post-season was his only real dramatic difference between the regular season and playoffs in his career...except for the 68-69 playoffs, where his COACH's strategy caused a drop from 21 ppg down to 14.

I get a kick out of those that attempt to use Wilt's post-season scoring numbers against him. In his first six post-season's, he averaged 33 ppg and 26 rpg. During the same time, his regular season numbers were 39.4 ppg. Maybe a drop-off, but how many other players in NBA history have averaged 33 ppg in six post-seasons? Obviously MJ was one, and maybe Jerry West.

Furthermore, Wilt's already astonishing rebounding numbers climbed in the post-season, from 22.9 rpg to 24.5 rpg.

So, yes, Wilt's overall scoring dropped a little in the post-season, but even then, when you factor in rebounding, his defense, his passing, ...hard to arguie with just how great he really was in the post-season.

Shrinked? Really?

[QUOTE=tommyhtc]are we hatin on wilt again?[/QUOTE]
I don't hate Wilt, nobody hates Wilt, I personally a big fan of Wilt, just try to figure out why the significant difference between reg. and playoffs season, I am sure some people here can provide some wonderful ideas through different angles.

[QUOTE=jlauber]I think that season's playoffs were covered in another thread[/QUOTE]
Can you post a linkage of the thread please?

Adding some raw stats of Wilt's regular and playoffs:

Wilt Chamberlain regular season and playoffs stats comparison
[B][COLOR="Green"]Regular season[/COLOR][/B]
Season Age Tm G MP FG FGA FG% FT FTA FT% TRB AST PF PTS
1959-60 23 PHW 72 46.4 14.8 32.1 .461 8.0 13.8 .582 27.0 2.3 2.1 37.6
1960-61 24 PHW 79 47.8 15.8 31.1 .509 6.7 13.3 .504 27.2 1.9 1.6 38.4
1961-62 25 PHW 80 48.5 20.0 39.5 .506 10.4 17.0 .613 25.7 2.4 1.5 50.4
1962-63 26 SFW 80 47.6 18.3 34.6 .528 8.3 13.9 .593 24.3 3.4 1.7 44.8
1963-64 27 SFW 80 46.1 15.1 28.7 .524 6.8 12.7 .531 22.3 5.0 2.3 36.9
1964-65 28 TOT 73 45.2 14.6 28.5 .510 5.6 12.1 .464 22.9 3.4 2.0 34.7
1964-65 28 SFW 38 45.9 16.7 33.6 .499 5.5 13.2 .416 23.5 3.1 2.0 38.9
1964-65 28 PHI 35 44.5 12.2 23.1 .528 5.7 10.9 .526 22.3 3.8 2.0 30.1
1965-66 29 PHI 79 47.3 13.6 25.2 .540 6.3 12.4 .513 24.6 5.2 2.2 33.5
1966-67 30 PHI 81 45.5 9.7 14.2 .683 4.8 10.8 .441 24.2 7.8 1.8 24.1
1967-68 31 PHI 82 46.8 10.0 16.8 .595 4.3 11.4 .380 23.8 8.6 2.0 24.3
1968-69 32 LAL 81 45.3 7.9 13.6 .583 4.7 10.6 .446 21.1 4.5 1.8 20.5
1969-70 33 LAL 12 42.1 10.8 18.9 .568 5.8 13.1 .446 18.4 4.1 2.6 27.3
1970-71 34 LAL 82 44.3 8.1 15.0 .545 4.4 8.2 .538 18.2 4.3 2.1 20.7
1971-72 35 LAL 82 42.3 6.0 9.3 .649 2.7 6.4 .422 19.2 4.0 2.4 14.8
1972-73 36 LAL 82 43.2 5.2 7.1 .727 2.8 5.5 .510 18.6 4.5 2.3 13.2
Career 1045 45.8 12.1 22.5 .540 5.8 11.4 .511 22.9 4.4 2.0 30.1
[B][COLOR="Green"]Playoffs[/COLOR][/B]
Season Age Tm G MP FG FGA FG% FT FTA FT% TRB AST PF PTS
1959-60 23 PHW 9 46.1 13.9 28.0 .496 5.4 12.2 .445 25.8 2.1 1.9 33.2
1960-61 24 PHW 3 48.0 15.0 32.0 .469 7.0 12.7 .553 23.0 2.0 3.3 37.0
1961-62 25 PHW 12 48.0 13.5 28.9 .467 8.0 12.6 .636 26.6 3.1 2.3 35.0
1963-64 27 SFW 12 46.5 14.6 26.8 .543 5.5 11.6 .475 25.2 3.3 2.3 34.7
1964-65 28 PHI 11 48.7 11.2 21.1 .530 6.9 12.4 .559 27.2 4.4 2.6 29.3
1965-66 29 PHI 5 48.0 11.2 22,0 .509 5.6 13.6 .412 30.2 3.0 2.0 28.0
1966-67 30 PHI 15 47.9 8.8 15.2 .579 4.1 10.7 .388 29.1 9.0 2.5 21.7
1967-68 31 PHI 13 48.5 9.5 17.8 .534 4.6 12.2 .380 24.7 6.5 2.2 23.7
1968-69 32 LAL 18 46.2 5.3 9.8 .545 3.2 8.2 .392 24.7 2.6 2.6 13.9
1969-70 33 LAL 18 47.3 8.8 16,0 .549 4.6 11.2 .406 22.2 4.5 2.3 22.1
1970-71 34 LAL 12 46.2 7.1 15.6 .455 4.2 8.1 .515 20.2 4.4 2.8 18.3
1971-72 35 LAL 15 46.9 5.3 9.5 .563 4.0 8.1 .492 21.0 3.3 3.1 14.7
1972-73 36 LAL 17 47.1 3.8 6.8 .552 2.9 5.8 .500 22.5 3.5 2.8 10.4
Career 160 47.2 8.9 17.1 .522 4.7 10.2 .465 24.5 4.2 2.5 22.5

Because of him...

[IMG]http://gospelspectrum.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/bill-russell.jpg[/IMG]

[QUOTE=Kiddlovesnets]Because of him...

[IMG]http://gospelspectrum.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/bill-russell.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE]
Wilt's stats has shrinked to 37 ppg already when against NATS in the first round of the playoffs in 1962 which's the year that he averaged 50 ppg in regular season.

Fatigue? Kick-Ass lockdown defense?

[quote=jlauber]I think that season's playoffs were covered in another thread, but, at least in the Syracuse series, I believe that Psileas dug up a newspaper article which cited the fact that Wilt had been more of a facilitator until the last game of that series.
[B]
As for the Celtic series, let's give some credit to Russell and the Celtics. [/B]Not only that, but Wilt averaged a staggering 50 ppg during the course of the regular season, but it dropped to 40 ppg against Boston during the regular season. So, in essence, his scoring dropped by about 5-6 ppg against the greatest Dynasty, and the greatest defensive center in NBA history. I certainly don't think that is such a huge drop.

And, really, that 61-62 season post-season was his only real dramatic difference between the regular season and playoffs in his career...except for the 68-69 playoffs, where his COACH's strategy caused a drop from 21 ppg down to 14.

I get a kick out of those that attempt to use Wilt's post-season scoring numbers against him. In his first six post-season's, he averaged 33 ppg and 26 rpg. During the same time, his regular season numbers were 39.4 ppg. Maybe a drop-off, but how many other players in NBA history have averaged 33 ppg in six post-seasons? Obviously MJ was one, and maybe Jerry West.

Furthermore, Wilt's already astonishing rebounding numbers climbed in the post-season, from 22.9 rpg to 24.5 rpg.

So, yes, Wilt's overall scoring dropped a little in the post-season, but even then, when you factor in rebounding, his defense, his passing, ...hard to arguie with just how great he really was in the post-season.[/quote]
Indeed Russell apparently did a fine job. On another note I have seen a Celtics dynasty video from the 80's that had some extra footage of the '65 Sixers/Celtics 4th quarter (including rookie Jackson's poor inbound pass & Chamberlain's clutch foul shot). And of course the pass stolen by Havlicek. Little known is that Hondo wanted to play defense under the rim to screen Kerr off the boards for the last play, but Sam Jones insisted he had him. You can even see [URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTf4HLHabU0"]here[/URL] the bitterness in Chamberlain's facial expression reliving that moment.


[URL="http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6MEVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4RAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5891,3230163&dq"]
The Milwaukee Sentinel - Mar 27, 1962[/URL]
[I]
'Russell, unique in his ability to smother enemy offenses, set the tone of an outstanding team defensive effort as Boston opened the Eastern Division playoff finals beating Philadelphia 117-89 Saturday. The second game of the best-of 7 series will be on the Warriors' court Tuesday night.

Chamberlain scored 33 points but Russell held him to 12 in the first half when the game was being decided. "How can a guy do a better job than Russell did?" Captain Bob Cousy asked.'[/I]

[QUOTE=Abraham Lincoln]Indeed Russell apparently did a fine job. On another note I have seen a Celtics dynasty video from the 80's that had some extra footage of the '65 Sixers/Celtics 4th quarter (including rookie Jackson's poor inbound pass & Chamberlain's clutch foul shot). And of course the pass stolen by Havlicek. Little known is that Hondo wanted to play defense under the rim to screen Kerr off the boards for the last play, but Sam Jones insisted he had him. You can even see [URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTf4HLHabU0"]here[/URL] the bitterness in Chamberlain's facial expression reliving that moment.


[URL="http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6MEVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4RAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5891,3230163&dq"]
The Milwaukee Sentinel - Mar 27, 1962[/URL]
[I]
'Russell, unique in his ability to smother enemy offenses, set the tone of an outstanding team defensive effort as Boston opened the Eastern Division playoff finals beating Philadelphia 117-89 Saturday. The second game of the best-of 7 series will be on the Warriors' court Tuesday night.

Chamberlain scored 33 points but Russell held him to 12 in the first half when the game was being decided. "How can a guy do a better job than Russell did?" Captain Bob Cousy asked.'[/I][/QUOTE]
But Wilt still scored 41 ppg over Celtics in regular season, how come the stats shrinked to 33 ppg vs Celtics during the playoffs?

coz he chocked