With some players, elevating their game in the playoffs is really...

[dankok8]

... saving themselves for the playoffs.

You saw this all career with players like Hakeem, Shaq, Dirk, and the last few years even Lebron. They played at 70-80% in the regular season to stay fresh enough to dominate the postseason. So they aren't really elevating their game. I feel like sometimes this fact goes right past people. I mean playoffs are more important than the regular season but not every player has a luxury to coast in the regular season. What you do over 82 games is crucial to winning enough games to get a decent seed.

And in many cases could it be that guys whose stats drop in the playoffs are really experiencing fatigue? It's funny that a guy like David Robinson had his worst playoff runs after his best regular seasons and vice versa.

Thoughts?

[Kblaze8855]

Im surprised how often people mention playoff stats going up without mentioning minutes. There are guys who play 34-35 minutes....play 46 a game in a series...and people really act like they were on a whole other level because they produced more.

[jlip]

Im surprised how often people mention playoff stats going up without mentioning minutes. There are guys who play 34-35 minutes....play 46 a game in a series...and people really act like they were on a whole other level because they produced more.

I came in here to say this.

[RedBlackAttack]

Im surprised how often people mention playoff stats going up without mentioning minutes. There are guys who play 34-35 minutes....play 46 a game in a series...and people really act like they were on a whole other level because they produced more.

Guess it depends on the situation. Efficiency spikes would also seem to be a prerequisite to playing on a "whole other level" ... as well as what your eyes tell you (ie clutch play, stepping up, etc).

We would need to get more specific to have a tangible conversation about it.

[iamgine]

Stats drop/stay the same doesn't mean they're not elevating their game. The opponent defense is upping their game big time, so a player can elevate their normal game, but still getting worse stats because the opponent is upping thair game even more.

[RedBlackAttack]

Stats drop/stay the same doesn't mean they're not elevating their game. The opponent defense is upping their game big time, so a player can elevate their normal game, but still getting worse stats because the opponent is upping thair game even more.

The playoffs are a different animal. Not only, like you said, are there not the breeze games you face in the regular season, but playing a team in a 7-game series allows teams and coaches to gameplan in a way you can't for a marathon 82-game season. If you have a weakness, your opponent will find it and exploit it. If they can't, that's a credit to the player.

[KirbyPls]

So we all agree? NBA baketball is amazing!

[NZStreetBaller]

Play style needs to be factored in as well. Westbrook is full throttle most of the time.
Spurs play some awesome coasting relaxing but winning basketball.

Quite often pop will turn up the win count in the final 20 or so games to drive momentum heading into the playoffs.

The east conference weakness allows lebron to coast all the way to the finals. Last seasons playoff he looked like he was at 70 percent. Then at the finals he was able to unleash all his reserves in the finals.

[Mr Feeny]

Stats drop/stay the same doesn't mean they're not elevating their game. The opponent defense is upping their game big time, so a player can elevate their normal game, but still getting worse stats because the opponent is upping thair game even more.

Precisely this. Not to mention that the level of competition itself is higher because you're playing better teams, on average. Anyone who maintains his stats through a conference finals or finals - in which opposition teams play you multiple times and have a chance to make adjustments game by game - is elevating his play.

[Mr Feeny]

Play style needs to be factored in as well. Westbrook is full throttle most of the time.
Spurs play some awesome coasting relaxing but winning basketball.

Quite often pop will turn up the win count in the final 20 or so games to drive momentum heading into the playoffs.

The east conference weakness allows lebron to coast all the way to the finals. Last seasons playoff he looked like he was at 70 percent. Then at the finals he was able to unleash all his reserves in the finals.

Absolutely. Playing the 2012-2014 Pacers absolutely and the Boston big 3 is "coasting".

[egokiller]

... saving themselves for the playoffs.

You saw this all career with players like Hakeem, Shaq, Dirk, and the last few years even Lebron. They played at 70-80% in the regular season to stay fresh enough to dominate the postseason. So they aren't really elevating their game. I feel like sometimes this fact goes right past people. I mean playoffs are more important than the regular season but not every player has a luxury to coast in the regular season. What you do over 82 games is crucial to winning enough games to get a decent seed.

And in many cases could it be that guys whose stats drop in the playoffs are really experiencing fatigue? It's funny that a guy like David Robinson had his worst playoff runs after his best regular seasons and vice versa.

Thoughts?

For some guys who are "saving themselves" for the playoffs, they sure did fall shy of having a 40 point game on 71% shooting at a young age of 24 when it came finals time.

Kyrie says hi.

If you were wondering how does one gain the necessary composure to handle the pressure of the finals at such a young age, Kyrie has your answer.

Cleveland should build a statue of that guy.