Why do people say fast paced teams can't succeed in the playoffs?

The suns didn't play defense allowing the other team to get back in the game.

 

Despite what people say, I think the Suns were legitimate contenders.

But the general thought here is that in the playoffs you're playing against teams that have heavily scouted you and know your tendencies. Opponents are better, meaning they tend to be less turnover prone. Also, because of the stakes, they will be more disciplined as far as taking care of the ball and getting back in transition.

Basically, its just going to be much harder to run consistently in the playoffs, which means half-court execution (on both sides of the ball) becomes more important. For a team like the Suns, that wasn't as much of an issue because they were deadly efficient on offense whether it was transition or half-court.

It will very likely be a problem for our team, though. I think Morey has said that our half-court offense (after the defense is set) is bottom 10 in the league, which is a steep drop-off from top 10 overall. On the other hand, our half-court defense is also much better than its given credit for, and we are the best defensive rebounding team in the league based on percentage.

 

Not just the Suns, they are just the most recent and most glaring example of the tendency of teams playing in that style to not have as much success in the post season as in the regular season.

There are a lot of particular reasons for this, including:

-teams play defense more actively in the post season, and such offenses can be stifled more going against less lax defender.

-more rest between games allows players to give more effort than they could during the regular season

-playing the same team multiple times allows the defensive game plan to be more fine tuned for the less traditional offense (just like the preparation time in college football bowl games makes teams able to adjust to unique offenses better)

 

If Mike Bibby's face hadn't fouled Kobe and the Kings couldn't win 5 on 8, and perhaps if Amare/Diaw weren't suspended for coming off the bench, then history may have ended quite differently.

 

it's simple. they play REAL defense.

 

why are ppl keeping saying "playing defense is effort"? effort in regular season <<<<<<< effort in playoff.

 

It's not just the pace. In last few minutes of close regular season games, or any playoff games, fouls are called differently and more phsical contact are allowed. Faster players are on average not as strong(with more muscle you tend to have more strength and less speed/quickness), and those players are negatively impacted by the phsical style and different officiating.

 

Because in the playoffs teams learn everything about their opponent including what they're good at and not good at. It's easy to slow down the pace of the game by using up the shot clock and getting back on defense. This forces fast-paced teams to play a half-court game and cuts out a majority of their offense.

 

i know ppl use this as a reason. however, it doesn't make any sense. this reason makes you think other teams know a running team better but not in the other way. the running team should know other teams as well as other teams know the running team.

 

The entirety of 1980s basketball disagrees with this -- that was high paced, fast, physical basketball. The difference was that those guys didn't turn the ball over, took good shots, and played defense. IMO, the recent teams that have been run 'n gun just were not the best team going in to the playoffs (and we'll add to that list if we make it).

The Suns had a great regular season record, but that doesn't mean they were the best team. The Wolves had the best regular season record in the West in '04, but going in to the WCF against the Lakers, I think everyone knew who the better team was.

One day a team will come in with a ton of talent, play fast basketball, and win a championship (who knows, that may be us!!), but of late I just think the teams haven't been up to the same standard or quality as the other teams out there.

 

An interesting article from the NY Times explores this very topic, analyzing the 2002 to 2008 seasons.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/09/sports/basketball/09offense.html?_r=0

"A running team can, however, adapt.

The case study is provided by the Suns, the N.B.A.’s run-and-gun darlings. They were the fourth-fastest team in the regular season, averaging 95.3 possessions per game, according to Basketball-Reference.com. They are averaging just 89.7 possessions in the playoffs, where they have faced two halfcourt-minded teams, Portland and San Antonio.

The Suns beat the Trail Blazers in six games and have a 3-0 lead against the Spurs. With an efficient offense, both in halfcourt and in transition, Phoenix is averaging 117.8 points per 100 possessions, the highest rate in the playoffs, despite a pace that is glacial by Suns standards. The Suns are playing enough defense to make it all stand up.

Hares prefer to sprint, but the smart ones pace themselves.

But does two possessions per game really mean that much? Shouldn’t a skilled running team still have an advantage? These are questions, Popovich said, that are never truly solved."

 

playing strong defense in playoff is the only reason running teams have trouble to be success since they are not used to play half court offense.

 

The Miami Heat play fast paced offense. Yes, they do have elite perimeter defenders in Lebron and Wade, but we have a superior frontcourt defender in Asik (and whoever we get for our future PF).

 

My cliche 2 cents.

In the playoffs the opposing team is more willing to give maximum effort on more plays, reducing the chance of some of the regular season fast break opportunities.

In the regular season, the playoff teams are willing to not run back on occasion, because it is 'just 1 basket in 1 game during an 82 game season', and the nonplayoff teams are quick to fold or just give up on a play... even go for stats (offensive boards).

 

Totally different strategies in playoffs. That's the time superstars shine. During playoffs, superstars will play most of the game, from 40-44 min average. Even 48 min/game is not unheard of if it's a crucial or a close game.

To play up to 44 min, teams will purposely slow down the pace to not tire out their stars. Deep bench means little in the playoffs. Superstars win championship is not a myth.

 

In the regular season teams are not scouted as much and the intensity is nowhere near the level it is in the playoffs. Teams play transition D on every possession to minimize easy fast break buckets.

 

agree so D is the key in playoff. good D will slow down the pace. it gives trouble more to a running team than a half court team.

 

FWIW, playoff results based on pace ranking

Round 1

26 > 18
20 > 2
6 > 12
7 > 13
21 > 22
19 > 29
15 > 5
24 > 28

Round 2

21 > 24
15 > 19
6 > 20
7 > 26

Round 3

15 > 21
6 > 7

Finals

15 > 6

I see nothing to suggest that pace at which you play matters much. If you have the better team, you likely win.

 

Because Robert Horry shut the suns down single handed. He was so good, he didn't even play for 2 games and shut them down....