Do you think "Experience" in the playoffs is starting to become overrated?

[threethehardway]

Experience is overrated in the playoffs.

It's about having talent in it's prime.

Prime's for most star players is between the ages of 25 to 32. By a time a player is 25, they could have 4 to 6 years in the league.

What people mistake for experience is a talented cast being in their prime.

[Lalouie]

the experience factor was shredded in 1977,,,
,,, BUT ONLY THAT ONE TIME

[benson13]

It's not overrated. There is value to post season experience, but it's mentioned too frequently. We also used to always hear how the game slowed down in the playoffs to the detriment of faster paced teams. Or stepping it up for the playoffs. These nebulous ideas make creating a narrative around players more fun. You can be assured your opponents will be better and it's more of a chess match since you're playing the same team repeatedly, but it's still basketball.

The 2001 Dallas Mavericks starters had a total of 11 playoff games totaling ~200 minutes played. They lost the first two games of their first round series in Utah then won the last three to take the series. The Rockets gave the Warriors a seven game series their first time making the playoffs with their current core. They didn't lose because of their lack of playoff experience, they lost because their offense doesn't have a reliable offensive option.

More important than being playoff tested in a seven game series is a well prepared team that can make adjustments assuming they have the talent to compete with their opponent. It's easy to say James Harden is a playoff choker, but the truth is he and D'Antoni didn't ever have a plan other than spam threes and try to get layups.

[shotsquatch]

Even under the best circumstances the ball only goes into the hoop 50% of the time. Experience is important, but luck trumps all.

[sammo89]

The league has twisted the salary cap rules so that championship windows are restricted to 3 years or less
This will render experience useless unless we start to get journeyman superstars

[Jamaaliver]

[durden_tyler]

It's when they go specific like "West Finals" experience or "NBA Finals" experience that gets me, when some/most of the players have had some sort of playoff experience anyway. i still do agree you need experience at this level but winning/losing in some rounds already help you for the deeper rounds of the postseason.

[NZB2323]

1. I think both teams have experience.

2. I think if Indy had more finals experience they would have done better in the first half and if OKC had more finals experience they would have done better in the 2nd half.

[mastermixer]

The league has twisted the salary cap rules so that championship windows are restricted to 3 years or less
This will render experience useless unless we start to get journeyman superstars

Pretty much thins.

More parity = less experience.