Quote:
Originally posted by goddfather40
Austin Croshere was a huge part of the Pacers' 2000 finals team. Scot Pollard has been right in the middle of the Kings-Lakers playoff battles. Though these players may not be the most critical players now, their experience should be helping the younger Indiana players to some degree. Not only that but Detroit has it's own playoff inexperience in such guys as Richard Hamilton and Ben Wallace. You can't count last years trip to the conference finals as any real experience seeing as the Pistons were swept. I don't think experience is the reason why Detroit is up 2-1.
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Not just "playoff" experience. "Life" experience, "Big game" experience, "under pressure" experience. It counts. Playing 4 years at a big program like Kentucky or UConn helps develop mental toughness. And Ben is special: nothing rattles him.
I can't account for Croshere and Pollard. Neither are team leaders in any obvious sense.
The Pistons were swept in last year's conference finals, but they were not blown out. It was a hard and useful experience for them. Yes, experience and disipline are playing a large role in this series.