So far the 2009 NBA playoffs have not disappointed. Every series has had some incredible moments and with the exception of a few first round match-ups, each series has been super competitive and provided plenty of Sportscenter highlights. In addition to sick dunks, buzzer beaters, and flagrant fouls, we are getting to see some remarkable team basketball and stellar defense – two things the NBA is not usually known for. Granted, Kobe, LeBron, and Melo are mega superstars and have consistently put up big numbers… but they have done so within the confines of their team (after all, it is their role to put up numbers). Obviously, a ton of hype is being made of Kobe vs. LeBron, which is a fun argument to have, but I honestly believe these playoffs are much bigger than that and the four best teams are in the conference finals; not just the best players.
I have been enthralled by the game of basketball my entire life. Basketball has taken me all over the world, it has allowed me to work with some amazing players and coaches, and it is how I earn my living. With that being said, there is a lingering myth being perpetuated by novice fans. It is something I hear all of the time.
The myth?
NBA players only play hard in the playoffs.
Have you heard people say that? Have you said that? Is it true?
Not at all!
I don’t think anyone would argue that the overall intensity of the NBA playoffs is sky high, and minute for minute, is higher than your average regular season game. But that’s because there is a renewed sense of urgency. You win or you go home! Just because the atmosphere, energy, hype, and intensity of the playoffs is downright palpable, it doesn’t mean that they don’t play hard during the regular season. It just means they are playing even harder in the playoffs to survive!
Why don’t people say the same thing about college basketball? Now I am a huge college basketball junkie, but let’s be real, college players and teams play harder in the NCAA tournament than they do in the regular season. It might not be as obvious, but they do play harder in March. Why? It’s the nature of athletics. The more at stake, the harder players play! The higher the sense of urgency, the greater the intensity! This is true for college basketball, the NBA, as well as any other sport I can think of.
Don’t agree? Think about these two scenarios:
What if I took you out to the track right now and told you to run a lap. Then right before you were about to take off, I grabbed your shirt and said, “Actually, run 5 laps.” Would your approach be different now? Would you plan to run this first lap (of five) at the same speed as you would have run just the one lap? No way! You would appropriately pace yourself because you know you have four more laps to run. But does that mean that you wouldn’t be working hard on the first lap? Of course not. You would still be working hard; you would just be working hard (and smart) within the confines of your overall goal. NBA players have a similar mindset. Players know they have 82 regular season games plus playoffs as their overall goal. They keep this in mind during the regular season.
Now, what if we went out to the track and I said, “Let's run a lap for fun.” And then right before we were about to take off I said, “The loser owes the winner $1,000!” Which lap would you run harder? The fun lap or the lap with something at stake? Obviously, you would run much harder for the $1,000 lap. Why? There is an urgent sense of competition and a “reward” at the end. Either run hard now or cough up $1,000. The NBA playoffs are the same. When your team is down 3-2 in a seven game series, you have to play harder than ever or you go home! You don’t have the same urgency during the regular season.
I can’t stress enough that just because the stakes are raised in the playoffs doesn’t dismiss the fact these guys play hard every single night during the regular season. Keep in mind the NBA has, in my opinion, the world’s best athletes. These guys are big, fast, strong, and super explosive. The NBA is unbelievably fast paced and today’s game is played above the rim. Yet these guys make it look easy. They have to play hard just to keep up!
And while we are talking about the concept of looking at the big picture, let’s not forget NBA teams often play more than 3 times as many games as college players and have a much more rigorous travel schedule. Not to mention, there are more overall demands and responsibilities like the media, appearances, in season workouts, etc. I am not making light of what college players go through. Believe me, I know how tough it is for college players to balance everything (school work, practice, etc.) – but the NBA takes it to a whole new level. So once again, it would be like the difference in running 5 laps (college) versus 10 laps (NBA); the pace and intensity would have to be different!
I have been fortunate to work with over a dozen NBA players in the last 10 years, from long time vets like Calbert Cheaney and Jerome Williams to up and coming superstars like Kevin Durant and Michael Beasley. I have certainly learned that the NBA is a business. It is how these guys make a living. But I also know how much these guys love and respect the game and how thankful guys are to be in the league. No matter how much money they make, or fame they achieve, once the ball gets thrown up… these guys love to play hard and they love to compete.
The moral? NBA players do play hard during the regular season; they just play even harder in the playoffs. And let’s be honest; so would you.
Quick note – the NBA Pre-Draft Combine is being held in Chicago this week. I want to wish the following guys I have been working with the best of luck: Stephen Curry (Davidson), Tywon Lawson (UNC), Greivis Vasquez (Maryland), Jack McClinton (Miami), and Josh Heytvelt (Gonzaga). You want to talk about hard work? This group has been exceptional and each of these guys deserves success!
If you have any questions or thoughts on this blog post please email me at Alan@StrongerTeam.com. I will respond as quickly as possible!
Train hard. Train smart.
Alan Stein
Alan Stein is the owner of Stronger Team and the Head Strength & Conditioning coach for the nationally renowned, Nike Elite Montrose Christian Mustangs boy’s basketball program. Alan is a performance consultant for Nike Basketball as well heavily involved with Nike SPARQ Basketball. He is the head conditioning coach for the annual McDonald’s All American game, the Jordan Brand All American Classic, and the Nike Summer Skills Academies. Alan is a Camp Coach at the prestigious NBA Player’s Association’s Top 100 Camp as well as the Chris Paul CP3 Elite Backcourt Camp. Alan has filmed over a dozen DVD’s on improving performance and is a sought after lecturer at basketball camps and clinics across the world. He has been featured in Winning Hoops, Time Out, Dime, SI.com, SLAMonline.com, American Basketball Quarterly, Stack, Men’s Health, and FIBA Assist Magazine.