Orlando, Fla. — As soon as the buzzer sounded inside Wells Fargo Center, the celebration began. The Brooklyn Nets pulled off a Game 1 upset over the Philadelphia 76ers to open the 2019 NBA Playoffs in a 111-102 victory.
Caris LeVert played a major role in the win, scoring 23 points in 23 minutes off the bench in his playoff debut.
As soon as the team walked to the visiting locker room, LeVert joined in a celebration where he and his teammates acted as if they had won the championship. However, for a then-24-year-old guard, life came at LeVert and the Nets fast.
LeVert and the Nets went on to drop four straight games en route to losing their first-round series to the 76ers. From that moment on, learning to manage the emotional roller coaster of a seven-game playoff series became LeVert’s most significant takeaway.
“It’s the first to four. Not the first to one, two or three — that taught me that it’s a long series,” LeVert told The Detroit News. “There are a ton of emotions that come with the playoffs. You might lose one at home, then win a big one on the road. But, you have to know that the series isn’t over until a team gets to four. You might play bad one game, then might not play at all the next. You have to keep in mind that anything can happen. The goal is to win the series and not just a game or two.”
The experience LeVert had seven years ago has influenced his postseason career and is one of the reasons why the Detroit Pistons have not lost faith amid their disappointing start to the playoffs.
The Pistons entered the postseason as the top overall seed in the Eastern Conference with a 60-22 record. They were heavily favored to come out of the conference, which started with a first-round series against the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic.
However, through the first three games, the Pistons entered Game 4 Monday night down 2-1 in the series and, at times, looked far from the team that solidified itself as a contender throughout the regular season.
“Game 1, we did not come out as ourselves, and in Game 2, we got back to our style of play,” Duncan Robinson said. “In Game 3, I thought we just missed an opportunity, but at the same time, there were things we could take away that were positive. The whole point of a series is to improve and continue sharpening the sword. I am excited to see what the rest of this series looks like.”
The ups and downs of the playoffs are experiences Robinson is well familiar with. During his seven-year tenure with the Miami Heat, Robinson encountered every scenario that a playoff team can face. He was part of an eighth-seeded team that surpassed expectations and reached the NBA Finals, as well as a top-seeded team that fell short in the Conference Finals.
Each postseason experience taught Robinson the importance of staying level-headed and relying on habits that teams and players can depend on under the intense pressure of the playoffs. It emphasized the need to be prepared and trained for every moment that may arise, which is different from an 82-game season.
“When you watch a regular-season game, most of the time, the game doesn’t change until the final five minutes in terms of the intensity,” Robinson said. “In the playoffs, the final five minutes of a regular season are spread out through the entire 48 minutes. From the moment the ball goes up, that’s the sense of urgency that the game has.”
Robinson continued, “You have to be locked in from the start. You cannot have stretches where you are going through the motions. You have to have the effort and the intention on every possession.”
For the Pistons, managing emotions as a team has been a crucial factor in their success during the regular season. The lesson comes from coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who emphasizes the importance of controlling the chaos. His message — which started during training camp — is for the Pistons to remain composed and not get rattled by the challenges that arise over a 48-minute game.
Throughout the first three games against the Magic, the Pistons have experienced the full range of playoff emotions, which will be crucial as the series progresses. Their ability to manage their emotions will not only help them control the chaos against Orlando but also keep their championship aspirations alive.
NBA Playoffs, first round: No. 8 Magic vs. No. 1 Pistons
Magic lead series, 2-1
Game 1: Magic 112, Pistons 101
Game 2: Pistons 97, Magic 83
Game 3: Magic 113, Pistons 105
Game 4: at Orlando, Monday, 8 p.m. (NBC/Peacock))
Game 5: at Detroit, Wednesday, 7 p.m. (Amazon Prime)
x-Game 6: at Orlando, Friday, TBD (TBD)
x-Game 7: at Detroit, Sunday, May 3 TBD (TBD)
x-If necessary
coty.davis@detroitnews.com
@cotydavis_24
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit Pistons riding emotional roller coaster vs. Orlando Magic