They become more controlling over their offenses, and while we've all done it, it's a bit of a mistake, because it can cut down on easy baskets. Most easy baskets come from a transition game, but that also can lead to turnovers. So coaches take away some instinctive reactions from their players, and it's up to the stars to make the plays. There's a tremendous emphasis on your point guard, who's the key player on the team in the regular season, and even more so in the playoffs. Previous failure or success against your postseason opponent is a definite factor, because the style of a certain team will play well against other styles, and there are advantageous matchups.
People say it's a new season, which is true, but the players know the records.
When one team dominates the other during the regular season, it's crucial that the team that's been dominated have a good first game. In most cases, it will be on the road, and it's important that they play well. They don't necessarily have to win the first game, but they have to be competitive. There might be a few teams that will go deeper, but you'll see coaches playing their starters close to 40 minutes a game, and that's very different from the regular season. They can do this because of the time off between games, which benefits a player like San Antonio's David Robinson or New York's Larry Johnson or older players who need time to rest up between games.