I dunno. They had nothing to lose in the regular season, and everything to lose in the playoffs. They clearly seemed motivated to set records in the regular season, and they did that. Maybe when the postseason started they figured they’d just keep it rolling and didn’t prepare or work hard enough to make it happen? Maybe they just tightened up? Had a few unexpected injuries and just couldn’t get things straightened out? Felt the pressure as the top seed? Weird things can happen in playoff series and it’s easy to make sweeping conclusions and narratives that help explain what is often just unexplainable. It’s professional sports. Shit happens.
Doesn’t it make it any less agonizing or frustrating, but losing in the first round was always in the realm of fairly realistic possibilities. It always is.
Doesn’t it make it any less agonizing or frustrating, but losing in the first round was always in the realm of fairly realistic possibilities. It always is.