2. The Los Angeles Lakers’ playoff experience
The Los Angeles Lakers are the oldest team in the league meaning they are the most experienced as well. While there are veterans who do not have a ton of deep playoff experience, such as Carmelo Anthony and Wayne Ellington, the Lakers are still filled with players who know how to win.
Nobody in the league is as experienced as LeBron James is, Anthony Davis has his ring under his belt, Dwight Howard knew what it took to win in 2020, Rajon Rondo is a two-time champion, Marc Gasol is a champion, Russell Westbrook has been to the Finals and is always in the playoffs, the list goes on and on.
This might not be as impactful as it was the last two years as the last two years saw a lot of newly-formed contenders that did not have a lot of experience. After two years, teams like the Denver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers (besides Kawhi Leonard) can say they have experience.
Even the Phoenix Suns had experience that they did not have last season. However, they are also a prime example of why experience matters. Phoenix was up 2-0 in the NBA Finals and while Giannis Antetokounmpo did go absolutely nuclear, there also was a point in the series where Phoenix realized where they were and the young players felt the pressure.
In a playoff series where we are often splitting hairs something as small as knowing how to keep yourself calm in a massive game can swing a game, and thus swing a series. Nobody is going to beat the Lakers in the experience department.