Playoff debuts: NBA veterans, rookies dive headfirst into the postseason
Washington Wizards forward Markieff Morris’ playoff debut went one direction. He had 21 points and seven rebounds in the Wizards’ Game 1 victory against the Atlanta Hawks.
Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert’s first playoff game went in another. He sustained a hyperextended left knee and a bruised bone against the Los Angeles Clippers and was ruled out for Game 2.
Some playoff debuts were better than others as the NBA postseason tipped off.
Wizards point guard John Wall tried to prepare Morris, but words can’t replicate what transpires in a playoff game, with the stakes much higher and each possession much more important than during the regular season.
“The intensity was high the whole game. John told me before the game that it was going to be like that,” Morris said. “So we had to play as hard as possible every play. … I jumped in head first. I was tired, I know that much.”
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Morris and others were ready for their playoff debuts:
Milwaukee Bucks forward-center Greg Monroe is in his seventh NBA season and played in 538 regular-season games before appearing in his first playoff game. The underappreciated reserve – an off-the-radar candidate for Sixth Man of the Year – had 14 points and 15 rebounds in the Bucks’ Game 1 victory against the Toronto Raptors.
Bucks point guard Malcolm Brogdon reached the playoffs in his first NBA season, and the rookie of the year candidate delivered with 16 points and six rebounds.
Bulls forward Bobby Portis, whose minutes increased after the Bulls sent Taj Gibson to Oklahoma City at the trade deadline, had 19 points, nine rebounds and three assists in Chicago’s Game 1 victory against Boston.
"He was one of our new, young guys that hasn't had any playoff experience that I wasn't worried about," Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg told reporters. "Because he's going to go out there and play with unbelievable confidence, he's going to play with swagger, he's just a kid that's going to go out there and lay it on the line. He plays with such effort and tenacity.”
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Atlanta rookie Taurean Prince had 14 points and six rebounds against the Wizards.
“In a very general sense, he just played basketball,” Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “That’s what we’ve liked about Taurean as he’s emerged over the last month or two. He’s just a good basketball player. Even though everything’s heightened in the playoffs, it’s still basketball for Taurean."
Utah’s Rodney Hood had eight points and shot just 28.6% from the field. But he was 2-for-5 on three-pointers. Teammate Joe Ingles was 2-for-7 from the field in his first playoff game with eight points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals. The Jazz beat the Clippers in Game 1.
Boston rookie Jaylen Brown got a taste of the playoffs but learned that matchups and shortened benches can limit minutes. He received just 11 minutes, six less than his season average.
But at least he has experienced the playoffs.
DeMarcus Cousins (487 career games) and Omri Caspi (499 career games) have been in the league seven and eight seasons without a playoff appearance.
Follow USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt.
