TORONTO — Depending upon who you ask you’ll get a different answer as to who was the first to say, “Experience is the best teacher.” I’ve seen Benjamin Franklin take credit for saying it as well as Penelope Douglas and others. Most of the time it’s got anonymous stapled to it. Regardless of who said it, it rings true in every aspect of life especially in the NBA Playoffs.
Everybody and their baby’s momma was hollering and screaming about Giannis Antetokounmpo this year as he led the Bucks to the best record in the NBA. Boyz were ready to anoint him the best player in the league before the playoffs started. However, what they didn’t consider was his lack of deep playoff experience when he and his teammates showed up to play Kawhi Leonard and Co. in the Eastern Conference Finals. That lack of experience is the reason why they’re at the crib right now.
The Bucks started the series off looking like they were about to sprint through the Raptors going up 2-0 and then they completely nose dived losing four straight as Kawhi Leonard put that thang on them concluding with a Game 6 performance for the ages. Ole boy finished with 27 points and a career high 17 rebounds to lead the Raptors to their first ever NBA Finals appearance.
In the end, experience prevailed as the 2014 Finals MVP, Leonard, showed the young gun how it’s supposed to be done when it’s supposed to be done. Not only have we heard that experience is the best teacher but the worst experiences teach the best lessons.
Giannis will be alright but he had to go through it first. It’s no different than anything else in life. He had to pay his dues first. The O.G.’s had to make sure that he was ready. His time will come but that time isn’t right now playa and you can stop me when I start lyin’!