76ers’ playoff experience invaluable

As the regular season wound down, there was a faction that hoped the 76ers wouldn’t sneak into the playoffs with the eighth seed, instead hoping for the lottery. Coach Doug Collins has never understood that.

And with the Sixers reaching Game 7 of the second round against the Celtics, there was no question in his mind how valuable the experience was for his young team.

“To me, a Game 7 like this is worth about 10 regular-season games, when you start talking about the magnitude of the game and all that goes with it and the chance that if you win you move into another round,’’ Collins said, before the Celtics ended the 76ers’ season, 85-75.

“I sort of chuckle at all those people that with about 10 [games] to go in the season wanted us to not make the playoffs and get the 12th pick of the draft instead of the 15th. I’ve never understood that mentality.

“I wonder how they think about that now that our guys have played, they’ve had some success, and they’ve grown.’’

Collins cited the fact that the Sixers won few close games in the regular season, that they didn’t know how to close. In the playoffs, it was a different story, closing out the Bulls in six games, snagging Game 2 from the Celtics on the road. They have learned what to do in such situations.

“That, to me, is why you get into the playoffs and why you give yourself this opportunity,’’ Collins said. “You never know what’s going to happen.

“We were able to find a way to win a playoff series. That’s why you’ve always got to give yourself a chance. You don’t know what’s going to happen.’’

Collins said the three players who benefited most from the playoff run were Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner, and Lavoy Allen, three young players who performed well in the series. Allen made a big statement in containing Kevin Garnettthrough most of the series, after Garnett torched the Hawks in the first round.

Most of the Sixers’ regulars have four years or less of NBA experience - with Lou Williams (six), Andre Iguodala (seven), and Elton Brand (12) the exceptions - and few had significant postseason experience.

So in ways that Collins never could have coached, his team is growing up, gaining knowledge. The Sixers now know how to win, and how to handle difficult and pressure-packed spots.

Turner said he had come to understand playoff basketball, in a way he hadn’t before. It brought maturity, he said.

“It’s amazing,’’ Brand said. “Most of the young guys that have got an opportunity to play have won ballgames for us. Seeing these guys grow, it’s just due to how hard they work and the coaching staff.Continued...