NBA Playoffs 2012: Blown Leads Highlight Strategic Flaws in Postseason Play

The Memphis Grizzlies' historic letdown to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday was illustrative of a trend that often haunts young teams.

It's not easy to give up a 27-point lead, but complacency can accomplish amazing things.

It wasn't just a mental malfunction, though—the Grizzlies strategy went awry and was, at times, non-existent. The cautious isolation and post-up approach has its place from time to time, but it's a terrible way to maintain a lead down the stretch.

Especially when Chris Paul is on the other side.

Offensive stagnation is never pretty. It leads to bad shots, turnovers and a slowdown that often translates into an all around lack of effort and hustle.

Some teams are meant to play fast and lack the personnel to succeed in a drawn out half-court game. Count the Memphis Grizzlies as one of those teams.

The Oklahoma City Thunder found themselves in similarly troubled waters Monday night in Game 2 against the Dallas Mavericks, albeit with less disastrous consequences. Scott Brooks' club built a 16-point lead halfway through the second quarter only to watch Dallas get right back in the game and make a nail-biter out of it.

Teams have an obvious temptation to let up on the gas—big leads make coaches more risk averse and increase the incentive to milk the clock.

The Thunder may not share much in common with the Grizzlies, but these are both teams that benefit from a track meet. Young legs are at their best when they're allowed to run (and when defenders aren't yet in position).

And any team is at its best when its the one taking initiative.

Extended possessions too often become one-dimensional and predictable, and a hungry defense will take advantage of that. The Clippers became the aggressors against Lionel Hollins and the Grizzlies, and it resulted in more than a few open looks on the perimeter.

Perhaps the worst side-effect of an overly conservative approach is that motionless offense too often leads to motionless defense. Few clubs have the mental discipline to remain active on defense for 48 minutes, and any lull in the action can interrupt the players' rhythm.

The Thunder and Grizzlies will both get better at holding onto leads. They're still young teams with years worth of postseason experience to come.

Until then, they should do what comes naturally, and play like they're 10 points behind for an entire game.