04/25/24
April 20, 2010
NHL Playoffs Better Than The NBA?: Adrian Dater thinks so.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia to hockey at 07:13 PM - 14 comments
As a hockey fan who rarely gets a chance to see my team play (on TV or otherwise) during the regular season, I watch very few regular season games. However, during the playoffs, I end up watching as many games as I can, whether the Red Wings are involved or not. It's just really exciting action.
posted by holden at 08:33 PM on April 20, 2010
So in summary: I haven't watched the NBA in 10 years and make my living as a hockey analyst. Hence, I prefer the NHL playoffs to the NBA playoffs?
Fuck that noise.
I don't pay much attention to the NHL during the regular season outside of the Stars (who missed the playoffs for the 2nd season in a row). But I'll watch most any NHL Playoff game if there's not a (competitive) NBA playoff game that I'm invested in on at the same time. It may shock Mr. Dater to think about it, but there are quite a few folks whose sports years peak during this time of year.
But if he thinks that underdogs never win in NBA playoffs, he's either ignorant, delusional, or both. There have been scores of upsets in the ten years since he quit watching the Association. It's a pity he missed Portland upsetting Phoenix Sunday night or Utah's semi-miraculous win against his pseudo-hometown Nuggets last night.
And if he doesn't want to watch it, fine. If he wants to tangle weenies between the NHL and NBA, it's pretty pointless as the the NFL, MLB and EPL will sit in the corner pointing and laughing.
posted by Ufez Jones at 08:53 PM on April 20, 2010
It's a pity he missed Portland upsetting Phoenix Sunday night or Utah's semi-miraculous win against his pseudo-hometown Nuggets last night.
Do you see Portland winning that whole series? I feel that underdogs in the NHL have a much greater chance at advancing to the Stanley Cup (and winning) than do those in the NHL.
Though it can happen. I'd say the 2004 Pistons are a prime example
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 09:54 PM on April 20, 2010
Upsets do happen from time to time in the NBA, but you will rarely see a team come completely out of left field to make the NBA Finals. In the NBA, a team that pulls an upset in the first round usually gets bounced in the second. In the NHL, you often see lower-seeded teams making deep playoffs runs. Is it better that way? To each their own, but I like watching the event with the less predictable outcome.
If anything, one might say the NBA Finals are more interesting than the Stanley Cup Finals all things being equal (if you happen to be equally a fan of both leagues, which I admit I am not), but the Stanley Cup playoffs definitely have a more interesting road to get there.
posted by TheQatarian at 10:09 PM on April 20, 2010
If anything, one might say the NBA Finals are more interesting than the Stanley Cup Finals all things being equal
One thing makes the NHL finals better than the NBA Finals:
posted by grum@work at 12:41 AM on April 21, 2010
I don't know meaty. James Worthy is looking pretty bad ass in the background.
posted by NoMich at 07:30 AM on April 21, 2010
Also, this just in, apples better than oranges. You heard it here first.
posted by JJ at 08:08 AM on April 21, 2010
Dater is a moron. News at 11.
posted by garfield at 08:57 AM on April 21, 2010
I can't wait that long.
posted by yerfatma at 09:12 AM on April 21, 2010
Pluots better than apples, news at 6.
Plus NHL any time better than NBA if only because the play stops so much less frequently.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:34 PM on April 21, 2010
No, I watch both pretty closely and the NHL has been way better so far. The NBA is far too predictable.
There are exceptions, of course - Phoenix is always fun to watch, and Cleveland is fantastic. But the level of competition and drama and sacrifice and speed and tension is ten times higher in the NHL.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 06:35 PM on April 22, 2010
Adrian Dater is right. The intensity of the games this year, as usual, has been incredible. And I think he's right in noticing that more people are catching on to the joy of watching the NHL playoffs. And Versus is absolutely positive that we all love the Penguins.
In the interest of full disclosure, I would rather gargle glass shards than watch the NBA, but Dater, as a recovering NBA fan, makes some great points.