The NHL playoffs have had me hooked all week. Not a single one of the 8 series has had a team go up 2-0. Every single game has been tight and played with great passion. 5 games have gone to overtime and the most lopsided game was the 4-1 win for the 7 seed in the west, Nashville, over 2 seed Chicago.
The NBA playoffs on the other hand in my opinion have started out with a dud. When watching Sportscenter this morning I heard this analysis of the Celtics-Heat game from Michael Wilbon, "This game was played like a second or third round game, not a first game where teams feel each other out". There is my problem with the NBA playoffs. Teams and players take nights out off because they don't feel pressure apparently. They only have to win 4 out of 7 games.
In the interest of full disclosure I am a hockey player and I am not fond of the NBA. So I may seem a little biased. However, I don't feel like I am incredibly off base. The NBA playoffs feel like the bowl season in college football. You have to watch a lot of crap early to get to the good stuff at the end. The NHL playoffs feel more like the NCAA Basketball tournament. Upsets and craziness early and the cream eventually rising to the top at the end.
The NHL needs to capitalize on this chance right now. Show the passion in your game while the NBA playoffs stay dormant. In a couple of weeks the NBA playoffs will matter and become entertaining. The olympics opened the eyes and ears of many people who are waiting to be enticed again by the NHL. Hopefully today the Red Wings- Coyotes game is played hard and fast to capitalize on the national exposure. The NHL needs to behave like a small business. Take nothing for granted and go take on the big boys with some attitude. Go after the NBA and their soft "playoffs". I have to go watch the NHL playoffs now. And wake me up when the NBA gets good in about 3 weeks.
Video: Muskegon native Justin Abdelkader steals the puck and lights the lamp for the Wings in game 2
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