Since he NHL and NBA seasons run at the same time it’s inevitable that the leagues get compared to one another. In most of those comparisons, the NBA comes out ahead. They’re clearly the more popular league as well as being better marketed and having a better television deal but when it comes to the playoffs the NHL is far and away better than the NBA.
Now both leagues have 16 teams make the playoffs; 8 teams from the Eastern Conference and 8 teams from the Western Conference. That’s where the similarities stop.
Just look at the first round of the playoffs for example. In the NHL, we saw the #1 overall seed the Tampa Bay Lighting get swept out of the Eastern Conference playoffs by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Then last night the #1 seed in the Western Conference the Calgary Flames where also eliminated in the 1st round of the playoffs by the Colorado Avalanche in 5 games.
This is the first time in NHL history that both #1 seeds have been eliminated in the 1st round of the playoffs. Now this is something that we’d never seen happen in the NBA.
Over in the NBA there was a lot of noise when the #1 seed in the Western Conference the Golden State Warriors blew a 30 plus point lead to lose the second game of their opening round series against the Los Angeles Clippers. Of course the Warriors turned around and beat the Clippers by 27 points in Game 3 to take a two games to one lead in the series. I’d actually be surprised to see the Clippers win another game in this series.
The other #1 seed in the NBA was the Milwaukee Bucks and in their first round Eastern Conference playoff series they’ve had no problems beating the Detroit Pistons and taking a 2-0 lead. The Bucks won Game 1 by 35 points and Game 2 by 21 points. Do you see Detroit winning a game in this series?
Now the NHL did have one higher seeded team dominate a 1st round series. The 2nd seeded New York Islanders swept the 3rd seeded Pittsburgh Penuins oout of the playoffs in their 1st round match up, but the other series could go either way.
The Toronto Maple Leafs won Game 5 of their series 2-1 last night to take a three games to two lead in their series with the Boston Bruins. Toronto has a chance to close out the series at home on Sunday.
The defending champion Washington Capitals are tied two games a piece in their first round series with the Carolina Hurricanes. Game 5 is tonight in Washington.
Over in the Western Conference the #1 seeded Nashville Predators are tied 2-2 in their opening round series against the Dallas Stars. Game 5 is this afternoon in Nashville.
The 3rd seeded St. Louis Blues currently hold a three games to two lead over the 2nd seeded Winnipeg Jets. In Blues will have a chance to close out the series tonight in St. Louis.
After dropping the first game in this series, the Las Vegas Golden Knights ran off three straight wins against the San Jose Sharks but San Jose bounced back to win Game 5. Las Vegas is at home for Game 6 tonight with a chance to close out the series.
While some of these series may end tonight each team in these series has won multiple games. That’s something that’s not going to happen in the opening round NBA playoff series.
We’ve already mentioned that Golden State and Milwaukee are leading their series and the Bucks look like they’ll have a good chane to sweep. How about the other series?
The Toronto Raptors have a history of struggling in the playoffs and when they lost Game 1 of their opening round playoff series to the Orlando Magic there was a lot of talk that we’d see the Raptors make another surprise playoff exit. Well the Raptors bounced back and won the next two games and now hold a two to one lead in this series.
The Philadelphia 76ers had the same trouble as the Raptors did dropping Game 1 of there playoff series to the Brooklyn Nets but the 76ers came back and won the next two games including a Game 3 win without Joel Embiid to take a two games to one series lead. Even if Embiid is out the 76ers should be able to win this series
The Boston Celtics look like they might be on their way to a 1st round sweep of their opening round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers as the Celtics have taken all three game in this series so far. The Pacers host the Celtics for Game 4 tomorrow; so will see if Boston sweeps or if the Pacers can get a game.
Now the one NBA playoff series where we might actually see a 1st round upset is in the Western Conference. The 7th seeded San Antonio Spurs currently hold a two games to one lead over the 2nd seeded Denver Nuggets. Th teams split the first two games in Denver and San Antonio picked up in win in Game 3 at home. The Spurs are hosting Game 4 this evening looking to take a commanding lead in this series.
The Portland Trail Blazers held home court as they won the first two games in their playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Last night Oklahoma was at home and they picked up their first win of this series. This may be the most evenly matched payoff series and we’ll see if the Thunder can even things up at home tomorrow night.
So far the Houston Rockets have been the most dominate team in the Western Conference playoffs. They won Game 1 against the Utah Jazz by 32 points and in Game 2 they beat the Jazz by 20 points. The series shifts to Utah for Game 3 tonight and will have to see if Utah can slow down the Rockets and find a way to get a win in this series.
Now when you go through and you look at these series it’s quite clear that the NHL has the more interesting playoffs series going on right now. Does that means more people will watch. Probably not but maybe they should.
What have you watched more of, the NBA or the NHL playoffs?
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