I’m generally more interested in watching great teams play than flukey Cinderellas. Just seems like cheap excitement.

Hmm. Well the Cinderella thing is largely pushed by the media. As I explained above, I don’t think that teams like LA winning are flukey. If the NHL didn’t allow 8 teams and instead allowed 4 or 6, you are assuming LA wouldn’t have made the playoffs. When they showed that when they had to win, they were almost unbeatable so the urgency may have kicked in earlier.

The falcons have shown many times that they can win regular season games but when other teams give them their best shot in the playoffs they get squashed. Which team is better? The one that win 13 games or the wild card that won 10 and beat the 13 win team by 4 tds in the playoffs?

If you see it as the team that wins the most game (AKA has the least amount of let-downs) then we shouldn’t even have playoffs.

When you’re allowing for ~50% of an entire league to enter the playoffs, you’re inviting flukey championships to occur. Basketball tends to weed out potential flukes because the impact of individual players is much more significant than many other sports.

I’m generally more interested in watching great teams play than flukey Cinderellas. Just seems like cheap excitement.

but does anyone really believe that the Kings were the best team last season?

Maybe not. Depends on how you define best. If you define it as the team that when the stakes are the highest and losers go home elevates their play to the highest level and is the last one standing then yes the Kings were the best. If you see it as the team that wins the most game (AKA has the least amount of let-downs) then we shouldn’t even have playoffs.

Exhibit A: The run by the 8 seed Kings last year

I find this to be a detriment to the hockey playoffs. Sure they’re exciting, but does anyone really believe that the Kings were the best team last season?

Why do people care about the NBA, barring injury it is obvious who will win the championship?

Because watching basketball is enjoyable?

5 years ago, you wouldn’t be saying the Heat or OKC would have a chance to win a championship.

Heat are one of the small handful of teams that always has a chance to be successful due to it being a desirable landing spot for free agents. Milwaukee, Charlotte, Portland, etc. not so much. OKC is a bit of an outlier but they have hit an absolute home run (found a star that has no desire to play in a big market, drafted many other nice pieces around the same time) and still won’t win a title.

Wasn’t it during the Bulls’ 72 win season they lost to the Raptors at least once and maybe a second time or close, when they were an expansion team?

Off the top of my head I want to say it was twice.

If you’re wondering what’s on the horizon for Miami, wins 24-27 should be automatic, as the Heat play lottery-bound teams.

Have you ever watched basketball? Like at all?

Wasn’t it during the Bulls’ 72 win season they lost to the Raptors at least once and maybe a second time or close, when they were an expansion team?

Hockey playoffs are the best

Nothing like it. As a southern redneck hick I dont know icing from offsides but an OT playoff hockey game is as good as it gets. (As an aside, why cant World Cup soccer pussies play until they drop dead like these MEN in the NHL rather than deciding every other game with that stupid ass shootout.)

My son would rather watch the Predators over anything besides college football and he has never put on a pair of skates.

Durant may not be at LeBron’s level just yet, but he is pretty damn close.

Agree. Fabulous player. Maybe top 10 I have ever seen. But Barkley was “close” with Jordan. Durant isnt strong enough (physically) and never will be. He has no chance other than he’s a good bit younger and possibly will still be great after LeBron gets to old.

And all that said I will watch plenty of NBA playoffs this year just like I did Tiger and Jordan at their peaks. But it sure wont be as enjoyable as Bird/Magic.

Durant may not be at LeBron’s level just yet, but he is pretty damn close.

Hockey playoffs are the best

Exhibit A: The run by the 8 seed Kings last year

It’s the best playoffs in sports, that’s I watch. And dammit if the Heat are that dominant to the point where it all seems anti climatic, who in the hell doesn’t want to watch greatness?

Basketball doesn’t have some of the inherent luxuries that others sports do in terms of parity. If you like the Heat or LeBron or want to watch them beat up on inferior teams then more power to you. My issue isn’t the Heat or disputing that they are a great team, I just think the NBA is so far beyond broken. What is that stat, like 9 franchises have won championships in the past 30 years. If you are a fan of Portland, Charlotte, Milwaukee, etc, why the hell would you buy tickets or watch their games? The way the league is now, they will never ever win a championship. I could say with some degree of confidence that the Browns or Astros could win a championship in the next 3-5 years. Probably not but we have seen turnarounds like it many times in their sports.

And all that said I will watch plenty of NBA playoffs this year just like I did Tiger and Jordan at their peaks. But it sure wont be as enjoyable as Bird/Magic.

That aint nostalgia that is truth.

Why do people care about the NBA, barring injury it is obvious who will win the championship? It was obvious before the season and even more so now. The lack of parity completely kills the intrigue for me, I have a hard time understanding how it doesn’t do the same to everyone else.

It’s the best playoffs in sports, that’s I watch. And dammit if the Heat are that dominant to the point where it all seems anti climatic, who in the hell doesn’t want to watch greatness? Who wouldn’t want to watch Jordan because some people thought it was automatic, or Ruth and Gehrig, Ali, early Mike Tyson. That whole why watch sentiment, especially as it pertains to the NBA has always been an idiotic sentiment to me. Oh, I can’t wait to watch the Super Bowl, so I can watch the great Joe Flacco.

Why do people care about the NBA, barring injury it is obvious who will win the championship? It was obvious before the season and even more so now. The lack of parity completely kills the intrigue for me, I have a hard time understanding how it doesn’t do the same to everyone else.

I wrote this in the LeBron dunk thread:

“I dont follow the NBA closely but is there any reason to even hold the NBA playoffs? Its going to be like in Jordans peak–James’ teams will win for as long as he decides to play.

I would hate to be in Kevin Durrant’s shoes. Nothing he can do.”

We are in agreement.

Why do people care about the NBA, barring injury it is obvious who will win the championship? It was obvious before the season and even more so now. The lack of parity completely kills the intrigue for me, I have a hard time understanding how it doesn’t do the same to everyone else.

Disagree to an extent. Last year’s playoffs were full of twists and turns. Rose’s injury. Bosh’s injury. San Antonio winning 10 straight. OKC beating SA 4 straight. Miami coming back in 3 straight series. LeBron’s watershed moment in Boston.