Given the opportunity to closely watch both the NHL and NBA playoffs, most everyone would have to agree that hockey presents its fans with the better product.
The game of hockey is naturally full of non-stop action as substitutions are often executed during the course of play, while basketball is filled with game stoppages. In basketball, teams are allowed to call numerous timeouts, while in hockey only one timeout is allotted per team for an entire game, including overtime. In comparison, hockey overtimes are unbelievably fan-friendly as no television commercials are permitted, while NBA extra sessions and game endings are exceedingly long. The unpredictability of hockey again has lended itself to excitement, as a Number 6 seed, Calgary, has reached the conference finals, while in the predictable NBA in eight series zero teams pulled off first-round upsets. As for the athletes themselves, hockey players are forever risking serious injury and teams are littered with stitches and bruises, while basketball players comparatively are overpaid and rarely get hurt.
- NHL Conference Finals - There has been a changing of the guard in the playoffs as good older teams like Detroit and Colorado have been eliminated, while younger, quicker teams like Calgary, San Jose and Tampa Bay continue their quests for the coveted Stanley Cup. Home teams so far have posted a surprisingly strong 43-26 record, and the clubs entering with more rest went 2-1 in second round series. Fifteen games now have been decided in overtime, with the Calgary-Detroit and Philadelphia-Toronto series-clinching Game 6s absolute thrillers.
Tampa Bay vs. Philadelphia - With goaltending the most crucial factor this time of year, the edge has to go to Tampa Bay and Nikolai Khabibulin over Philly's Robert Esche. Having just swept Montreal, Tampa is the more rested team, and the Lightning should be confident after winning all four games against the Flyers during the regular season.
Philadelphia is 5-12 in its last 17 road playoff contests and it starts this series in Tampa. Prediction: Tampa Bay in 6.
San Jose vs. Calgary - After finishing 14th in the Western Conference last year and failing in all four tries in previous second round series, few would have thought that San Jose could finally advance to its first conference finals in 2004. The Sharks have done just that with goalkeeper Evgeni Nabokov and a tight defense that held offensive-minded Colorado scoreless for 180 straight minutes.
Calgary achieved its own current 149-minute shutout steak against powerful Detroit by being the most physical team in hockey and possessing a modern-day record-holder in netminder Miikka Kiprusoff. Kiprusoff will be extra motivated for this series, having been traded from San Jose early this season. It would be good for hockey and its loyal fans to have a Canadian team reach the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1994. Prediction: Calgary in 6 in an upset.
Finals - Tampa Bay over Calgary.
- NBA - The slow-moving playoffs have been characterized by poor shooting and an overall lack of excitement. Only one first round series lasted longer than five games, and that was the uninteresting Miami-New Orleans battle.
Indiana vs. Miami - After a ridiculous 11-day layoff, the Pacers take on Miami, a team they have beaten nine consecutive times. Indiana in 5.
New Jersey vs. Detroit - If Detroit's 78-56 Game 1 victory is any indication, this series will set many records - in futility, that is. Since the introduction of the shot clock, Game 1 produced playoff history's lowest-scoring first half and second-lowest final score. New Jersey had the second-lowest final total, 25 points at half-time, 39 points after three quarters, and tied a league record with only 19 made field goals. I'm not liking my pick of New Jersey in 7.
Minnesota vs. Sacramento - Minnesota is the only team to win two games at Sacramento this year, and Sac has lost seven straight series without home-court advantage. Minnesota in 7.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Antonio -After some one-sided officiating, the Lakers find themselves down 0-2. Only 7 of 170 teams have come all the way back from 0-2 deficits, and LA has lost 11 straight series in that situation. But I already picked LA before the series started, so I'll hope for the Lakers in 7.
Joe Ellison is the Nevada Appeal Betting Columnist. Contact him at editor@nevadaappeal.com.