OT: Finals time - NBA or NHL - which do you follow and prefer?
It's that time of year when two of the four major professional US sports are in their Championship Final series. Those two sports are - the NBA and the NHL.
Do you follow both? Do you have a preference for one sport over the other? If so why?
And, if could only watch one of the two sports final series - which would you pick - the NBA or NHL?
If I had to pick one, I'd pick the NHL, hoping the series "goes 7".
NHL all day. Basketball is not what it use to be
NHL playoff games are more exciting as a true neutral because there's a little more variance in the results due to the nature of the game ("puck luck", hot goalie, top players not able to play half of a game etc). NBA has too many playoff series that end up boring because there's a greatest disparity between teams due to the ability of top players being able to play 80%+ of the game.
But I really enjoy both, particularly when my teams are involved.
But in recent history you have the Heat doing what they're doing, 2 times now. Nobody believes them to be a top-4 team overall, now nor in 2020. It's crazy what they're doing.
NBA all day. NHL isn't what it used to be.
I follow both but unless my team is in the NHL playoffs, I watch the NBA, particularly if a player has a Michigan connection.
I'm a Golden State fan but with DRob playing for Miami, I've enjoyed the heck out of the NBA and hope they beat Denver and have watched all of Miami's games of late.
I've enjoyed the heck out of the NBA and hope they beat Boston and have watched all of Miami's games of late.
Shouldn't that be Denver? Unless you're on a week long spoilers delay, in which case sorry I just spoiled Game 7 of the Eastern Finals
Changed it, Thanks!
concurrence; NHL only when the Wings are good
NHL, even if it has two warm weather teams. i've at least paid attention to the outcomes.
NBA is not 'dead to me', but it really has changed since the time when the pistons were relevant - mid-80's to the mid-00's. miss bird, magic, michael, isaiah and so many others. i realize today's NBA has some uber-talented guys, but the game and rivalries seem so different and, candidly, not as good.
you don't have to get off my lawn. however, i suggest you watch where you step though, cow/chicken/sheep dung all around....
Let’s ask Grapes.
NHL has the best playoffs, from the uncertainty, passion, and drama of playoff overtimes. The effort and intensity is off the charts.
NBA talent is awesome but to me most of the games are fairly boring. I peek in from time to time but really don't sit down to watch.
Miami has been pulling off improbably come backs and wins all playoffs as an 8 seed. Last game they were down 10 starting the 4th, then went up 10 after an incredible run and hung on by a thread to win.
Yes, I am watching in on Miami with some interest - they are the exception to the general rule.
The answer to this, for me, has always been the NHL. However, this year, something about the composition of the teams involved - have to admit, I find the NBA series more fascinating (more so now after results of the first two games).
NBA for me. Thanks to the Kraken and ESPN+ streaming NHL games, my hockey fandom is thawing a bit after ~15 years, but I still find the NBA Finals match-up a lot more compelling than the Stanley Cup one.
I don't really watch pro sports unless the Lions are in contention for the Playoffs, so neither.
Wow, you rarely watched pro sports ever.
This is true. I loved the NBA through around 2007 or 2008 before "super teams" were a thing and now players simply move around too much.
I always go for the NHL. Not too excited about this year's iteration though. Florida needs to be able to claw back into a game by doing something other than raising the level of their physicality. They need to add some skilled play to the aggressiveness. Last night's game was over midway through the second period when the Panthers just decided that they were going to try and out hit Vegas, who just laughed and kept scoring.
I'm a humongous NBA fan.
Hockey just doesn't do it for me unless the Wings are good.
Yeah same here. I could watch a good non-Pistons NBA game and not he case with hockey. But if the Wings were good I probably wouldn't miss a game and there's nothing like Playoff Hockey. Unfortunately the Wings have sucked since the salary cap and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
Hockey for me. I have always followed it since the Montreal dynasty days in the 70's. The NHL playoffs are just can't miss viewing.
Also used to be an NBA fan but soured on it in the last couple decades. Maybe because of how ESPN fanboys has been all over LeBron's dick. Maybe because the Pistons haven't been good. Not sure. College hoops are more exciting for me.
Good thing I'm a baseball fan because soon that's all there'll be to watch until football.
Following the NBA finals loosely this year. Depends on the teams. No real interest in Denver or Miami.
Always follow the NHL finals, definitely my favorite of the two in general. Nothing beats the intensity and passion of the NHL playoffs. The Stanley Cup means so much to these guys. Playoff hockey is just special.
If I had to pick one? NHL for the reasons above. It just feels more special, with a few NBA finals exceptions.
Those Lakers/Bulls/Pistons/Celtics finals of the 80s and 90s were enthralling.
I agree. For me, those were the golden years of the NBA.
NHL here. Been playing beer league and pick-up hockey off and on for 40+ years. As a fan, I love the commitment, the toughness (getting 75 stitches* because a guy's face was pushed down on the goalie's skate blade and then came back to finish the game). I love the speed and the skill. The goalies are so big and good, there typically isn't much to shoot at yet the pros can really snipe the puck.
I used to enjoy playing basketball too; not sure when I lost interest in watching it. It might have been the lack of parity in the league. Might have been the officiating which can be inconsistent/subjective. (NHL officiating can be pretty bad as well.)
I guess I just find hockey more exciting.
*estimate because the doctor lost count
I can’t watch the NBA. Arbitrary fouls are essentially pre-called based on who is driving to the rim. Everyone double dribbles, carries, and takes about 7 steps and it’s never called. I’ll follow on the interwebs to see who’s winning or who won, but that’s it.
I don’t think I’ve missed a single Stanley Cup playoff game yet.
I made a similar comment in the DRob thread and a bunch of dudes lost their minds.... NBA is very little about team sport anymore, IMO.... a bunch of 1on1 street ball and more traveling than a band of gypsies.
Hockey has its downside compared to the past as well. Clean hits are now a reason to start a scrum instead of looking at your own player who got rocked and say “keep your head up” and I fucking HATE that.
Tkachuck blasted Eichel last night and sent Eichel to the locker room. Perfect form body check and got kicked out of the game for defending himself when he got jumped on by 3 guys. Stupid. Should have been a game misconduct for everyone that jumped him for being sissies and Tkachuck shouldn’t have been penalized at all.
but yea, basketball is unwatchable imho when core rules (have to dribble) is no longer a part of the game and phantom Burke-sequel fouls are called constantly, but only for the “stars” while regular Jimmies and Joes get hacked to death.
Agreed, I'm not a huge Tkachuck fan, but that was a beautiful hit. Last night he took one that was just as pretty.... and he of all players, should know to have his head on a swivel.
Yikes. Street ball? That was the iso era fam aka mid 00s. Boomer take.
Iso era? Must be just one big era.
Tell me you don’t know shit about basketball without saying so.
If this was the “iso era,” players like DRob would be playing in Greece.
Boomer.
NBA has been great in the playoffs the past few years. Every playoff team has a bona fide star or multiple stars. The days of super teams dominating are gone (for now). Since the Warriors and Lebron's Cavs met in four straight finals, 8 different franchises have filled the 10 slots for the nba finals with five different champions in a row. Plus they're at least trying to legislate the game to make it better: they instituted the "take foul" so you can't just foul a guy on a fast break opportunity.
In almost every year other than this one I would quickly answer NHL. But I can't think of a much more "meh" matchup than Florida vs Vegas. And to make matters worse, the Panthers look like a spent team.
Not that either team in the NBA finals moves the needle much either, but at least there's Duncan Robinson to root for.
I prefer basketball but it's pretty close when you get to the playoffs between all sports. The Finals seem to be better set up to produce a competitive, fun series of games but that's mostly because the Panthers appear to have run out of gas.
I'd like to follow the NHL, but I don't have TNT. I watched games all year on ESPN+, but have missed most of the playoffs because I don't have cable. I've ended up watching the NBA a little more because their games have been available to me. Overall I've enjoyed both, but wish I could've watched more. I've been totally impressed with the Heat and Nuggets. The Nuggets are fun to watch and it was gratifying to see them destroy the Lakers. Vegas and Florida have had impressive runs and both have surprised. I knew Vegas was good but I never saw them as this dominant team that is destroying everyone in their way. Props to them, but hopefully Florida makes a comeback, so we can get some more hockey. I always hate when the playoffs end and were stuck with only baseball and MLS. Although, I love me some MLS.
NBA for me, although I think a big part of that is the long Wings drought and I don't feel any particular interest in either Vegas or Florida.
If the Red Wings and Pistons were both playing in their respective finals and I could only pick one, then it'd be NHL.
For most of my life, from Gordie/Ted Lindsey/Sawchuck to Stevie/Lidstrom/any number of Russians, I have loved the Red Wings, so the NHL would have.been a no brainer. I didn't play basketball as a kid, I strapped on hand-me-down figure skates and played pond hockey. But, in the last few years, I've really enjoyed the NBA, they are fantastically fit athletes with unbelievable skills and reflexes, and once you get by the oversized egos of a small percentage of players, they all seem like hard working and decent guys.
To quote Lloyd (yet again), "I Like 'em Both!"
I enjoy college basketball but the NBA does nothing for me. No defense and almost nothing but 3s.
NHL playoffs are top-drawer competition between two teams of guys that love the play the game.
Meh, mostly.
Hockey - will catch a few minutes if LA Kings or Avs are in the finals.
Basketball I paid attention to the Pistons/Bulls/Lakers in the '80s, but not since.
There is NOTHING like playoff hockey..... especially if it goes to OT....
The NHL playoffs as a whole are better than NBA, as upsets can happen any time and nearly every series is compelling. The NBA early rounds are a relative snoozefest with more 4-5 game series and favorites generally advancing. This year is an outlier with the Heat, Lakers, and Warriors all advancing as lower seeds.
However, I've grown to like the NBA Finals more than the Stanley Cup Final. In the NBA, it's been a compelling matchup between pretty much the best two teams. And the league's stars are involved as often as not.
In contrast, the Stanley Cup Final can sometimes be two really good teams (Wings-Penguins in 08-09) but can also be random teams that made it through the plinko of playoff hockey. Florida and Vegas deserve there places, but it takes a bit away from the neutral interest when Boston, Toronto, Colorado and Edmonton are eliminated early. Plus, by June, the ice quality goes down, and players are very tired, hurt, and running on fumes, so the quality of play suffers a bit in my view compared to the early rounds. There can still be great games and series, I just don't recall as many.
NHL and it's not even close. The speed, constant action, physicality, and sheer will that these players show is unmatched IMO. NBA can be very entertaining in the last half of the 4th quarter but to me, the rest of the game is fairly boring with some cool plays mixed in.
In hockey, every goal matters and the anticipation for said goals is breathtaking. You can hear it in the emotions of the crowd with every shot. You can't beat an NHL player getting 75 stitches to the face and returning less than a period later like a player from the Jets did in game 1 vs the Golden Knights. I'm sure many of you remember Stevie Y in complete, obvious pain during the playoffs, playing through it, and absolutely willing the Wings to victory. You don't see that, or as much, in other sports, or you at least don't know about it until afterwards.
Also...I'm clearly biased towards hockey and have played it all my life so I understand and appreciate other viewpoints or why someone might say the NBA. This is just my opinion!
NHL. With the game traditionally being a low-scoring affair, it introduces so much variability into the game and just adds to the excitement. Hockey is far and away, to me, the most exciting, and also emotionally draining postseason to watch in all of professional sports. I'd also argue the Stanley Cup is the hardest trophy to win in North American sports, and its not particularly close. But its such an absolute thrill and adrenaline rush. Particularly when your team is in it.
As a Tampa native, I've gotten to go to a share of great postseason hockey games. Saw the Lightning win it all over the Canadians in Game 5 two years ago, and then saw them beat the Flyers in the ECF back in '03 to clinch their first trip to the Stanley Cup (the ending of that game was the loudest sports event I've ever been to in my life. Got so loud it all turned to white noise).
Didn't see them beat the Flames in Game 7, but I got to go to Game 5, which they lost before winning a highly controversial Game 6. But NHL postseason hockey is truly something special. You are truly hanging on the whim of every pass, every save, every S.O.G. Its an adrenaline rush, it takes years off your life, and its freaking fun as hell.
Don't care for the NBA. I don't even watch it if nothing else is on.
I’m not an NBA fan so NHL
Game 7 in hockey is awesome unless your team is in it
I'm a much bigger hockey fan. I follow the entire league closely, even when my two favorite teams, the Wings and Isles, are down. However, I just can't get into Florida vs Vegas. There's just nothing exciting there.
For me, the NBA is just background noise on Christmas Day, as far as the regular season is concerned. I do usually watch the Finals, especially if the matchup is compelling. I'm really enjoying this Denver vs Miami series.
Basketball is weird. I used to find the NBA magical and could name most every roster throughout the 80s. My interest definitely waned with Jordan's dominance, because you knew Chicago would always win. Shaq and Kobe were exciting, but the past 20 years have felt really dull. Watching teams jack up 40 threes a night increasingly feels like baseball with its HR or strikeout approach. The game has very little ebb and flow now.
The last few minutes of NBA playoff games are frequently some of the best moments in sports. It's almost gotten to the point where the first three quarters just amount to a (usually minor) handicap for one team and the real game starts with about five minutes to go.
The NHL has better full games, but they are often decided before the second period ends.
The Stanley Cup playoffs is the most exciting time of the year. The speed of the game makes it by far the most entertaining sport imo, while it feels like basketball has way to many stops in action due to the frequency of fouls, out of bounds, and timeouts
NBA here. I was born and raised in Portland, OR, eight years old when the Blazers joined the league as an expansion team. As a sophomore in high school in 1977, I knew every player on every team and listened to every game on my radio. That championship is a long time ago, but I still love a sweet alley-oop or a nice put-back after a missed basket. The game is different now, but some of those players are inhuman.