While the NHL playoffs have been unpredictable, the NBA playoffs have been so predictable.
What’s better to watch? Is it better to know the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers are heading to a third straight matchup in the NBA finals? Or is it more entertaining to watch Stanley Cup contenders like Minnesota, Washington, Edmonton and Columbus fall by the wayside?
Golden State won its first 10 games. Cleveland won eight straight and waited nine days for the Boston Celtics to earn their place on the sacrificial altar. Nobody else can challenge these teams, who have been stacked with talent because the NBA rules allow superstars to join forces wherever they want.
The NHL is much fairer. Because hockey rosters are bigger than basketball rosters, the salary cap prevents NHL teams from overloading rosters with superstars. Any of the four hockey teams remaining – Anaheim, Nashville, Pittsburgh and Ottawa – can win the championship.
That’s way more interesting.