Sitting back and about to watch Game 1 of the Blackhawks' attempt at defending the cup, and with the NBA playoffs on the horizon got me thinking which sport has the best playoffs - from a fan's perspective. It's a tough one. So much to consider, so let's break it down with a point system (1 low, 4 high):
*Home crowd noise: NBA 4, MLB 3, NHL 2, NFL1
*Least referee impact: NHL 4, NFL 3, MLB 2, NBA 1
*Uncertainty: NHL 4, NFL 3, MLB 2, NBA 1
*Peak excitement: MLB 4, NBA 3, NHL 2, NFL 1
*Craziness: MLB 4, NBA 3, NHL 2, NFL 1
*Increased intensity: NBA 4, NHL 3, NFL 2, MLB 1
1.NHL17
2.NBA 16
3 MLB 16
4.NFL 11
The NHL really does have the best playoffs.
- minimal ref importance (not negligible, but minimal)
- huge crowd impact
-ridiculous intensity level
Rating the peak excitement was obviously the most difficult because every sport, at its best, is incredible, but no hedging on the bri blog. Of course what adds to the playoffs is how much at stake you have as a fan, and admittedly the Blackhawks are not at the top of my list but I hope to hear plenty of Chelsea Dagger in the next few weeks.
No doubt, you got this right about the best playoffs belonging to the NHL. Seriously, in what other sport can ANYTHING happen like the hockey playoffs? There's no such thing as a top seed ever being safe, and unlike the NBA and MLB where there is definitely a sense that some of the playoffs games don't "matter"--for instance, losing game 3 on the road when you went 2-0 at home in the NBA or when your #4/5 starter is on the mound in the MLB--in the NHL, you can't take anything for granted, lest a team or player take a series over from you (see: Jean-Sebastien Giguere of the #7 seed Ducks, leading to their sweep of defending champion Red Wings in the opening round and ultimately the Conn Smythe). I'm not a big hockey fan, but I love the NHL playoffs.
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