Thankful for a short 2nd NHL round

So in reviewing the action over this past week I can honestly say that I was a little surprise at how short 3 out of 4 of the NHL series have been….I mean for three of the four series to almost be sweeps is pretty insane. Certainly the only team that managed the feat is Anaheim but Buffalo lost a close game to Ottawa which could easily have gone the other way.

I’ll have more thoughts on those series a little bit later…but consider this…I was so happy last night that the NHL was done because I was able to watch two fantastic NBA games…Pistons-Cavaliers and Mavericks-Spurs both came right down to the wire and both were thrilling to watch. Unfortunately because of the absolutely elevated entertainment factor of this year’s NHL playoffs I’ve missed out on most of what is widely describe as the most entertaining NBA playoffs in years. Last night while most people I know were soaking up the season ending episode of Grey’s Anatomy I was soaking up floaters, dunks, fadeaways and more.

I just have a couple of observations relative to this…I defy you to find one player on any team on the league that elevates his teammates more that Lebron James…he has turned a player known for his floppy hair more than his play into a difference maker. He finds Donyell Marshall for wide open 3s and when his team needs a bucket no matter how bad he is struggling he finds a way to fly to the hoop. If the NBA is smart they will pin all their hopes on him to bring them back to the Golden Era aka the Jordan era.

The King is clearly that but there is a fantastic player out west…a man I will dub the Baron de Nowitzki…just cause it sounds cool. He is playing on at least one wonky ankle if not 2 yet still runs up and down the court like if he didn’t he would die. Despite his defensive shortcomings is their anyone in the league that causes more matchup problems on offense…He can spot up and shoot from anywhere, and in any body position….falling away, leaning in, going sideways and it almost always hits nothing but net.

Also what’s more fun than the run and gun point guards in the league now…all ushered in by the emergence of Steve Nash…are there players more fun to watch that Tony Parker flying at mach speed to the hoop. Or Devin Harris turning on the jet pack and flying to the whole while the big guys flail around them. Or Jason Terry who darts in and out like a hummingbird and unleashes daggers from all over. While all of these guys are their own style of player I can’t help but think they refined their style base on players like Nash and Iverson who showed that speed can negate height.