PLAYOFFS
2014 playoffs have fans begging for moreBY COLLIN LOY ON MAY 17, 2014
If you haven’t been watching the playoffs on TV, then you might want to take a seat and watch. This year, both the NBA and NHL playoffs have kept fans on the edge of their seats, always anticipating what would happen next.
The NBA first round playoffs had five matchups go to the seventh game: Atlanta vs. Indiana, Brooklynn vs. Toronto, San Antonio vs. Dallas, Memphis vs. Oklahoma City and Golden State vs. Los Angeles Clippers. There was also a game six between Portland and Houston. So six series all within one game in the first round is almost unheard of. The first round of the NBA playoffs was definitely something else. I’m not much of a professional basketball kind of guy, but these games were always on my TV. My favorite series was between Memphis vs. OKC and Atlanta vs. Indiana. Oklahoma City has become a powerhouse team in the league with the 2014 MVP, Kevin Durant. But any team with Durant would be a powerhouse team. That was one of Memphis’ main problems heading into the series: shutting down this year’s MVP. In the end, the Thunder prevailed, winning the series in the seventh game. Indiana vs. Atlanta was a terrific series as well. No one would have expected the Hawks to do what they did in this series. Going up in the series 3-2, many thought that the series was over for Paul George and the Golden State Warriors. However, George proved his leadership, scoring 54 points in games six and seven, lifting his team upon his back as they moved on to the second round. The NHL playoffs are always my favorite thing to watch. With three matchups going into a game 7 and three matchups going into a game 6, the first round was just as exciting as the first round of the NBA playoffs. The LA vs. San Jose series was one for the ages. This is the second year in a row in which San Jose and Los Angeles have met in the first round. The Sharks went up 3-0 in the series and certainly everyone thought it was over. However, the Kings never gave up, coming back to win games four, five, six and seven. The 2013-2014 Los Angeles Kings became only the fourth team in NHL history to come back after being down 3-0. It’s series like these that keep fans on the edge of their seats, always waiting to see which NHL game will be the next thriller. If you think that the first round was the only exciting part of the NHL playoffs, then you are sorely mistaken. The Conference Semifinals are as close as the First Round’s games. Two series are tied and the other two are determined by one game. With games this close, and matchups this even, Americans all across the country have been finding themselves in front of television sets. So if you are in the need of some high-flying, intense entertainment, turn on your TV and watch the playoffs. |
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