The Great Debate – NHL Playoffs Or NBA Playoffs – Which Is More Exciting?

Professional playoffs entice us with quality matchups, classic in-game moments, juicy storylines, and intensity. We root for our favorites, bet against the underdogs, and sit through rounds of play all for bragging rights over our rivals. Each game is different and each sport holds its own in producing highly anticipated playoff series. The NHL and NBA playoffs seem to be swallowing every channel on our televisions, but which sport is producing the superstitious jersey wearing, screaming at the TV, rub it in your friends face every time your team scores type of games we need in the playoffs? NHL or NBA? Let’s debate!

NBA: The NBA playoffs have all the ingredients for rounds of exciting playoff basketball; quality matchups producing seven overtime games so far, juicy story lines like Kevin Durant being dubbed “Mr. Unreliable”, classic in-game moments like Vince Carter’s buzzer beating 3-pointer to seal a game 3 win for the Dallas Mavericks over the San Antonio Spurs, and most important, intensity in which two eight seeds have a legitimate shot at securing a second round bid. Toss in this pot of playoff madness the unraveling of top seed Indiana Pacers and the ban of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling for life, and you’ve got true, unpredictable, must-watch playoff basketball. Aside from the Miami Heat-Charlotte Bobcats series, all the other ones have had an average point differential of 5 points or less deciding these wins. Factor in the Toronto Raptors first playoff appearance since 2008 and the Houston Rockets headed by D-League call-up Troy Daniels’ magic from beyond the arc, and the Heat’s quest for a three-peat isn’t so clear after all. I know basketball fans are without a doubt pulling for the NBA playoffs as the superior professional playoffs, but it’s those not necessarily fans flipping to ABC, ESPN, and TNT for these edge-of-your-seat games that may have me convinced.

NHL: The NHL in general doesn’t receive the hype on ESPN that many think it deserves, but the NHL postseason has always been a reason for me to pull out my Chicago Blackhawks jersey and unleash my inner animal. This year is no exception. Record ratings for NBC support the claim that these 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs have so far been the best we’ve ever seen. Drama, controversial calls, big hits, and so many comeback wins lay out inevitably unpredictable NHL playoffs. The favorites to win, the St. Louis Blues, did their walk of shame in their exit of the playoffs in the first round! The hatred (all in good playoff fun of course!) between grudge-match rivals such as the San Jose Sharks versus the Los Angeles Kings, or the New York Rangers versus the Philadelphia Flyers amped up some amazing hockey. Wild card seeds going toe to toe with division champions are producing over the top finishes including an NHL record, 13 overtime games in the first round. With 3 rounds to go, I don’t know if my heart can take anymore.

The NBA and the NHL are producing one hell of a playoff ride, but which roller-coaster do you want to take a 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th ride on?