NBA, Wake Up!

 

The NBA just received one of the worst ratings they have ever received for their abysmal All Star Weekend in San Francisco. After changing the platform multiple times, nothing has worked for the NBA. So what's next?

During the same time, the NHL had its revamped All Star break that caught national attention. They turned their All Star format from a skills competition and a mini tournament between the four divisions into an international showdown between four different countries. 

Like the NBA, NHL players often wouldn't put their best effort into the all star games in the past. But this year was different. The official name of the tournament was called Four Nations Face Off. It was comprised of the best players from the US, Canada, Finland, and Sweden. 

The round robin tournament took place over a week and got people very excited about the sport. The players put everything on the line even though there was no incentive to playing besides representing your respective country. 

The number one concern for players over All Star Weekend has always been injuries, but when you put your nation's colors on, all of those concerns are left behind. It was a great tournament and a great turnaround from the NHL. They turned a usual underwhelming All Star Weekend into a playoff intensity tournament for the players and fans. 

On the other hand, the NBA saw its ratings fall off the charts. No one was excited about the usual All Star festivities and especially the game itself. Watching stars play basically a pickup basketball game with no one putting in any effort or trying is flat out boring to watch. It's hard to get excited about something that has no hype whatsoever. 

The NBA should look at the NHL as an example of what they should implement. There are multiple ways they can change All Star Weekend. One is by adopting the four nations format from the NHL. Getting four different countries in a tournament would get the fans excited and give the players an incentive to represent their own countries. 

Another option is to do a United States versus the rest of the world game. Imagine international players like Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic, and more taking on the best from the United States. The International game has vastly improved in recent history, so this would definitely incorporate a lot of competition and excitement. 

Whichever one of those methods it is, the NBA has to do something to fix their weekend. The NHL did an amazing job and even got viewers that didn't watch hockey in the first place to tune in as well. It's clear, the NBA can't keep this format any longer. 

So Many Playoffs

From late April to mid June, the sports world is centered around not one, but two major sport playoffs. The NHL and NBA have both completed their high-intensity first rounds with even more drama to come in the second round as it starts to get underway. 

The NHL and NBA playoffs usually operate around the same time every calendar year but not as close as they have been this year. Cities across the country have multiple teams competing in these playoffs including New York, Boston, Denver, and Dallas making the ratings and viewership even higher. 

I believe that these two playoffs are by far the best out of the 4 major sports. People may argue that the NFL playoffs are better, but personally I prefer seeing a best of seven game series rather than seeing a one game playoff to see who advances. 

The playoffs are all about momentum and who is the hottest at the right time. The regular season is a totally different season and mindset than what the playoffs are. We are seeing a whole new era in the NBA where the younger teams are dominating compared to the teams with ample experience. 

Take the example of the Suns vs Timberwolves series where the Wolves swept the Suns with an emerging superstar in Anthony Edwards. The Suns consisted of one of the best players of all time in Kevin Durant along with Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. We are in a new age in the NBA where you don't always have to pay the big bucks to win. The Suns are once again a prime example of this. 

The NHL playoffs are my favorite playoffs to watch. Across the country obviously the NHL is not the most popular out of the big sports leagues, but once you get tuned into the playoffs, people are very amused. From the big hits to insane saves to clutch goals, the NHL playoffs has it all and no other playoffs can really top that. If you don't like the NHL, turn on the playoffs and then make your decision again. 

The intensity is only rising throughout the NBA and NHL and I am all here for it. Enjoy the playoffs while they last and watch the unforgettable moments and sequences that take place that will have your grandchildren talking about them. 

The Best Trophy Award Is...

            It's playoff time in both the NHL and the NBA and it got me thinking, what is the most meaningful championship trophy in all of the professional North American sports leagues?

            This includes the Vince Lombardi trophy for the NFL (pictured to the left), the Larry O'Brien trophy for the NBA (pictured second to left), the Commissioner's Trophy for the MLB (pictured second to right), and finally the Stanley Cup for the NHL (pictured to the right). 

            It takes great talent and effort to be able to obtain one of these trophies through an intense playoffs each and every year. But what trophy is actually the most meaningful trophy to the athletes themselves?

            There is no correct answer here, but my opinion sides with the Stanley Cup trophy. The Stanley Cup trophy was first awarded in the 1890s, dating back almost 135 years ago, outlasting the longevity of the rest of the trophies by a lot.

            This just shows the tradition that is centered around the Stanley Cup trophy and what pride the players take when they finally get to hold it up. Speaking of tradition, when awarded the cup it has lots of traditions that come along with it.

            Still dating back to the 1890s, each team that wins the cup goes and drinks champagne out of the top of the bowl to celebrate the victory. Also, what is very different from the other trophy ceremonies is that every player on the team takes a victory lap with the trophy on the ice, which in my opinion is the best tradition.

            There also come some superstitions as well leading up to the Stanley Cup such as not touching the conference trophy because teams believe if they do, they will lose in the finals. The tradition and history behind the Stanley Cup in the end is what makes it so great. Looking at the other trophies, there is really not as much tradition or history either centered around them. 

            Another reason why the Stanley Cup is the best trophy is because it is the most unique out of the four. When you envision winning awards, you envision taking home a gold statue that signifies your victory. On the other hand, the Stanley Cup is almost 3 feet tall, and made of silver and nickel as well. It makes it so winning the championship in the NHL isn't like receiving just some boring old gold trophy, instead you have this. 

            In the end, the tradition and history behind the Stanley Cup just proves how meaningful the trophy is to the player and why it is so much more meaningful than any other trophy. At the start of every season, the end goal is to be skating around the ice with the large silver cup in your hands, celebrating with joy.