Baseball and bupkis — nada, nothing.
That’s what we now have on our native sports activities scene throughout a interval on the calendar that, except you’re saddled with the sorry likes of the Blackhawks and Bulls, could be a barrel of enjoyable. Even this week’s NFL draft, usually an occasion value obsessing over, comes round like a celebration to which we’re not invited, with the Bears holding neither a first- nor a second-round decide.
But the NBA and Stanley Cup playoffs rage on, even when some Chicagoans wrestle — like misplaced, lonely souls peeking by means of a window from the sidewalk — to deal with the indignity of all of it. And although we could not have a canine in both hunt, I’m pretty sure of this:
The NBA playoffs are a blight on humanity.
The Blue Jackets have a good time after a aim towards the closely favored Lightning. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775325858
Hockey’s postseason is merely a billion occasions higher.
Look, perhaps some individuals get a kick out of figuring out who’s going to win earlier than the competitors even begins. Maybe some are so deep into “Game of Thrones” that they’re comforted by the power to take the NBA’s opening spherical solely without any consideration. In that case, they are often psyched that the East’s No. 1-seeded Bucks swept the Pistons in 4 video games, the West’s No. 1-seeded Warriors are about to place the no-chance Clippers to sleep and the remainder of the collection mainly have plodded alongside in keeping with script.
Since the NBA expanded its playoff subject to 16 groups 36 seasons in the past, solely 5 of 72 1-vs.-Eight collection have led to upsets; the final one was in 2012, when Derrick Rose tore an ACL in a Game 1 victory over the 76ers and, effectively, the remaining was heart-breaking historical past. If the Warriors or Bucks win the title in June, it’ll be the 24thtime in 36 years {that a} top-seeded group celebrates.
Want to wager towards Golden State, which goes for its fourth title in 5 years? You wouldn’t dare.
Yet we now have no earthly concept who’s going to lift Lord Stanley’s Cup rather less than two months from now, and that’s a wonderful, thrilling factor. We comprehend it received’t be the East’s No. 1-seeded Lightning — winners of an NHL record-tying 62 regular-season video games — who have been outscored 19-Eight over a four-game sweep by the Blue Jackets. And we all know it received’t be the West’s No. 1-seeded Flames, who have been bounced in 5 video games by the Avalanche.
As many as seven out of eight NHL first-round collection may consequence — relying upon what occurs in Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s Game 7s — in lower-seeded groups advancing.
“Yeah, it sucks,” stated the league’s main scorer, Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucharev, of his group’s early exit.
On the opposite, it’s every kind of superior.
I’M JUST SAYIN’
I don’t have a big sufficient piggy financial institution to gamble on sports activities, however generally it’s enjoyable to notice what bettors are flushing their hard-earned dough down the bathroom on.
As of Tuesday morning, the Warriors have been 1-2 favorites to win the NBA title. Not a lot drama there.
Stanley Cup odds, however, have been the last word crap shoot, with the closest factor to a “favorite” being the Blues at 5½-1. The Capitals (6-1), Blue Jackets (6½-1) and Islanders (6½-1) have been proper there with them.
At least, that’s what my pal Big Vig on the finish of the bar tells me.
• Jake Arrieta publicly criticized teammate Bryce Harper after the celebrity proper fielder was thrown out of the Phillies’ sport Monday —the 12th ejection of his profession. Arrieta additionally stated the dugout was “flat” and the protection “wasn’t good” in a 5-1 loss to the Mets.
Arrieta’s presence within the clubhouse vs. his presence on the mound: Which do the Cubs miss extra?
Discuss.
• Hey, what are you aware? Mike Krzyzewski and Duke have rounded out the nation’s top-ranked basketball recruiting class but once more. No offense to the bobbleheads at ESPN, however my ears are bleeding simply fascinated by it.
• Has the world gone barking mad?
Don’t reply that.
But I’m nonetheless attempting to…