Playoff Parity

[HenrikRules40 14]

Yesterday while I was being lectured by someone about something (I don't remember nor do I care) I was pondering a certain trend I've noticed in the playoffs. It seems to me that round 1 is usually hard fought and rarely do teams have a strangle hold on the other. However, as the rounds progress, there seems to be a counterintuitive parity that emerges.

Example:

This year, in round 1, there was only one sweep. All of the other series were pretty competitive. However, in round 2, three of the four series are at 3-0. So my question is...why?

Theory:

When round 1 starts everyone is just coming off the regular season where on any given night any team can win. There is a confidence and an excitement about the playoffs which leads to adrenaline rushes that can overcome adversity, injuries, fatigue, and what not. As round 2 comes around, injuries and fatigue begin to show their toll.

I was just wondering what you thought.

[Reds4Life 51]

Yeah, it's weird. I do not remember playoffs where so many teams were up 3:0.

[rick zombo 3,739]

What's weird is how great all four of these series were supposed to be.

[Doggy 130]

I'm a firm believer that higher seeded teams have a tougher time adjusting to the do or die nature of the playoffs. It's been said many times before that lower seeded teams have been in playoff mode for some time before the beginning of the postseason and I believe this provides a slight advantage over these higher seeded teams and provides for tighter series' in the first round.

This could be one of the factors that cause the seemingly decreasing parity between opponents as the playoffs progress.

[va Winger 0]

What's weird is how great all four of these series were supposed to be.

Whats great is that the Wings learned from the Nashville series. I had a really good feeling about the road to the cup after we finished off the Preds. I never thought the Av's had a chance to match our skill or our determination. It seems to me that everthing is coming together with forwards flying D covering and Ozzie backstopping......I don't hink a team in the league can match our intensity or our skill level.........................

[toby91_ca 620]

Well, I don't think you can look at the 3 of the 4 series that are currently at 3-0 and suggest they are not competitive.

Wings vs. Avs - Wings are clearly the better team and combine that with the fact that the Avs are hurting. The series is not as competitive as everyone would have hoped.

Stars vs. Sharks - Series is 3-0 for Dallas, but this is probably the most competitive series out of the 4.

Pens vs. Rangers - Series is 3-0 for the Pens and they have been the better team, but it is more competitive than the 3-0 series lead would suggest. The Rangers really took it to them last night, but the Pens did show that they can really burn you in quick fashion.

[betterREDthandead 58]

Coincidence, I think. I don't think lower seeds being in playoff mode before the playoffs has anything to do with it. Dallas is a 5 seed and is rolling the Sharks; Colorado's a 6 seed and is getting rolled. Much the same is true in the East. No correlation, IMO.

I think, in the Wings' case, we've been lucky to be healthy and facing an inferior team that isn't - bad combo for the Avs. The Pens are a juggernaut that drew a dysfunctional team in the first round. The Sharks, who the hell knows what their problem is.

[gcom007 1,465]

Like Babcock said, you get past the first round you can settle down and get focused on just playing your game. In the Wings case, their game is strong. They'll still have holes to patch up from this series, but they worked some out from last series like the Power Play so I don't doubt that they'll get it under control for the Semi's.

[VM1138 1,921]

Like Babcock said, you get past the first round you can settle down and get focused on just playing your game. In the Wings case, their game is strong. They'll still have holes to patch up from this series, but they worked some out from last series like the Power Play so I don't doubt that they'll get it under control for the Semi's.

Exactly. And I think it's fair to say now, since we'll most likely eliminate Colorado at some point, that the image of Detroit being a playoff choker can go out the window? Two consecutive trips to the Conference Finals?

Hopefully next year we won't hear the repetitive "Detroit won't make it out of first round" garbage.