Top dog in the regular season = early exit in playoffs.

[BOSSMANPC]

This is a long but very very interesting article about why being the top dog during the regular season in all of the top four major sports means SQUAT when it comes to the playoffs. Look at the trend over the last few years. Well worth the time to read......

It is the growing sports epidemic of the 21st century, where being the best team in the regular season of any of the four major professional leagues has never meant so little for the postseason. In fact, not only are the trophy cases of such teams likely to be empty at playoffs' end, but these regular season champions are lucky if they get past their first playoff opponent.

It happened again on Thursday, with the NBA regular season champion Chicago Bulls losing to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round, joining the NHL's Vancouver Canucks, NFL's Green Bay Packers and MLB's Philadelphia Phillies as the most recent examples of teams with the best record in the regular season failing to win the championship. It completes the first sports year ever where the top seed in all four leagues went one-and-done in the playoffs.

Chicago Bulls the latest to prove that regular season success means*less in the playoffs - The Bonus - SI.com

 

[Eddie_Shack]

I think we still need a bigger sample size for post lockout hockey, but it does look like parity is taking over. I just don't think the difference between an eight seed and a one seed is the same today as it was back in '95. I can't really comment on the other three sports as I'm not knowledgeable enough, but the salary cap has leveled the playing field in the NHL. A lot of playoff success in the NHL has come from teams who just got hot at the right time. I don't think the Preds would have bounced the Wings if Detroit would have saved their December-February tear for the spring. LA struggled all year but got hot coming into the playoffs. Stuff like that's hard to regulate. Coaches need to keep their foot on the gas all year long, and those hot streaks need to come organically.

Like Dryden talked about in The Game, the Montreal Canadians of the 1970's dynasty desperately wanted to win every game, regular season or post season. To me, that's the only way to complete and keep your intensity up. I'm sure it makes it all the more maddening when some low seed with less talent "on paper" comes along and rolls over you.

 

[Taz_Hokie]

In Chicago's defense, they did lose one of the best players in the league and then also lost another big piece of their game when Noah went down. I know injuries happen and it's a poor excuse, but I'd have to think if Rose stayed in the game, they would have run away with the series.

 

[Comeds]

If the top seeds had an automatic win they could use at any time, this wouldn't be happening.

 

[BOSSMANPC]

If the top seeds had an automatic win they could use at any time, this wouldn't be happening.

LOL, I think I heard an idea like that once. Rep !

 

[elocomotive]

If the top seeds had an automatic win they could use at any time, this wouldn't be happening.

It took me a minute to remember the reference... and then I laughed my fucking ass off. Hahahaha.

 

[dash]

James Mirtle posted this article a few days ago arguing that the regular season still matters when it comes to the ultimate prize. Since the lockout, here are the final four teams and the Stanley Cup winner (bolded):

2006: E2, E4, W6, W8
2007: E1, W1, W2, E4
2008: W1, E2, W5, E6
2009: W2, E4, W4, E6
2010: W1, W2, E7, E8
2011: W1, W2, E3, E5

Why regular season success still matters in the NHL - The Globe and Mail

 

[Eddie_Shack]

Is it possible that the Oilers and Islanders read this article a few years ago and have been taking it to the extreme?

 

[naslundfan19]

In Chicago's defense, they did lose one of the best players in the league and then also lost another big piece of their game when Noah went down. I know injuries happen and it's a poor excuse, but I'd have to think if Rose stayed in the game, they would have run away with the series.

I agree with all of that.

 

[Destroydacre]

In Chicago's defense, they did lose one of the best players in the league and then also lost another big piece of their game when Noah went down. I know injuries happen and it's a poor excuse, but I'd have to think if Rose stayed in the game, they would have run away with the series.

In basketball I don't think it's a poor excuse at all. In all the four major sports, no individual star has more of a consistent impact on a team's performance than in basketball, IMO.

 

[sherbert1421]

In Chicago's defense, they did lose one of the best players in the league and then also lost another big piece of their game when Noah went down. I know injuries happen and it's a poor excuse, but I'd have to think if Rose stayed in the game, they would have run away with the series.

agreed. i don't think we can really include the bulls in this discussion because of the injuries

James Mirtle posted this article a few days ago arguing that the regular season still matters when it comes to the ultimate prize. Since the lockout, here are the final four teams and the Stanley Cup winner (bolded):

2006: E2, E4, W6, W8
2007: E1, W1, W2, E4
2008: W1, E2, W5, E6
2009: W2, E4, W4, E6
2010: W1, W2, E7, E8
2011: W1, W2, E3, E5

Why regular season success still matters in the NHL - The Globe and Mail

the only advantage to being successful in the regular season is having that home ice advantage. and as we have seen this year especially, home ice has meant absolutely nothing.

it's not like in basketball where home court really seems to be an advantage or in football where the top seeds have a 1st round bye. but even in the nfl though, we have seen the wildcard teams win superbowls recently.

 

[dare2be]

In basketball I don't think it's a poor excuse at all. In all the four major sports, no individual star has more of a consistent impact on a team's performance than in basketball, IMO.

That's because of the 4 major sports, basketball is the least "team" sport of them all.

/showboat