NBA, NHL playoffs draw many, many fans rooting for their teams

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Tyler Yakimisky, assistant editor

With the NBA and NHL playoffs both starting in the middle of April and ending in late May, many sports fans countrywide are looking forward to this intriguing time of year for sports.

 The playoffs taking place at the same time is a usual occurrence, but this year there are many states with two teams in the playoffs. Those teams are the Washington Wizards and Capitals, Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks, Boston Bruins and Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Columbus Blue Jackets, Toronto Maple Leafs and Raptors, and California, who has three teams: San Jose Sharks, Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers.

 Sure this has happened before where a state may have an NHL team and NBA team with a team in the playoffs, but this year, there are more occurrences than there ever have been. This year there are six states with a team in the NHL and NBA playoffs. Last year, there were only four.

 This only begins to explain the magnitude of having these league playoffs at the same time. Many fans at MHS are looking forward to this time of year for many different reasons.

 “I look forward to this time of the year because every night there is always something to watch on tv with sports,” said Justin Binz, sophomore.

 Along with Binz, many said the same thing as him as they like this time of year because of the fact that every night there is at least one game on TV.

 Although some may not be happy with the four-game sweep of the Blackhawks which led to a very early, unexpected exit, or the blown series lead by the Bulls, they’re still optimistic about other teams they’re rooting for.

 “In about fifth grade I started playing basketball and I saw myself being drawn to watching James Harden more and more because he was aggressive to the rim, which is how I played,” said Alexander Lentsch, sophomore.

 This just shows how the game of basketball goes beyond the TV. Teens more and more are making connections between themselves and NBA players.

 Lentsch also wants the Rockets to go far because they are his favorite team in the NBA because they play as a team and are fun to watch.

 However, with the NHL, many fans are rooting for the teams playing against their most hated team. Since many MHS students are fans of the Blackhawks, they were rooting for the Blues to beat the Predators and then they prefered the Oilers or Ducks to eliminate the Blues since both the Predators and Blues come out of the Blackhawks part of the bracket.

 Although, the Predators advanced, many students are now focusing their attention on the unique matchups awaiting for us in the Western and Eastern Conference finals like the rematch of last years Predators v. Ducks series that went to seven games, which the Predators won.

“I don’t really watch hockey that much, but the matchups this year have made me watch it more than usual,” said Hannah Stanley, freshman.

 As many playoffs will come and go the following years, many MHS students always seem engaged to watch these games no matter the teams in it.