Things are about to get very interesting for sports fans in Canada, certainly for those in Saskatchewan.
The National Basketball season wraps up today, (Apr. 11), and that means the playoffs are about to begin, Apr. 14 in the case of the NBA.
The Toronto Raptors have had their best season ever, and that holds promise of an extended playoff run. In fact, anything less than a conference final will be widely viewed by most Raptor fans as a major disappointment, and there are many suggesting a step further, a berth in the league championship.
There have been times the Raptors have faltered, but they came up huge with a 96-78 win over Boston last Wednesday in what was something of a statement victory, as the Celtics were pushing to catch the Raps in the standings.
A 92-73 win over playoff bound Indiana Friday clinched first overall in the east.
With two games to go, the Raptors could finish the season with 60-wins, if they beat Miami tonight (Wednesday).
As for the upcoming playoffs, as of Tuesday morning, the Raptors could face Washington, Miami or maybe even Milwaukee, depending on the last games of the season. Should they advance against any of those teams, they are likely to face Cleveland. All roads to better things in the NBA east must pass through Lebron James and the Cavs, and this just could be the year the Raps take that step.
The Stanley Cup awaits
In the National Hockey League, the regular season wrapped up on Saturday.
The playoffs start tonight and for most Canadian sport fans this is the sport they follow closest, so it’s a big day.
Locally, many have become fans of the Winnipeg Jets, in part because they are the most local of franchises, meaning fans can make the pilgrimage to the Manitoba city for games, and in part because the 2017-18 edition of the Jets has been a very exciting team to watch.
In the league west, the Jets go into the playoffs as one of a likely trio of frontrunners, the upstart Vegas team demanding at least a modicum of expectation, and Nashville, with the best record out this way.
It will certainly fill many of my evenings as I am a definite Jets fan, and I’m hoping for a good run, although a loss to Nashville would certainly not shock me, and they do seem destined to meet when I analyze things.
The Jets should certainly advance through the first round against Minnesota.
It is interesting that five of the eight teams in the playoffs in the Western Conference have never won a Stanley Cup.
By contrast, only two of the teams in the Eastern Conference haven’t won the Holy Grail of the sport, not including my Toronto Maple Leafs who just seem to have never won the Cup. I was seven the last time they won the league, making them tied with St. Louis for the longest drought in the NHL.
The Leafs will keep me focused on the Eastern Conference too, at least for as long as they last. Realistically, the Leafs could fall in the opening round as they face Boston, a series that arguably is as close to call as any in the opening round.
The young Leafs have also shown spurts this season where a Conference final, or beyond, would seem possible.
Imagine this country if the Jets and Leafs were in the Stanley Cup final. The country might literally stop everything to watch that final, which honestly could be hugely exciting based on the talent on the two rosters.
I give the Jets a better chance at the final than the Leafs, although Nashville has to be favoured in the west going in.
The Rush
I would be remiss as a sports fan if I did not mention our Saskatchewan Rush, who clinched first place overall in the National Lacrosse League Saturday.
The NLL regular season continues through April, wrapping up on the 29th.
The Rush certainly head to the playoffs with high expectations, having won the championship in 2016, and losing in the final last year. The team again looks destined to top the west, so they will watch as Colorado and Calgary play a one-game semi-final match-up, taking on the winner in a one-game division final.
The Champions Cup will be a best-of-three series, and the Rush realistically should be in it.
