For me,in recent years,the NBA has become a league that hasn’t excited me very much. But you know what has? The NHL. Even though my Edmonton Oilers weren’t a very good squad in the last decade, they are back to being relevant and making hockey even more exciting. But what league really has the upper hand? Let’s go to the Tale of the Tape!

Parity

NBA-There isn’t much of it. All the good superstar players happen to be on the same team together,which is something that never really happened during the days of Michael Jordan and Larry and Magic. When your team’s superstar icon player is up for free agency, chances are they may leave town to join up with a few superstars on another team and you’ll end up being so heartbroken that you’ll burn his jersey in a video that you’ll later post on YouTube. This dilutes the talent pool in the league and as a result, teams near the bottom get even worse and the eighth seed in the playoffs is a team that’s under .500.

NHL-You want it? They’ve got it. Not only are teams spread across the board and full of talent,but when it comes to the playoffs,you’ve got a chance. The eighth seed can knock off the top seed and even has a shot to win it all (See the 2012 Los Angeles Kings). And with the new Wild Card format, there’s even more scoreboard watching to do if your team is in a playoff spot or is on the bubble.

Advantage-NHL

TV Ratings

NBA-The NBA does score huge ratings nationally,especially come playoff time

NHL-The ratings are good,but in regional doses mainly in areas where hockey is more popular (i.e. Minnesota,Toronto,and the like)

Advantage-NBA

Uniforms

NBA-Some have sleeves for some reason and some are as classic as they’ll ever be. And some are about to have advertisements on them next season. Lucky us!

NHL-The uniforms are the same as they’ve ever been and there’s no advertisements on game day uniforms. The uniform of the NHL is sacred and fans don’t even want you to dare mess with it.

Advantage-NHL

Shootouts

NBA-When two teams are trading three-point shots and forgoing the idea of playing defense

NHL-When overtime ends in a stalemate and two teams have to try to score two more goals to get that extra point and the win

Advantage-Push

Fighting

NBA-It happens every once in a while,but when it does,the two guys who started it get fined and suspended

NHL-You can find a fight in at least one game every night and the guys involved get little more than time in a penalty box

Advantage-NHL

Championship Trophy

NBA-The Larry O’Brien trophy which is given to a team every year and they get to keep it. Instituted in 1977.

NHL-The Stanley Cup which goes from team-to-team every year and is the oldest trophy in sports

Advantage-NHL

Hard-to-pronounce player names

NBA-Giannis Antetokounmpo

NHL-Most of them

Advantage-NBA

Exciting plays

NBA-A half court shot at the buzzer

NHL-A hat trick

Advantage-Push

Fan interaction

NBA-Waving those thundersticks when a player is at the free throw line

NHL-Chucking an octopus onto the ice

Advantage-NHL

Dull Part of the Game

NBA-The first 46 minutes of regulation. I mean,does anyone care unless it’s a blowout?

NHL-Icing. What is it good for? Absolutely nothing!

Advantage-NBA

Art

NBA-The embedded images of cities and the like on the court

NHL-The goalie’s mask

Advantage-NHL

So there you have it,the edge goes to the NHL. Hang in there,NBA,you’ve still got plenty of fans who love you and understand you. That’s it for this edition of Tale of the Tape!