Patience Is A Virtue…Mostly
How much patience is required to build a championship contender?
Podcast
Where To Listen
Who Is Going To Step Up?
The most simple yet complex questions of the playoffs: who is going to step up?
The Ghosts Of Playoffs Past
The playoffs are a time to prove things are different from the past. As the Stanley Cup Playoffs continue, the remaining teams pull upon the levers necessary for success: star performances, depth scoring, goaltending, and luck. Is the past applicable to the present?
The Union Of Body & Mind
Professional sports are about finding the perfect equilibrium between body and mind. Certain athletes are currently fighting the physical component, while others are battling the mental. What does it look like when body and mind come together?
Gradually, Then Suddenly
To win a championship, a team must be willing and able to play in a variety of ways. What can be learned from the championship arcs of the Golden State Warriors and Tampa Bay Lightning?
The Margins Of Game 7
Seven different Game 7s (Bruins-Hurricanes, Lightning-Maple Leafs, Kings-Oilers, Penguins-Rangers, Stars-Flames, Bucks-Celtics, Mavs-Suns) were played over last weekend. What separated the winners from losers?
The Ascent Of Cale Makar
One of the most satisfactory aspects of fandom is following the arc of an athlete whose ceiling appears undefined. Over the last three seasons and change, Cale Makar has transformed into the best defenseman in hockey. What is his ceiling?
Injuries & Referees
The playoffs are where legacies are defined. The playoffs are also where the margins are tiniest. In a strange way, the championship aspirations of many teams boil down to injuries and referees.
What Is A Playoff Player?
There is nothing the sports world despises more than a star player with zero team championships to their name. What is the definition of a playoff player and who qualifies?
You Never Know How Long A Championship Window Is Open
When things are going well, the future always seems to extend to infinity. But just as quickly as a championship window opens, it can shut. Ask the 2002 Kings. Or the 2012 Thunder. Or the 2021 Jazz.
When Does Promise Turn To Stagnation?
Every year, one of the most interesting parts of the playoffs to monitor is this: who has room to grow, how do we give that to them, and when do we truly understand what a player is?
The Role Of Talent & Cohesion In The 2022 NBA Playoffs
For most, the world of professional basketball revolves around a simple team-building strategy: the accumulation of talent trumps everything. As we are seeing in the first round of the NBA playoffs, however, this is not always the case.
How Much Can One Player Impact A Specific Side Of The Ball?
In a team sport, situation matters. As teams downshift in the playoffs to small-ball lineups—maximizing their mobility and versatility—individual defenders are stressed in different ways. What is fair to ask of any one player?
You Cannot Measure Everything With Numbers
The playoffs are a pressure cooker. Some players are built to withstand adversity—others are not. Some possess an innate feel for what is required in each individual moment—others do not.