Monday night, the Stanley Cup final gets underway from Pittsburgh as the Predators battle the Penguins for hockey supremacy.
Later this week on Thursday, June 1st to be exact, the NBA Finals get going in Golden State as the Warriors and Cavaliers square off for the championship for the third straight season.
Obviously it's an awesome time to be a sports fan.
Die-hard hockey fans are excited for the Cup final, while die-hard hockey fans are more excited for the trilogy between the Cavs and Warriors.
Up to this point, the NBA playoffs have been significantly less entertaining than the NHL playoffs. In fact, Charles Barkley wanted to watch the Sens and Pens battle in Game 7 instead of the Cavaliers and Celtics game.
That said, as 'boring' as the NBA playoffs have been, the Finals will be more exciting and entertaining than the Stanley Cup final.
Hardcore hockey fans won't agree with that opinion, and that's fine, we'll try and convince you otherwise, but for the casual sports fan who loves watching hockey just as much as basketball, the hardwood will produce more excitement and entertainment, and here are four reasons why:
Buildup
Every fan has been waiting for the Finals to see these two teams battle again, and while the playoffs have been boring, they've actually made the Finals more exciting because everyone wants to see what's going to happen.
We knew at the beginning of the season a third straight Golden State/Cleveland Finals was a very good possibility, but waiting was the hardest part.
Like Christmas morning, though, fans finally will get what they've wanted since the Finals ended last year and that's exciting.
History
As we mentioned before, the Warriors and Cavaliers are facing each other for the third straight year in the NBA Finals, and while some may think it's boring for the same teams to face each other, we don't.
There's been trash talk, trolling and incredible on-court battles over the last three years, and all that emotion will be brought onto the court for the Finals.
Not only will the history between these two teams make the games that much more exciting, but the fact that history is on the line will, too.
LeBron James can win his fourth ring and win his second against arguably the greatest team of all-time. Conversely, the Warriors can bolster their case to be the greatest team of all-time with a second championship in three years.
Because so much is on the line, the games will mean that much more and be more exciting, and although Sidney Crosby can solidify his legacy with a third Cup win, it won't move the needle very much in terms of greatest of all-time debates.
Emotional Investment
Even if you only like basketball a little, chances are you have an opinion on the Golden State Warriors, also known as the NBA's team of villains, and LeBron James.
If you're a LeBron hater, you want to see him struggle and Golden State win, but if you despise Durant, Curry and the super team that is the Warriors, then you want to see James destroy them.
Either way, you're a lot more emotionally invested in the NBA Finals than you would be in the Stanley Cup final that features a team in Nashville that is in the final for the first time.
Sure, some fans may hate Sidney Crosby, but the LeBron, Durant, Curry, Warriors love and hate is much stronger, and as long as you're emotionally invested in something, you'll be entertained watching it unfold.
Star Power
The Penguins and Predators have a ton of stars on their rosters, including the best player in the world in Sidney Crosby.
The Warriors and Cavs, however win the star power battle, and it's not even close.
LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Kyrie Irving are top-twenty players in the NBA.
We're not saying the Stanley Cup final won't be incredible because trust us, it will, but because of these four things, the NBA Finals will be more exciting in the end, especially if the series goes to seven games like last year.
