There’s a reason sports fans make sure to set aside time to watch major events like the Superbowl, the World Series, or game seven of the NHL Playoffs, when they might not do the same for a regular season game.
Historically, playoffs bring forward a fresh approach to their respective sports. There’s countless examples of coaches and players alike stating their preparation for the playoff atmosphere. Here’s what makes playoffs feel so different both behind the bench and in the stands.
In contact sports like hockey or rugby, playoffs are characterized by a more physical approach to the game.
It’s for this reason many teams, such as the Queen’s Men’s Hockey team, look to embody a blue-collar approach throughout the regular season, to negate the effects of this increased physicality when playoffs roll around.
Increasing the physicality of a hockey game—or any contact sports game—is an effective way for players of varying skill levels to make an impact on the game, creating more problems and obstacles for more skilled players to have to overcome.
This physical approach is what has led notably lesser skilled teams in the NHL, like the Vegas Golden Knights and the Florida Panthers, to overcome some of the most offensively talented teams, such as the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Edmonton Oilers.
In non-contact sports, such as volleyball, baseball, and basketball, many teams try to approach the game with more defensive priorities. While you can’t increase the physicality and disrupt one’s rhythm in a sport like volleyball, players can buckle down and negate any sloppy or careless errors that arise from an over-aggressive approach to scoring points.
Basketball is quite an anomaly come playoff season. Although it isn’t a contact sport, physicality and aggression are huge contributors toward a team’s success. Think the Detroit Pistons and their dominant era in the late 80s and early 2000s, when they were deemed the bullies of the NBA.
Led by a team of aggressive, defensive core players who found success in never backing down from a fight, the Pistons were at times known throughout the league to be a tough and physical team who wouldn’t give away wins easily. This fear factor gave the team motivation to win by any means necessary. That they did, winning the championship in 1989.
Basketball is special in the potential one player might have to take over a game and lead the team to success. In the remainder of the OUA playoffs, watch for star players like Julia Chadwick, MIR ’24, who just won OUA defensive player of the year and was named first-team all-star, and Luka Syllas, ConEd ’24, who’s averaged over 25 points in his last three games, to be leaned on when games get close.
Overall, there are many contributing factors which reshape the identity of sport when playoffs arrive. Dire circumstances lead to an evolved game approach, and playoffs are that much more entertaining.
Make sure to get out and support the Gaels as much as possible during banner season, as the impact student support has on our Gaels can’t be overstated.
Tags
Aidan’s Angle, Physicality, playoffs, Regular Season
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