NLL Insider

It’s playoff time.  The time of year that players, coaches and media alike start throwing around clichés as if they had invented them themselves. 

In reading the various NLL Insider articles and making my own predictions, a few come to mind.  I am a big believer that during the National Lacrosse League regular season, it is typically the team that wants it more on any given night that walks away victorious.  When I say “wants it more” I mean the team that shows up focused, ready to work and willing to sacrifice themselves for the good of the team.

When the playoffs roll around, there are often a couple teams on the fringe that really don’t believe they have a shot at the Cup.  When the going gets tough, they will bow out and start their summer vacation early.  I was on a team once where a marquee player had a golf trip planned during the later stages of the playoffs.  Do you really think he was focused on winning it all?

Other than that, most players and teams step it up and are willing to give that extra effort to help their team advance.  Sometimes, inexperienced teams almost want it too much.  I can think back to 1998 playing for the Baltimore Thunder.  As the league transformed from the MILL to the NLL, the Thunder went from worst to first and we found ourselves squared off against the Wings in a best-of-3 series for the Champion’s Cup.  It was my first taste of the NLL Finals and I found myself a little too fired up.  Like the Bandits in 2006.  You’ve got to keep your emotions in check or they can get the best of you.  That usually comes with experience.

Who is peaking at the right time?  Success in the playoffs comes down to playing your best ball at the end of the season.  That’s why many believed the Knighthawks to be a viable contender if they only could have made the playoffs.  I believe any of the top 5 seeded teams have a legitimate shot:  Buffalo, San Jose, Minnesota, New York and Philadelphia.  When you look at the standings you have all four teams in the east with an identical record of 10-6.  San Jose and Colorado are right there at 9-7.  So which teams are peaking heading into this weekend’s matchups?

The answer to that is Buffalo and New York.  They have shown consistency and dominance over the second half of the season.  Buffalo has won 7 of 9 following their loss to the Rock on February 15th, (a turning point in their season I pointed out previously).  New York began the season 1-4, but has come together going 9-2 since their loss to Minnesota back on February 8th … very impressive. 

Meanwhile, Philly has only won 4 of their last 10 after a 6-0 start.  Likewise, the Swarm is 4-6 after their perfect 6 game opener.  San Jose has looked good at times but has been a coin flip (.500) in the second half of the season.  So although anyone can win on a given night, especially in a one-game winner-takes-all scenario, you’ve got to look to New York and Buffalo as the most talented and consistent teams down the stretch.

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