10-29-2013, 10:36 PM
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#1
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Lifetime Suspension
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Flame Country
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West vs East - Why does the Western Conference always dominate?
As I look at the overall standings today I notice something that's been a trend for many years now. You can look and see that the majority of the Eastern teams are on losing streaks, while the top 8 western teams are currently on winning streaks. Hell, the flames would be sitting comfortably in 7th with a game in hand if they played in the East.
The skill of the Eastern teams doesn't match the physicality of the Western teams. Is that really all this comes down to?
The Flames have come a long way in terms of size and physical play compared to last year and have had success because of it.
With the amount of interconference play this year it's going to be a battle for the Flames to climb the standings. One losing streak could be all it takes for the season to seem out of reach and the vets check out for the season.
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10-29-2013, 10:42 PM
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#2
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Scoring Winger
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The Oilers will keep the East competitive with the West
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10-29-2013, 11:10 PM
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#3
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Franchise Player
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The harsh and grueling altitude of western cities such as Calgary and Denver has created hard men, the likes of which no Eastern team has a chance against.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by JobHopper
The thing is, my posts, thoughts and insights may be my opinions but they're also quite factual.
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10-29-2013, 11:34 PM
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#4
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Farm Team Player
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Calgary
Exp: 
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Good thing there are only 14 teams in the west. If we still had Detroit and Columbus and moved Winnipeg out, it would be even worse.
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10-29-2013, 11:43 PM
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#5
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Lifetime Suspension
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Flame Country
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Quote:
Originally Posted by saillias
The harsh and grueling altitude of western cities such as Calgary and Denver has created hard men, the likes of which no Eastern team has a chance against.
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I must say this is the first year I've heard the altitude been used as such an excuse by the media and a certain coach who shall remain nameless. Quite amusing, but I have a feeling there's something else at work.
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10-29-2013, 11:45 PM
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#6
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Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Crowsnest Pass
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10-29-2013, 11:47 PM
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#7
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Scoring Winger
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: YYC-ish
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This is honestly why I think 14 in the west is fair. Not only do you have way more travel time in the west, but historically speaking, the west is a tougher conference.
I would imagine that any eastern conference team that heads out on a road trip west (hello NYR 9-game road trip) is just destined to fail with the traveling. If you look at their record on the roadtrip (3-6), all three wins came after extended rest days or very limited travel distance. I don't know what the W-L record of east teams away in the west, but it doesn't seem like it would be greater than equal? So right there you've already created a discrepancy.
Also think the inverse applies, western teams are so accustomed to difficult, grueling schedules, that when they roll into Ontario/NY/eastern seaboard, it's a cakewalk.
On-ice though, east teams tend to play more run and gun, relying on creating odd-man rushes and transition opportunities. Western play is more physical and much more chippy. Not as much polish, but a whole heck of a lot of grit. When you have teams that play the body, and are more defence-centric, I think you just drain the compete out of the other team by constantly pounding them.
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10-29-2013, 11:52 PM
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#8
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Franchise Player
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HOWITZER
This is honestly why I think 14 in the west is fair. Not only do you have way more travel time in the west, but historically speaking, the west is a tougher conference.
I would imagine that any eastern conference team that heads out on a road trip west (hello NYR 9-game road trip) is just destined to fail with the traveling. If you look at their record on the roadtrip (3-6), all three wins came after extended rest days or very limited travel distance. I don't know what the W-L record of east teams away in the west, but it doesn't seem like it would be greater than equal? So right there you've already created a discrepancy.
Also think the inverse applies, western teams are so accustomed to difficult, grueling schedules, that when they roll into Ontario/NY/eastern seaboard, it's a cakewalk.
On-ice though, east teams tend to play more run and gun, relying on creating odd-man rushes and transition opportunities. Western play is more physical and much more chippy. Not as much polish, but a whole heck of a lot of grit. When you have teams that play the body, and are more defence-centric, I think you just drain the compete out of the other team by constantly pounding them.
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Allow me to introduce you to MRCboicgy.
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10-30-2013, 12:20 AM
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#9
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NOT breaking news
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Calgary
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What's biology got to do with anything?
__________________
Watching the Oilers defend is like watching fire engines frantically rushing to the wrong fire
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10-30-2013, 01:14 AM
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#10
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tromboner
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: where the lattes are
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The Metropolitan division is the suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked. 7/8 teams below .500 (and that's counting OTL as ties). I'm assuming at some point they'll start playing each other and some of them will have to get better.
Last edited by SebC; 10-30-2013 at 01:30 AM.
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10-30-2013, 01:37 AM
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#11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by To Be Quite Honest
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Too much work. Opposite of Thanks.
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10-30-2013, 04:37 AM
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#12
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First Line Centre
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Fort St. John, BC
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames
I must say this is the first year I've heard the altitude been used as such an excuse by the media and a certain coach who shall remain nameless. Quite amusing, but I have a feeling there's something else at work.
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Adam Oates? Why does he need to remain nameless?
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10-30-2013, 06:27 AM
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#13
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Acerbic Cyberbully
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: back in Chilliwack
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames
...The skill of the Eastern teams doesn't match the physicality of the Western teams. Is that really all this comes down to?...
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HOWITZER
...east teams tend to play more run and gun, relying on creating odd-man rushes and transition opportunities. Western play is more physical and much more chippy. Not as much polish, but a whole heck of a lot of grit. When you have teams that play the body, and are more defence-centric, I think you just drain the compete out of the other team by constantly pounding them.
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Ι think this is stereotyped BS. Is there some hard data available that shows the "skill" v. "grit" disparity that supposedly prevails between Eastern and Western Conference teams?
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10-30-2013, 07:04 AM
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#14
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Crash and Bang Winger
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The fans and media in the East are dumber... er.. less patient.
More pressure on GMs to thrash.
Steve Simmons left Calgary for Toronto.
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10-30-2013, 07:10 AM
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#15
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Lifetime Suspension
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Halifax
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The only team that can go toe to toe with the top west teams from the east is Boston IMO.
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10-30-2013, 07:13 AM
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#16
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Vancouver
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I used to think it was because Western players are more accustomed to long travel and play better after long trips and eastern teams were tired after long trips.
I'd like to know how it is in other sports.
__________________
"A pessimist thinks things can't get any worse. An optimist knows they can."
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10-30-2013, 07:28 AM
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#17
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In the Sin Bin
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HOWITZER
On-ice though, east teams tend to play more run and gun, relying on creating odd-man rushes and transition opportunities. Western play is more physical and much more chippy. Not as much polish, but a whole heck of a lot of grit. When you have teams that play the body, and are more defence-centric, I think you just drain the compete out of the other team by constantly pounding them.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by To Be Quite Honest
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#Hockeyporn
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10-30-2013, 07:39 AM
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#18
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Nostradamus
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: London Ont.
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It's very strange. I am not an NBA fan, but the same thing seems to be true there. The top 8 tams in the West are always way above .500 and the 7 and 8 seeds in the East seem to always be below .500.
In baseball and football it is less so becuase the travel is so different.
In baseball you are there for 2-4 days (or more if there is an off day).
In football, it seems to work opposite as it's the west coast teams travelling east and playing at 1:00PM ET that generally have trouble.
__________________
agggghhhhhh!!!
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10-30-2013, 11:47 AM
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#19
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First Line Centre
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Section 120
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Quote:
Originally Posted by $ven27
The only team that can go toe to toe with the top west teams from the east is Boston IMO.
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I think Pittsburgh would compete with the top teams as well. Other than those two teams nobody else really competes. Toronto and Tampa Bay would be borderline playoff contenders in the West.
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10-30-2013, 04:41 PM
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#20
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Scoring Winger
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I think the time difference is key. Teams coming east they are used to playing at a certain time, and you get into a routine of playing at a certain time, and going to bed a certain time. You then come out west and instead of playing at 5 est, your playiing at 8 or 9 est.
Might not seem like a big deal but athletes, especially pro athletes are creatures of habit. They eat at pretty much the same time, go to sleep at the same time, have pre game naps at the same time, etc. They body gets into that routine and they essentially get jet lag.
My theory anyways.
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