Americans only care about playoffs and not regular seasons

Americans only care about playoffs and not regular seasons
by Tex Francisco (2018-03-08 11:39:35)
Edited on 2018-03-08 11:41:21

In reply to: Americans want scoring and hate ties posted by mitquinn

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In domestic soccer leagues, with less than 40 games per season and where the winner of the regular season is considered the champion and where placement in the league determines relegation and Champions League qualification, ties are very consequential. I think part of the reason why the Euoropean domestic soccer league model works for them is that those leagues have no competition from other sports, unlike in the US where for many people basketball and hockey are an after thought until after the Super Bowl, which is fine because the playoffs are what really matter anyway.

In the NBA and NHL, and to a somewhat lesser degree the NFL and MLB, regular seasons mean very little. If your team is good enough to contend for the title, then making the playoffs is never in doubt. If your team is in a dog fight to make the playoffs, then they have virtually no shot of winning a game or series in the playoffs anyway, much less winning the whole thing.