Joe S. said:
Which is fine. I feel there are people out there that feel that just because they are optimistic about something, that it becomes a 100% lock to happen, and then the disappointment sets in when it doesn't and that disappointment is higher when the expectations don't match the outcome. It's something that I find funny about sports, like there is some sort of confirmation happening with the wins and loses.
If you team is good, well then they are 100% going to win, even though you still have to play the games, so when the team loses, that becomes unfathomable, even though there is tons of historical precedent that shows that nothing in sports is ever guaranteed.
For me personally, this is how I view the Leafs. I am encouraged by their season. They seem to have gotten an handle on a lot of the things that have bitten them in years past. They seem to be able to play a patient game and let the game come to them, rather than getting frazzled when they aren't able to dictate the terms of play. That is all good.
However, it all resets when the playoffs start. Even if the Leafs had this proven playoff track record, which they certainly don't, I am always leery going into a series because all it takes is for a player on the other team to get hot in a way where the opposing team just doesn't have an answer for them, and suddenly things go off the rails quickly.
It's one of the things that I find interesting about hockey as a sport. A team can be successful around one player for short bursts provided that player is capable of being the most dominate player on the ice, but then there is also this team aspect to the game where a really solid team, with good to great talent sprinkled throughout the lineup, can accomplish things as well.