Sharks losing to Ducks has been done before

It amazes me that so many sports fans in the Bay Area are amazed that the San Jose Sharks, a No. 1 seed, are on the verge of losing to the Anaheim Ducks, a No. 8, in the first round of the playoffs. It’s so upsetting.

Hello!? Ring a bell? Wasn’t it just two years ago that a No. 1 seed with the best record in the league got knocked off by a No. 8 seed in the first round that, like the Ducks, had to finish strong just to make the playoffs? Need another hint? WE BELIEVE.

Now you remember. Your Golden State Warriors had to go 8-1 in April to sneak into the playoffs, clinching a berth in the last regular season game at Portland that allowed them to meet a 67-win Dallas Mavericks’ squad in the Western Conference quarterfinals.

It was the first time in 13 years the Warriors made the playoffs and the first time a No. 8 seed had beaten a No. 1 seed in a best-of-seven series in NBA history.

So why are we so shocked that the Sharks are doing a Nowitzki? The Ducks came into the series a hotter team than the Sharks and they’re a bad match-up for San Jose, just as the Warriors were for the Mavericks two years ago. Anaheim’s veteran players are outplaying the Sharks’ veteran players. The Ducks’ young players have raised their level of performance and intensity and San Jose’s have not.  Anaheim’s goalie has been just as good as San Jose’s.

And yet we are stunned that such an upset could occur!? Hey, shit happens.