Or it's the fact you're arguing a point against people who watched every single game. It's not an "insult" or a suggestion that you have no clue about hockey or any other such imagined insults you think I'm lobbing at you. It's a statement of fact that people who watch 100% of a team's games will (more often than not) have a better handle on that team that someone who hasn't watched as many games.
It's the same reason why I posted once in the Capitals series thread about Holtby should have started, but haven't insisted since many Caps fans argued that Grubauer was the right choice. I figure, okay, they've seen the Caps play all 82 games, so maybe, just maybe, they have a better take on the team than I do.
Pacing does not equal literally not putting an ounce of effort in any game this season. No one is saying Crosby was crap all 82 games, but it was clear that the same consistent work ethic he's been known for his entire career wasn't there nearly as much this season as in the past. He'd have one or two "vintage Crosby" games, then go on a 4 or 5 game stretch of looking like he was trying to compete with Kessel for laziest player.
And his defense DID suffer. This was the first year since his rookie year that he didn't end up as a plus (ended at even on the year). And while I realize +/- is a dubious stat, it showed that this season, more than any in his career since he was 18, that Crosby was on the ice for more goals against than he normally is.
As for those GOTY threads, Crosby's a talented guy. He's capable of scoring a highlight reel goal even in games where he was largely invisible.
