Steve Gann
Sandra 1Home Court Dominance in Playoffs
May 19th 2008 00:54
Home court advantage in the NBA playoffs has been vital to victories in the second round. Only two teams have won a game on the road, the Detroit Pistons and the Los Angeles Lakers. They both won the series clincher in their opponent’s gym. With Boston Celtics just bettering the home team’s record, New Orleans Hornets has to be the clear favorite on Sunday. Boston’s win put the home team’s record at 22-2.
Boston was the regular season’s best road team with a record of 31-10 away from the TD Banknorth Garden. They still have yet to win a game on the road, what they have going for them is that they will have home court advantage throughout the playoffs. They also have yet to lose a game at home so the home court advantage could potentially bring them home the championship without winning a single road game.
Why is this trend taking place? There has never been such dominance of the home court in the NBA playoffs. Is it the fans, the players, the referees or a combination of all three? In recent years I have not seen home crowds get so into the game like this year. It started last year with the Golden State Warriors making the playoffs. That was the loudest I have heard an NBA crowd in years. Their home crowd reminded me of a college home crowd during any of their games. They seemed to stand throughout the game with a sea of white towels looking like waves throughout the crowd.
This year it seems as though all the home crowds are following in the Warriors foot steps. Most noticeably is the Hornets crowd where the Hornets are undefeated in the post season. A number of players regardless of playoff experience just seem much more comfortable with playing at home. Many players might tell you that it is the referees but the calls usually even out in the end.
So the fans seem to be the biggest reason for the domination the home teams have been having. If this is the case we shall see the Hornets move onto face the Lakers in the western conference finals. Which is my prediction for the Hornets to move on, Hornets by 8 in game seven.
Boston was the regular season’s best road team with a record of 31-10 away from the TD Banknorth Garden. They still have yet to win a game on the road, what they have going for them is that they will have home court advantage throughout the playoffs. They also have yet to lose a game at home so the home court advantage could potentially bring them home the championship without winning a single road game.
This year it seems as though all the home crowds are following in the Warriors foot steps. Most noticeably is the Hornets crowd where the Hornets are undefeated in the post season. A number of players regardless of playoff experience just seem much more comfortable with playing at home. Many players might tell you that it is the referees but the calls usually even out in the end.
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