RealGM

Why is homecourt advantage so powerful in the NBA? Of the four major sports, the NBA seems to favor the home team the least, yet by results the home court advantage seems the largest. In baseball, each field is different, so fielders play better at home, and the home team gets to bat in the bottom of the inning. In hockey the home team gets the last shift change, so can control the matchups. In football the crowd noise can disrupt the offense and cause false starts.

In basketball, the dimensions of every court are identical, an the only apparent advantage is the crowd can try to distract the opponents when they're shooting free throws. However studies have shown that free throw percentages home vs. road are the same, so this doesn't account for the difference.

So why do NBA teams do so well at home?

I believe that the league likes a built in home court advantage. After all, it's easier to sell tickets if you are probably going to see your team win.

Folks will tell you that players get pumped up by the crowd. I think a lot of it has to do with officiating. You simply get home cooking.

Well, it's been home cooking all series with the Jazz and Lakers.

In the games in Utah I coudl hardly believe how physical they were allowing Boozer to be. I mean, he was pushing and shoving and using his hands. Heck even grabbing and no call.

Overall, I thought that the best team in teh Utah/Laker series has won each game. Although I thought Utah played LA to a standstill in game #5, but, it wasn't quite good enough for a win.

jazzfan1971 wrote:I believe that the league likes a built in home court advantage. After all, it's easier to sell tickets if you are probably going to see your team win.

Folks will tell you that players get pumped up by the crowd. I think a lot of it has to do with officiating. You simply get home cooking.

Yeah, I mentioned that in the other thread as well. It's pretty ridiculous this year though, worse than I've ever seen it. The Lakers-Jazz game last night is evidence, at least in the 4th qtr...

Btw, ranks of home court in the 4 sports in terms of most valuable to least
1. baseball
2. football
3. basketball
4. hockey

What I don't like about it is its become so consistent this post season, that you know who is going to win the games.

IE last night, I had a bunch of stuff to do so I didn't bother to watch the Hornets/Spurs game, knowing that San Antonio would win. Yep they did, and like every game in the series the home team won in solid double digits.

Home teams are now 21-1 in this round. I'm sure the league likes having 7 game series, but when most of the games aren't that close its just weird.

jazzfan1971 wrote:I believe that the league likes a built in home court advantage. After all, it's easier to sell tickets if you are probably going to see your team win.

Folks will tell you that players get pumped up by the crowd. I think a lot of it has to do with officiating. You simply get home cooking.

I don't think that's entirely accurate, basketball is fast-paced, high-octane game most players seem to prefer a more fast-paced game, so when the crowd gets into it it makes it much easier for them(the home team), case in point: Golden State-Toronto Fans are the loudest crowds In the NBA, both are run N Gun teams, Coincidence? I think not.

Edit: The momentum of the game can change very, very quickly in basketball, you cant say the same thing about baseball or football.