MVP of Game 5: The Crowd

[newdusk]

I live and work in LA right now (not a lot of other options for what I do for work). I was listening on the radio first and when the Celtics were down 10 the crowd seemed to wake up and will this team to win. I managed to get to a bar for overtime to and the volume was muted but I swear I could still hear that Garden crowd.

What I love the most about the Boston crowd is that we can create that we can really fuel the momentum shift rather then just go along with it. I remember game 6 of the ECF in 02 it was the same way nobody left the stadium come the fourth quarter we all just had the feeling something special was going to happen.

So my hats off to whoever was at that game. I know it wasnt just the scoreboard or the guy in the sound booth driving you.

(we don't need no freakin' noise meter)

[GeoDim]

I think that the crowd intangibles are overrated, especially for experienced teams.  Elite players, such as MJ, Kobe, LBJ etc. seem to even feed off of an opposing crowd's negativity as much, if not more than their homecourt crowd's support.  As long as you've got a packed building, I think that both teams can feed off of the energy in one way or another.

The biggest home advantage in sports is probably in baseball, where the actual dimensions of the field change, depending on where you're playing. 

I hear what you're saying though.  When you've got to overcome a large deficit, the support from your home crowd may be that extra boost you need.

[xmuscularghandix]

i was at game 5, do i get a trophy for this?

[PierceMVP08]

I live and work in LA right now (not a lot of other options for what I do for work). I was listening on the radio first and when the Celtics were down 10 the crowd seemed to wake up and will this team to win. I managed to get to a bar for overtime to and the volume was muted but I swear I could still hear that Garden crowd.

What I love the most about the Boston crowd is that we can create that we can really fuel the momentum shift rather then just go along with it. I remember game 6 of the ECF in 02 it was the same way nobody left the stadium come the fourth quarter we all just had the feeling something special was going to happen.

So my hats off to whoever was at that game. I know it wasnt just the scoreboard or the guy in the sound booth driving you.

(we don't need no freakin' noise meter)

TP for your post.  I was actually going to start this thread myself but have been too busy to do so.  Some might underestimate the importance of the crowd but I thought it was imperative and has been in the past.  Go back and watch the game, the Celtics were dead in the water before the crowd got into it.  They were pretty bad the whole game, understandably due to what was going on, but they went up several notches in the fourth and it almost felt like they willed the Celts back into the game. You can tell the exact time the crowd rachets up and the game changes.  Obviously, the players executed the comeback, but they clearly fed off the energy of the crowd.  Unlike what was stated above, basketball is the only sport where homecourt/field/ice really makes a difference.  The crowd is closest to the players in basketball and the stadium is smaller so noise carries.  This has the ability to disrupt plays and get under players skins.  Tell me the crowd didn't affect Brad Miller's free throws and you would be lying.

In the fourth quarter, that crowd was better than any crowd last year except for the finals and was reminiscent of "the jungle."  Perhaps only Denver last night has been better throughout the whole playoffs.  I've been complaining a whole lot about our crowds ever since last year because I remember how crazy it was in 2002, 2003, and 2005.  In game 5, they were great and played a large role in the game... No doubt about it.

[jdpapa3]

That crowd was great. In fact, the crowd started the chants a few times and the jumbotron prompts actually messed up the rhythm of the "lets go celtics" or "D-fense" chants. They really need to fix the timing on their jumbotron.

They did a great job with the in-game entertainment, though, with the video clips at the right times. The jack nicholson "you can't handle the truth", KG with about 1 minute left telling the fans to get up, Braveheart, and Predator clips.

[PierceMVP08]

That crowd was great. In fact, the crowd started the chants a few times and the jumbotron prompts actually messed up the rhythm of the "lets go celtics" or "D-fense" chants. They really need to fix the timing on their jumbotron.

They did a great job with the in-game entertainment, though, with the video clips at the right times. The jack nicholson "you can't handle the truth", KG with about 1 minute left telling the fans to get up, Braveheart, and Predator clips.

I really hate the in game entertainment at the Celts game.  There is no need to for the jumbotron to start the "Lets go Celtics" chant.  The fans made that up and did a perfectly good job of doin it at the right moment.  My favorite moments are when the crowd get so loud with the chant that the Celtics finally stop music and let them go.

The music has gotten so loud at the Garden that it drowns out the crowd and many times is responsible for quieting it down rather than pumping it up.  The crowd does not cheer through time outs anymore.  After a big play, they go crazy, the music quiets them during timeouts, and then maybe they get crazy again.  I really hate that.  We need to go throwback and go strictly organ.  We have enough die hard fans who don't give a lick about giveaways or loud music.

[jchen1731]

Have to disagree to certain extent!

Crowd is absolutely fantastic in the last 5 minutes of regulation and in overtime. I have rarely been to a celtics game where the fan in the lodge stand up for 10 straight minutes!!

With that said, the crowd for the first 3 1/2 qtr is one of the worst i have ever been in the garden. there was absolutely no energy and arena was only 40% full when the game started (i hope it's because of 7pm start).

[connerhenry43]

i was at game 5, do i get a trophy for this?

no trophy, but i did give you a tommy point. 

i disagree with the above comment. players like mj, lebron, kobe do pick up their games on the road in hostile places, but those guys are a one in a million. larry bird always said it is easy to play at home, it is a select few who can do it on the road.

[PierceMVP08]

Have to disagree to certain extent!

Crowd is absolutely fantastic in the last 5 minutes of regulation and in overtime. I have rarely been to a celtics game where the fan in the lodge stand up for 10 straight minutes!!

With that said, the crowd for the first 3 1/2 qtr is one of the worst i have ever been in the garden. there was absolutely no energy and arena was only 40% full when the game started (i hope it's because of 7pm start).

Like I said, the crowd was terrible up until the fourth and overtime and has been through the series and last year as well.  I attribute it to all the bandwagon and corporate fans who flooded the Garden and don't know what a crowd is supposed to be like.  How many of the true fans, such as those who are on here all the time, get to make it out to these games?  Very few.  The crowd at the Garden isn't representative of the overall fans.  Just look back at 2002 and those crowds were ridiculous throughout the games.  Back then the celtics were not trendy and mostly true fans were in the stands.  When they show the crowd now, there are times you see more women than men.  Lots of them older women or young girls who I don't believe are the true fans.

[papa shuttlesworth]

In the crowd's defense (since I was in it), 7pm start times are tough.  I try to get to the Garden at least 30 minutes early to playoff games and I still could only get to my seat a few plays into the game.

But the energy after Ray fouled out was amazing.  It was like everyone said "Enough of this, they need our help."

Also, I agree about the PA killing some of the crowd's intensity.  There were a few times where a loud chant was stopped cold after 30 seconds because it was time to play a song.  I wish they used more discretion.