Lakers: Home Court Disadvantage

[Bahku]

Is "Home Court" really an advantage? I honestly don't think so ... not as far as the Celtics are concerned.

We have been a very strong team on the road this year, and have beaten both Orlando and Cleveland in six games without home-court advantage.

Not only that, but Paul Pierce loves to play in his home-town of Los Angeles, and has traditionally had some fantastic games there.

I honestly feel it's about even ... but if the C's are playing their best ball, getting out on the break and stifling the Fakers on defense, I think we'll win this in less than seven games.



What do you think ... will having home-court help the Lakers?

[illestmcsgt]

For me, I see this team taking the Lakers to 5 games and showing that Thunder, Jazz, and Suns are just practice compared to us. Do any of them teams really play DEFENSE??? Their not physically or mentally prepared to face us in the Finals.

We have beaten three of the best teams while being the fourth seed out in the East. We going against the best team out in the West as the underdog and be one of the biggest upsets in history!!

[LarBrd33]

Home court advantage is HUGE in the Finals, because it's a 2-3-2 schedule instead of 2-2-1-1-1 ... meaning if we don't win it in 5, we will need to try to close it out in Los Angeles (last two games are in LA)

[Bankshot]

Celtics have road court advantage.

[Drucci]

Celtics have road court advantage.

Exactly.

Plus, if we win on the first games (or both ) on the road then the next 3 games are in Boston so it's huge.

[GreenFaith1819]

Yep - Homecourt Dis-advantange is correct.

The last time saw the Celtics this dominant on the road was 1985-86 Season.

We are 5 and 3 on the road this post season? (1-1 in MIA, 2-1 in CLE, 2-1 in ORL). That is 1986-ish.

I am confident that we can take one or two in LA.

LA is a Great Team - better than the 08 version.

But so are We.

[RMO]

Home court advantage is HUGE in the Finals, because it's a 2-3-2 schedule instead of 2-2-1-1-1 ... meaning if we don't win it in 5, we will need to try to close it out in Los Angeles (last two games are in LA)

Exactly.  I hate the 2-3-2 format as I think it gives another advantage to the team with the HCA.  First of all, it's hard enough to beat a team good enough to make it to the finals three times in a row but that's what you have to do in order to hold serve on your home court.  Second, the psychology factor is huge.  Lets say the road team takes one of two and then wins 3 and 4 on their home court.  If game 5 switches venues you have the team down 3-1 wondering if it's worth it to fly all the way back in what most likely will be a defeat.  In the 2-3-2 format they know they just need to win that one and the rest of the games will be on their own floor.

[Celtics17]

You could almost argue that the Finals format works against the home team. Sure, they get homecourt through the first 2 games, but then it evens up at game 4 with 2 being played on each court. Then, the 5th game actually gives the team with the 2nd best record the advantage and it's only evened out in game 6 and only is a homecourt advantage if it goes 7. Then again, odds suggest that it's very difficult to beat a good team 3 games in a row too.

[Birdbrain]

Not very much in fact most great NBA Champions of the past have won at least 1 game on the road during the Finals.

Boston 08
Boston 86
Boston 84
Boston 81

[Roy Hobbs]

We absolutely need to win one of the first two games.  From my recollection, only one team in history has swept its three games at home in the 2-3-2 format.  That means we need, at the very least, a split in LA.

If we come back from LA down 0-2, it's going to be very, very difficult to win this series.  Not impossible (the Heat did it against Dallas, with some officiating help), but extremely difficult.

[RMO]

We absolutely need to win one of the first two games.  From my recollection, only one team in history has swept its three games at home in the 2-3-2 format.  That means we need, at the very least, a split in LA.

If we come back from LA down 0-2, it's going to be very, very difficult to win this series.  Not impossible (the Heat did it against Dallas, with some officiating help), but extremely difficult.

Two teams.  Detroit in 2004 and Miami in 2006.  Regardless, getting one of two in LA is imperative.

[housecall]

My biggest concern is how quickly and much our injuried players recover from the last series by the time the finals began.LA didn't have to work as hard or got beat on as much by the Suns.If the C's have recovered health wise they can possibly take both games 1&2...just as they did aganist the Magic.

I really feel the Magic & Cavs are better teams than the Lakers .If we are clicking on all cylinders next Thursday we should win game 1.

[j804]

My biggest concern is how quickly and much our injuried players recover from the last series by the time the finals began.LA didn't have to work as hard or got beat on as much by the Suns.If the C's have recovered health wise they can possibly take both games 1&2...just as they did aganist the Magic.

Not if the zebras dont let it happen, ive got that real ugly feeling already.

[angryguy77]

I'm not a big fan of the format, but I do believe it favors the lesser seed. But its only a help if they can take one in LA. Going home with a tied series gives them a great opportunity to go back to LA with 2 chances to close it out. It also put immense pressure on LA to win both home games.

But with this team, I don't think 7 home games for LA could save them.

[wdleehi]

Celtics have the better team advantage.