Celtics, Lakers add to home team’s dominance.  So here’s the question: is there any reason to think anything of this anymore?

SCOTT JACOBS

It was interesting before.  A fascinating case study at the beginning about why that home court edge just would not fail.  But now, it’s tiresome.  Aggravating.  Sort of boring in a tireless repetitive way.  Would somebody please win a road game?!?

No, not you Detroit.  You were the most unlikely candidate of any to be the one to break through on the road.  In a raucous Amway Arena in Orlando, with an injured Chauncey Billups sitting out, the Pistons not only came back from a 15 point deficit in the first half, bu withstood a furious Magic rally, to win a game they really shouldn’t have, 90-89. It was a fabulous game, one of my favorites this post-season.

But the saying there’s a first time for everything, is starting to feel like: there’s only a first time for somethings when they happen in the second round of the NBA Playoffs.

This is no longer just some funky coincidence.  It’s official: road teams have forgotten how to play basketball in gyms that don’t have their names etched into the sidelines. I could see why high schoolers, middle schoolers, or even travel teams might be up in nerves in front of a big loud biased crowd.  But since when does the NBA not know how to play on the road?

Boston is striving to become the first team to win an NBA title without winning on the road.  They’ve got a shot, they’re 3-0 in this round, 4-0 against the Hawks, and they’ve got home court throughout.  But, if they win a title without a road win, that would mean they’d have to go the maximum 28 games through the marathon that is the playoffs.  Not only has that never been done.  It probably never will be done, unless this whacky unexpected trend continues to the fullest degree.

But it’s no just Boston.

Take a look at the home teams in these playoffs and their regular season home records.  Maybe something is wearing off here.

The Celtics had 6 losses at home.  The Jazz had a league low four losses at Energy Solutions Arena.  The Spurs have a very good home record this year.  As does New Orleans.  And the list goes on and on.

So the question becomes: has the mot over-rated aspect in pro sports become more important then ever before?

The only team with three road wins this post-season is Detroit as far as my count goes.  And they’re the only team in the league sitting comfortably at home waiting for the excruciatingly long second round to end.  So is there a trend?  Is there writing between the lines, that makes Detroit the favorites… to win it all?

I wouldn’t go that far just yet, but I was very impressed that Detroit was able to win a road game without their floor leader.

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves though.

New Orleans still has a chance to end the defending champs hopes in San Antonio.  Boston can dethrone the defending champs in Cleveland.  The Lakers can beat the team that just doesn’t lose very often at home in the the heart of Mormon Nation.

But the way these playoffs are going, I think it’s more likely that Delonte West scores 30 on the Celtics than Boston breaking through on the road.  I think Tim Duncan will have 11 assists before the Hornets close out the Spurs in Texas.  As for the Jazz, are they really going to lose a home game to a hobbled Kobe?

But that’s the thing.  You keep thinking that these road teams are going to break through. Yesterday the Cavs were up by 14 against Boston in the first half when they forgot how to play.  The Jazz had ample opportunities to take down the Lake Show yesterday, but could never get the lead.  And the Hornets were rolling along in game three when they just disappeared late in the third quarter.

So the road record and home disparity hits an incredible number.

Boston: 3-0 home, 0-2 road
Cleveland: 2-0 home, 0-3 road
Detroit: 3-0 home, 1-1 road
Orlando: 1-1 home, 0-3 road
Los Angeles: 3-0 home, 0-2 road
Utah: 2-0 home, 0-3 road
New Orleans: 3-0 home, 0-2 road
San Antonio: 2-0 home, 0-3 road

It totals up to a tidy little number.  One growing like the plague.

The road team is 1-19  in 20 games in this second round.  At school you could never pass a test with numbers like that.  But in the NBA, you’ve got a chance to win a ring if you’ve got the home court and do nothing on the road.

For the record, that’s a 5% road winning percentage.

I don’t say this often: but thanks Detroit.  For setting the bar!

Popularity: 2% [?]