Is Home Court Advantage out of control..?

[QuiGon]

The home-court-advantage thing is in play for an awful lot more teams than just the Celtics. Home teams are 20-1 in the conference semi-finals. Incredible.

Even the first round wasn't exempt from a ridiculous home court advantage; home teams went 30-14 in those rounds. So they're a combined 50-15. That's just too much.

[celtsox34x]

Why? Why is it a bad thing that the home team is winning? I think its great. Game seven's. Its not like all of them have been blowouts. Some of these games have been right down to the wire. Just the visiting team can't get over that hump. Maybe the Lakers and the Celtics will screw the entire system and win tonight in their game sixs. Go Boston!!

[QuiGon]

Why? Why is it a bad thing that the home team is winning?It may or may not be a bad thing... it really depends on the reason why home teams are so dominating. If it's a simple matter of teams playing better at home, then that's no problem. But I have to say that more and more this year, there seems to be an officiating bias in favor of home teams.

For example, in the Utah-LA series the Lakers average 19 more free throws per game than the Jazz for the games in LA. But the Jazz average 6 more free throws per game for the games played in Utah.

So if we average it all out, two identical teams playing each other experience a swing of 25 free throw attempts per game based on where the game is played. That's a bit ridiculous. And considering how close those games have been, that ain't teams deciding a winner, that's refs deciding a winner.

[celtsox34x]

Its a trap for officials. Everything comes down to the officials. Flopping, home advantage, and evan superstar special treatment.

[Patti37]

Watching tonight's game I am thinking it is start power that gets a player the calls.

[QuiGon]

Watching tonight's game I am thinking it is start power that gets a player the calls.I think your're right... and I did some checking and my little theory about home-court officiating bias just doesn't really hold up in the other 3 conference semis... but man, it would be nice if they treated LeBron like they do every other player on the court.

[QuiGon]

OMFG that offensive foul which should have been blocking against Lebron James on defense was the worst f*cking call I have ever seen. It really isn't going to matter, but you have got to be kidding me.

[soxin07080910]

its ridic right now