NBA Second Round Playoffs Series: Home Sweet Home

Seven teams remain in the hunt for an NBA title.  The Detroit Pistons are the only team that has already advanced to the Conference Finals round. 

Based on the current trend of the home court advantage stranglehold, one would predict the L.A. Lakers, the Boston Celtics, and the New Orleans Hornets will move on.

At the time this article was written, only the Hornets and Spurs were guaranteed a game seven.  Boston and Cleveland have not played yet, nor have L.A. and Utah. 

Just assume that all three remaining series go seven, and the current trend of home wins remains.  Which team has the best chance of knocking the home court monkey off their back?

Let’s start with the Hornets and Spurs.  In this seven game set, New Orleans won their three home games by an average of 19.66 points per game. When San Antonio was home, they won by an average of 16.67 points per game. 

Judging by the point discrepancy in either arena, it would appear the home team is a lock to win.  That means New Orleans advances.  Remember these are pure, out the door numbers from the series so far.

It does not take into account the fact that San Antonio has been one of the most dominant teams in the NBA the last few years or that the Hornets have Chris Paul, a point guard that is a step ahead of just about everyone in the NBA.

Moving on to the Boston/Cleveland series.  Boston won their home games by an average of nine points per game, while Cleveland won by an average of 17.5 PPG. 

Boston sports the best home record of any team in the NBA, while Cleveland just lost their best outside shooter, Booby Gibson, for the series and probably the year.

The Lakers won each of their home contests by an average of 9.33 PPG versus Utah winning by an average of 6.5 PPG.  L.A. took Utah into overtime during one of their road contests.

Based purely on the numbers, L.A. has the best shot of not playing a game seven and beating Utah at home.  Cleveland lost by the least amount of points on the road, giving them the best chance at winning an away game seven.

So, after all is said and done, most likely all the home teams will be moving on, but three game sevens will give the underdogs something to root for. 

When it comes right down to it though, anything can happen in one game, home or away.