NBA Playoffs: Home Court Advantage Plays Major Role in Round Two

Michael Becerra — Sun, 11 May 2008 20:31:25 -0400

82 games.

5 1/2 months.

One purpose. Finish first.

So far through 15 games in the Conference Semifinals, the home team is 14-1. Although the league would like to see this pattern continue all the way to the Finals, there is a possibility it will not.

Celtics vs. Lakers: can't you just imagine the grin on David Stern's face from ear to ear? Although these teams have proven to be the best in their respective conferences in the regular season, they may not be the best teams in the playoffs. So far, only Detroit can claim that at this point. Who's next?

Teams need to prove that they can win on the road, to go into a hostile environment and execute to perfection. When that crowd is at its peak, the bounce pass must find the hands of a teammate.

When the home team goes on an 8-0 run, the visitors must be able to hold their composure enough to answer back with a run of their own. At this point of the playoffs, if you can't do that, it's time pack it up and strike that pose for the famous "Gone Fishin'" picture.

Out of the remaining eight teams in the playoffs, only three lack the experience to really understand this. Two have home court advantage in their series, and the other has fallen behind in its series and must win twice on the road in order to advance.

Boston may be loaded with All-Stars, but the Celtics are all classified as underachievers. Since 2002, Boston's All-Stars have each advanced past the first round only once each, with the exception of Kevin Garnett who has never advanced past the first round.

The remaining two teams, oddly enough, have never advanced past the first round or even made the playoffs since 2002. Ironically, it was the Charlotte Hornets advancing to the semifinals against the Magic in 2002. New Orleans looks like the one team that has the best chance to advance, but they are still fighting with a proven San Antonio team that has won four championships in the last nine years.

After Sunday's game in San Antonio, the Hornets find themselves in unfamiliar territory. They are in a game that may define their season as either a failure or possibly a turning point of their future. The Spurs have been in this position before and the Hornets have not.

This is the most important game of the season for both teams, but which team will show that they understand that? If New Orleans loses hold of its home court advantage, look for the defending champions to close out at home on Thursday. If you put blood in the water, the sharks will attack.

Detroit seems to be in control of its series and will probably advance on Tuesday at the Palace. They will await the winner of the Boston-Cleveland series, which looks to also go six or seven games, depending on whether LeBron wants to show up.

If we are lucky enough, we are on the verge of two great conference battles between two proven championship teams, one team full of All-Stars, and this year's MVP.

Home court advantage in the Conference Finals is just a technicality, as the last two rounds of the playoffs come down to who wants it more. In the end, we will see a rematch of the 2005 NBA Finals between the Pistons and Spurs. Maybe this year, America will tune in.

Why Everyone Hates the San Antonio Spurs

Michael Becerra — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:15:11 -0400

In the midst of the most recent series victory by the San Antonio Spurs many people have posted why they "hate" the Spurs. So let's put everything on the table now.

I was born and raised a Spurs fan and I don't think that is going to change anytime soon. Do I think any team can beat the Spurs in a seven game series? No. Did I mention I'm from San Antonio? So I will have a biased towards the Spurs in most cases.

The Spurs are boring. This is usually the first argument when it comes to why people hate the Spurs. Outside of San Antonio this may be right but when you break down the San Antonio Spurs you couldn't be more wrong.

Tim Duncan is the best power forward to play the game for the past decade, if not ever. Manu Ginobili is one of the most dynamic players to lace up his sneakers in recent years and Tony Parker is one of the fastest and best point guards to attack the paint.

Did I lose you yet?

I know this stuff can be boring, it’s the Spurs. The Spurs have been complemented on their ability to play either in the half court or on the break. So versatility is boring.

Ok, got it.

They are usually within the top five in defense since the arrival of TD. So their ability to hold teams that usually score over a hundred per game to under ninety points is boring.

OK, fair enough.

Instead of slam dunking they lay-up or put in a soft dunk. BORING! Last I remember its still worth two points if you lay-up or slam it down Vince Carter style. Bottom line is they do what they have to do to win. If it’s boring November through April, so be it, because ask anyone in San Antonio and they'll tell you June is a lot more fun in South Texas.

"They're flopper's". This one has received a lot of attention lately. So let’s get things straight, only one team out of 32 flops? It’s simple if you can exaggerate the foul so it’s easier for the official to make the call then why not.

Did you see how that last sentence started? "Exaggerate the foul" meaning a foul has occurred. Yes depending on the ref if you don't "flop" you might still get the call but then again you might not. Why not make sure the foul gets called. It sounds more like good discipline and smart decision making.

Trust me watch what ever game comes on in your region tomorrow and you will see flopping on both sides of the court. One thing that is for sure is it won't be San Antonio.

This one is just ridiculous: The refs are on the Spurs side.

Seriously? I'm sure David Stern had a meeting with the officials and said, "Hey guys make sure San Antonio makes it to the finals". Remember we're a "small" market and nobody wants to see the lame Spurs play for a championship except the 1.5 million people in SA.

Bad calls go both ways but as a fan I would expect you to say that your team gets the raw end of the deal majority of the time. San Antonio has been on that end of bad calls plenty, .4, need I say more? I just got nauseous.

This one is my favorite: The Spurs are a dirty team.

Wasn't it just a couple of years ago the Spurs were called too soft? Make up your mind already! All roads in this area lead to Bruce Bowen. It’s funny how a handful of incidents between one of the best perimeter defenders and some of the highest profile players in the league make an entire team dirty.

These players that accuse Bowen of being a dirty player just are not used to being hounded for 35 plus minutes a night. The league has reviewed every single incident and ruled that every single one except for one was incidental. Ironically, the one that they did uphold was one that CP3 "flopped" on.

He sold it, the league bit, and Bruce got suspended. I guess that just makes for a interesting plot in the upcoming series.

The reason people hate the Spurs is just their ability to win championships. Why do people hate the Yankees or the Patriots? People who don't have success seem to be jealous of those that do. I think we may have to revisit the argument of the Spurs dynasty. The fact that everybody "hates" the Spurs just proves that the Spurs are the dynasty of the 2000's.

Bleacher Report - Articles by Michael Becerra

NBA Playoffs: Home Court Advantage Plays Major Role in Round Two

Why Everyone Hates the San Antonio Spurs