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Started By
Message
Home Court Advantage in Basketball?
Posted on 6/9/16 at 8:20 am
Posted on 6/9/16 at 8:20 am
Does it not seem odd to anyone else that NBA homecourt has such an incredible impact on games? I would think it should be the least impactful of the big three sports, but it seems to have the most impact.
In the NFL, you could be a dome team like the Saints who are used to playing indoors on turf and then have to play outside in Philly or Green Bay in the winter. Those are sport-altering differences. There are simply things you can't do in those sorts of environments.
In MLB, you also have the outdoor impact so a warm weather team like San Francisco could go play a cold weather team like Chicago or New York. In addition to that you have the very unique and objectively most tangible homefield advantage aspect in the fact that all the fields are different dimensions.
In the NBA, however, you really have none of this. Every game is played indoors in temperature regulated environments. All of the courts are the same dimensions and same materials. The only real difference is crowd noise.
Now granted the farthest I made it was high school sports so maybe I just can't understand the impact a bunch of fans yelling at you has, but I would have thought for professional athletes, shooting is shooting regardless of how loud it is around you. This also isn't something like the NFL where you're unable to get playcalls in or snap counts or things like that because of the noise.
It's just surprising to me that homecourt was essentially worth over a 60 point swing from game 2 to game 3. There also aren't any travel impacts as both teams travel on the same days, right? So it isn't an issue of one team traveling out west and one team being fresh vs another who shows up potentially jet-lagged as you have in the NFL.
Am I the only one this surprises?
In the NFL, you could be a dome team like the Saints who are used to playing indoors on turf and then have to play outside in Philly or Green Bay in the winter. Those are sport-altering differences. There are simply things you can't do in those sorts of environments.
In MLB, you also have the outdoor impact so a warm weather team like San Francisco could go play a cold weather team like Chicago or New York. In addition to that you have the very unique and objectively most tangible homefield advantage aspect in the fact that all the fields are different dimensions.
In the NBA, however, you really have none of this. Every game is played indoors in temperature regulated environments. All of the courts are the same dimensions and same materials. The only real difference is crowd noise.
Now granted the farthest I made it was high school sports so maybe I just can't understand the impact a bunch of fans yelling at you has, but I would have thought for professional athletes, shooting is shooting regardless of how loud it is around you. This also isn't something like the NFL where you're unable to get playcalls in or snap counts or things like that because of the noise.
It's just surprising to me that homecourt was essentially worth over a 60 point swing from game 2 to game 3. There also aren't any travel impacts as both teams travel on the same days, right? So it isn't an issue of one team traveling out west and one team being fresh vs another who shows up potentially jet-lagged as you have in the NFL.
Am I the only one this surprises?
17
Posted on 6/9/16 at 8:23 am to FootballNostradamus
I think there is something to the comfort of shooting in your home building. Some things just don't "fit the eye" and make the shooter uncomfortable. They've talked about this in the Final Four for years when they play in Huge Open stadiums vs. regular arenas.
Posted on 6/9/16 at 8:24 am to FootballNostradamus
has nothing to do with the noise mostly, but more to do with confidence, being relaxed, and familiarity with the surroundings which could affect depth perception (when it comes to shooting)
Posted on 6/9/16 at 8:26 am to FootballNostradamus
quote:
It's just surprising to me that homecourt was essentially worth over a 60 point swing from game 2 to game 3.
There are more factors in that swing than just home court advantage, but to answer your question, home court advantage in basketball is more significant than pretty much any other sport regardless of level.
The crowd, beyond just being loud, is right on top of you. The main thing the noise impacts is defensive energy and effort of the home team, imo. That's why teams struggle shooting the ball on the road.
Posted on 6/9/16 at 8:26 am to Salmon
quote:
familiarity with the surroundings which could affect depth perception (when it comes to shooting)
this too
Posted on 6/9/16 at 8:27 am to Salmon
i do think the crowd can elevate your energy level, but yeah it's mostly familiarity with the gemometry of the arena
i personally don't get the major advantages of home field in baseball
hockey apparently has little home ice advantage
i personally don't get the major advantages of home field in baseball
hockey apparently has little home ice advantage
Posted on 6/9/16 at 8:28 am to FootballNostradamus
quote:
Now granted the farthest I made it was high school sports so maybe I just can't understand the impact a bunch of fans yelling at you has, but I would have thought for professional athletes, shooting is shooting regardless of how loud it is around you. This also isn't something like the NFL where you're unable to get playcalls in or snap counts or things like that because of the noise
I don't think the crowd noise affect professional athletes much. When I was playing, it wasn't hard to tune the crowd out. If you're really focused, it gets to the point where you really don't even know what's going on beyond the court.
For some reason, I believe it's all subconscious and wanting to play better, smarter, and harder in front of your home crowd. No one likes to lose on their home floor so there's more effort and concentration when one plays at home versus away.
This post was edited on 6/9/16 at 8:31 am
Posted on 6/9/16 at 8:32 am to Crowknowsbest
quote:
The crowd, beyond just being loud, is right on top of you.
I think this is the biggest thing.
Posted on 6/9/16 at 8:35 am to Brettesaurus Rex
in my experience, it was always pretty easy to tune out the crowd
I always hated the courts where the goal was farther away from the wall/seats than our home court because it gave an illusion that that goal was shorter
it really fricked with my shot
when we played in the top 28 at ULL, I couldn't hit shite because of this
I always hated the courts where the goal was farther away from the wall/seats than our home court because it gave an illusion that that goal was shorter
it really fricked with my shot
when we played in the top 28 at ULL, I couldn't hit shite because of this
This post was edited on 6/9/16 at 8:36 am
Posted on 6/9/16 at 8:36 am to FootballNostradamus
I think the fans basically being right on top of the field of play is a big factor you don't see in other sports.
Posted on 6/9/16 at 8:37 am to FootballNostradamus
I don't think there's much of a correlation for the really good players in their home/away splits.
It's role players and officiating that makes the difference.
It's role players and officiating that makes the difference.
Posted on 6/9/16 at 8:44 am to reggo75
quote:
I think there is something to the comfort of shooting in your home building. Some things just don't "fit the eye" and make the shooter uncomfortable. They've talked about this in the Final Four for years when they play in Huge Open stadiums vs. regular arenas.
That has to be most of it. You practice in that building sometimes, or all of the time. You play half your season in that building. 41 games there and 41 on the road. By the time you've made it to the finals, you've played there over 50 times. Cleveland played Golden State twice this year in the season. So they've only been in that arena once prior to the finals. It can make a huge difference.
Posted on 6/9/16 at 8:46 am to FootballNostradamus
Familiarity with the arena and momentum are 2 of the biggest reasons. I think one understated aspect is being able to sleep in your own bed at home is huge too. Being at home with your family the night before a big game versus being on the road and sleeping in a hotel thousands of miles from home is a big advantage
Posted on 6/9/16 at 8:49 am to FootballNostradamus
Basketball is a game of rhythm. Familiarity and comfort are very important
Posted on 6/9/16 at 8:51 am to Salmon
quote:
when we played in the top 28 at ULL, I couldn't hit shite because of this
It's hard to shoot in the Cajundome. Especially coming from high school gyms.
ETA: a few years back I made some legit money one season betting unders on ULL home basketball games, next season I wasn't given o/u lines on their games. only good betting story I have
This post was edited on 6/9/16 at 8:53 am
Posted on 6/9/16 at 8:52 am to BenDover
quote:
I think one understated aspect is being able to sleep in your own bed at home is huge too. Being at home with your family the night before a big game versus being on the road and sleeping in a hotel thousands of miles from home is a big advantage
I hear people say this, and it just doesn't make sense to me. I travel probably half as much as these guys and in nowhere near the luxury hotels they're staying at, and it barely bothers me anymore. Hell sometimes when I'm home I miss the comfort of my king bed by myself and getting up in the morning without any distraction of the family
. These guys travel as much or more than anyone. They have to be used to it by now.
Posted on 6/9/16 at 8:53 am to reggo75
quote:
I think there is something to the comfort of shooting in your home building. Some things just don't "fit the eye" and make the shooter uncomfortable. They've talked about this in the Final Four for years when they play in Huge Open stadiums vs. regular arenas.
I guess this makes sense, but aren't most of the arenas relatively similar? I understand the Final Four debate because you're going from normal basketball arenas to large football stadiums that significantly skew depth perception, but there are no arenas that are that wonky are there?
Posted on 6/9/16 at 8:54 am to Crowknowsbest
quote:
The crowd, beyond just being loud, is right on top of you.
Why would this matter? Your home crowd would be right on top of you as well. It's not like they're any threat to you so why would it matter if they're close to you?
Posted on 6/9/16 at 8:55 am to FootballNostradamus
I honestly think it's just energy and confidence. That's the difference.
Posted on 6/9/16 at 8:56 am to FootballNostradamus
Think about how big a lot of these guys are. The comfort issue is a real thing. I've heard multiple players discuss it on podcasts. If you're 6'7 or larger traveling and staying in hotels isn't going to be easy, even in private jets and luxury hotels
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