Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
Buildings don’t lose games. People do.
Sometimes a team’s arena/stadium is inseparable from their identity. In English football, Anfield isn’t just where Liverpool play; it’s a fortress. Lambeau Field is no mere gridiron; the frozen tundra is lauded as a legendary locale, or it was before they installed a heated field. The old Yankee Stadium was as much a part of the team’s identity as pinstripes and winnings. The new Yankee Stadium? Let’s say it is equally reflective of what the current owners value most, and leave it at that.
In the NBA, Oracle Arena gave Golden State a championship edge even before they started winning championships. The old Boston Garden was like if Hell, rather than freezing over, had been covered with parquet. Chicago Stadium was as loud an arena as any for the road team. And then, there’s the Mecca. Or so-called when it’s convenient.
As the New York Knick franchise stopped achieving anything of note on the court at the turn of the century, ownership zeroed in on marketing the building itself to distract from the losing. From MSG talking heads to the tabloid beat reporters to the fans themselves, a PR campaign spread so quickly and pervasively it was on top of us before we knew it. A tree grows in Brooklyn; a fetish grew in Manhattan. The team that played at MSG was relegated to a supporting role; the real star was Madison Square Garden itself, the world’s so-called most famous arena, which is something you only repeat ad nauseum when you know it’s not true. Ever heard the Eiffel Tower described as “the world’s most famous tower?” Have the Romans ever bothered with a “world’s most famous arena” media blitz for the Colisseum? Of course not. Entirely unnecessary.
But making the stadium the star allows for bizarre and bathetic bullshit attempts at defending the team’s poor play. Isiah Thomas once said he’d been as successful as the Knicks coach as Pat Riley and Jeff Van Gundy had been, given that none of them won a title in New York. This is what those of us who kvetch about James Dolan and culture carrying over mean. The Isiah argument is obvious rationalization on his part. But that same defense mechanism is being used to justify a Knicks odd quirk this season.
New York has the league’s second-best road record at 14-8. That’s better than a 50-win pace. Nothing to sneeze at. And yet, that accomplishment’s undercut by the Knicks’ losing record at home. At 11-13, they are the only team this year with a winning record to have a losing record at home; the next-most “winningest” team to do the same is Orlando. So what’s the issue? Don’t worry. There’s an excuse — if you’ll have it.
That excuse? The same crap Isiah first floated 15 years ago, something I’d never heard before and that’s never made sense since: that opposing players get soooo excited to show out in New York that they can’t help putting their best foot forward. They just can’t help putting forth A+ efforts every night. The poor, unwitting Knicks are the victims of Broadway’s spotlight.
What dross. Here’s why.
First of all, the Knicks have mostly sucked for 20 years. If you’re a 25-year-old NBA player who’s been following the league since you were 12, you’ve seen the Knicks be good twice IN YOUR ENTIRE LIFETIME and win one playoff series. That’s it. Any younger than that and the only time you’ve seen the Garden alive was when the nudniks cursed out Trae Young. If you’re 35 and you’ve followed the NBA since you were 12, sadly you don’t really have any more memories of a radicalized MSG than someone 10 years your junior. If you’re 45, you’re too old to play in the NBA. So who are these players getting all worked up to put on a show in New York?
Secondly, when exactly did this trend begin? Because a funny thing happened at Madison Square Garden in the 1990s and the 1970s, the team’s Silver and Golden Ages — MSG was a major homecourt advantage for the home team, ironically. From the 1969-1973 seasons, the Knicks were 154-47 at home, a 63-win pace. Over Riley’s four years in charge, the home record was 128-36, good for a 64-win pace. Wouldn’t teams and players have been even more motivated to put on a good show on the Knicks’ home floor when the Knicks were winning titles or competing for them? When the team featured five Hall of Famers, or the GOAT Knick in Patrick Ewing? You tryna tell me Pascal Siakam cares more about rising to the challenge of the 2023 Knickerbockers than Scottie Pippen did 30 years ago?
Finally, take a look at how the Knicks’ chief antagonists fared at 33rd and 8th back in the day. Michael Jordan played 15 home playoff games against the Knicks and won 14 of them; in New York, he went 5-7. Reggie Miller won 70% of his postseason Market Square Arena matchups with the Knicks, but lost about two-thirds of his contests in New York. The Riley Miami teams, as close to a doppelganger as the Knicks have ever known, were an even 7-7 in Miami over four playoff series against the Knicks, just 4-6 at MSG.
It’s not just the big teams, or those trapped in the amber of our pre-internet past. In 1993 and 1997 New York faced Charlotte, winning all five games in New York while losing two of three at The Hive. The LeBron James Heat won three out of three playoff meetings in South Beach but split a pair in the concrete jungle. Even the last Knick postseason saw this trend continue: Atlanta was 2-0 at home but 2-1 as the visiting team.
I don’t know why the Knicks are better on the road than at home. It’s not a Tom Thibodeau thing: two years ago they were 25-11 at home versus 16-20 on the road. I do think pretending today’s players are more amped to win in an arena they’ve never seen fully lit up is weak. Ditto thinking Kyle Kuzma cares more about winning here now than Alonzo Mourning did 30 years ago.
I imagine the reason the Knicks are so good on the road and yet sub-par at home has something to do with the way Thibs coaches. I think he sells out to win every game, every quarter, every possession so hard that it catches other teams by surprise when they’re at home and assuming an easy night. Maybe on the road opponents are naturally more adrenalized, anticipating the threat.
Madison Square Garden is probably not the world’s most famous arena, the brick and mortar never made a basket or defended one, and there has never, ever been an argument put forward in any other sport in any other arena about the stadium being a disadvantage because opponents care about it too much. When the Knicks are good again — like, consecutive 50-win seasons good — watch how fast this “MSG disadvantage” talk disappears like a fart in the wind.
MMiranda
https://www.postingandtoasting.com/2023/1/19/23562548/msg-homecourt-disadvantage-dont-believe-the-hype
By: MMiranda
Title: MSG = homecourt disadvantage? Don’t believe the hype
Sourced From: www.postingandtoasting.com/2023/1/19/23562548/msg-homecourt-disadvantage-dont-believe-the-hype
Published Date: 01-20-2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do NBA players make?
The NBA's average salary is $7.3million for the 2021-2022 NBA season. This number is based on the $134million salary cap, which was established for this season. However, individual players' salaries can vary greatly depending on their experience and accomplishments.
Kevin Durant and LeBron Jam are two examples of superstar players. While rookies can earn as low as $898.310, they can earn as much as $40 million annually. Other veteran players may also be eligible, depending upon their years of experience, for mid-level exemption salaries. These can range from $4.76million up to $9.258million. Players may also be eligible for bonuses and other incentives based on their performance or team success.
What is the NBA salary cap
The NBA salary cap sets a maximum salary that each team can pay. Each year, the league sets this limit. It is designed to ensure parity between teams by preventing teams from signing multiple high-priced players and creating an unfair advantage. In order to make trades or sign free agents, teams must remain below the cap. They can surpass it if there are certain exceptions such as signing players with Bird rights or offering contracts with player salaries that count against the cap with the rest being paid out in bonuses. The league has a salary cap that is integral to the league. It helps ensure a level playing field for all teams.
What is a NBA Hybrid Contract?
Players can receive higher salaries through the NBA's hybrid contracts. In these contracts, part of the salary is counted against the team's cap, and the remaining portion is paid directly to the player as a bonus. This allows teams offer higher salaries while maintaining compliance with league salary limits. Because players can earn significantly more than they would otherwise, it gives them incentive to sign for specific teams.
Who did the first basket in NBA basketball?
Ossie Schetzman, an American professional basketball athlete, was the first to score a basket in the Basketball Association of America. The NBA would become the National Basketball Association later. The first basket was scored by Ossie Schectman on November 1, 1946 in a game between New York Knickerbockers (Toronto Huskies) and New York Knickerbockers (New York Knickerbockers). Schectman's historic debut basket opened the BAA's first season.
Statistics
- Between 2012 and 2019, the league lost 40 to 45 percent of its viewership. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Meanwhile, the opening night rosters include a record-setting 234 players with some G League experience, according to the NBA ( Twitter link ). (hoopsrumors.com)
- The 2013–14 season opened with 92 international players on the opening night rosters, representing 39 countries and over 20 percent of the league. (en.wikipedia.org)
- The 2013–14 season opened with 92 international players on the opening night rosters, representing 39 countries and over 20% of the league. (en.wikipedia.org)
- "NBA first-round ratings drop 27 percent, 40 percent since 2017–18". (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
bleacherreport.com
sbnation.com
si.com
sports.yahoo.com
- Yahoo Mail, Weather, Search & Videos
- NBA Finals Game 1 receives the lowest audience in recorded ratings history
How To
How can you play NBA fantasy basketball?
NBA fantasy is an excellent way to stay connected with your favourite players and teams all season. To play, you'll need a NBA fantasy league platform or website such as ESPN or Yahoo Sports. Once you have signed up, you can select your NBA team by joining a league.
Once you have your team set up, you can track the stats of each player and see how they contribute to your overall score for the season. To achieve better results for your group, you have the option to change your team line-up at any point. To keep your team competitive, you must be aware of any player trades, injuries or suspensions. You can compare your team to other teams at league's end to determine how you did.
NBA fantasy is a great way to watch the NBA season from a different perspective and make it more enjoyable for you and your family. Give it a shot! Good luck building your team. May the best team win.
Did you miss our previous article...
https://latestnbanews.com/news/why-the-blazers-wont-trade-anfernee-simons
