The reason game five is pivotal is because that's the potential series changer. The team that wins game five usually win the series, unless they were down 3-1, in which case they'd probably have lost if the NBA hadn't given them the 2-3-2 lifeline. Of course it's irrelevant. The best team usually wins. That doesn't prove anything. There is no evidence. Just common sense. Obviously you lack it. I'm done with this.
Magic are pathetic. Odom and Bynum did nothing and Lakers still should have won. Kobe choked from the line and went 2-13 or something in the second half. This Orlando team really is terrible. Just turrrible...
I'm not sure how LA should feel about this game. Their defensive intensity was way down from game one. Still, if they win game four on Thursday, this will be nothing more than a blip on the road.
Kobe sucked, Odom was in foul trouble, Bynum did nothing, Orlando set a new NBA Finals FG% record, Howard, Alston, Pietrus, Turk and Lewis played great, still Lakers could easily have walked away with a win. I think the Lakers feel pretty damn good right now.
They should be considering they were only a lay-up/tear drop/finger roll (you name it) away from being down 2-1.
It's a shame you can't admit you are using the 2-2-1-1-1 format to justify the importance of game 5, when the evidence of it's importance, especially when the away team doesn't have a home game to close out the series, is not supported in the 2-3-2 set up. Then your argument is mostly irrelevant. Thanks for the personal attack, but you choose to ignore the common sense that it's very difficult to beat any team 3 times in a row. My common sense is supported by the evidence. Yours isn't. Good because you seem unwilling to even acknowledge that there is a persuasive argument against your common sense. As a reminder: In NBA history, when the 2-3-2 format has been used, the team with the home-court advantage has a 22-5 record (81.4 percent) in winning the Finals, while they are only 24-10 (70.6 percent) with the other formats.
They just need one of the next 2 and they are fine. Hopefully Duck is right and the Magic can use the advantage of the format and win the next 3 straight. I'm not sure they can win another game 7 on the road.
I'm unwilling? Have you even read your own posts? If I didn't know any better I'd say you were atleast mildly retarded. It's 4-0 or 0-4, setup irrelevant. If you're up 3-1, the next game you'd want to play at home. Not happening in the 2-3-2, advantage away team. If it's tied 2-2, the next game you'd want to play at home. Not happening in the 2-3-2, advantage away team. If you're down 1-3, the next game you'd want to play at home. Not happening in the 2-3-2, advantage away team. If you don't agree with these you're crazy. 100% of every player or coach or anyone with half a brain would want to play game five at home. End of story.
The best team usually win and I don't think anyone doubts that LAL is a better team. Everything went against Lakers in game 3 and it still was close.
This discussion isn't about whether players would rather have game five at home, and that's not what we are arguing so unfortunately for your point of view it's not the end of the story. How about tell players that with the 2-2-1-1-1 format they have a 75% chance of winning the series, but with the 2-3-2 format it jumps to 81% and then ask them what they'd prefer. Explain to me this - why do you think game 5 is so important?
If you're up 3-1, which game is more important, game 5, 6 or 7? If you're at home chances are you'll close this out. Playing away you might lose and the other team gain momentum. The reason there's been so few (4 times) 4-1 winners since 1985 is because of 2-3-2. Now most teams close it out in game six instead (12 times). (Obviously some of those were on the road, I'm sure you'll look it up). If you're tied 2-2, which game is more important, game 5, 6 or 7? I don't know the stats for this, but I bet going down 2-3 here lessens your chances dramatically. Going up 3-2 is huge. You'd obviously have an advantage being at home for this one. If you're down 1-3, which game is more important, game 5, 6 or 7? This one is a no brainer. Playing at home here would be a huge advantage. The reason game five is so important is because it's the game that separate teams from a 2-2 tie. Game 7 is at home anyway for the top seed. Key games are 1-3-5-7 because they're games deciding a team to go up one or win it.
So in a debate over which format is more or less advantagous to the home/away teams, game 5 wins are critically relevant, but series wins are absolutely irrelevant?
Wether playing at home or away is favourable in game five is relevant. Who wins has to do with what team is best, not what format favours what team. Is that so difficult?
Obviously. If a team wins away from home does that mean playing away favours the away team? No. Of course not. Lakers are losing this game. Do you think they'd rather play at Staples next game? You bet your ass.