By that logic, LA will be the champs, because the Finals are played in LA 4 times. Celts better look to steal one early; otherwise, it's REALLY hard to overcome LA.
In the last 3 years they only played a team as good as this Boston one once, and they lost, while dropping a game at home. The 28-3 home record since then is impressive, but they were clearly better than the other teams they faced, especially last year where 3 of the teams weren't at full strength. The Celtics playoff road wins this year are just as impressive. It isn't any harder to win in LA than Cleveland or Orlando, where Boston won 4 times.
Here's an interesting stat.. Teams coached by Phil Jackson are 47-0 in playoff series when winning Game 1; Jackson-coached Lakers teams 23-0 after winning Game 1. But... The Celtics are also undefeated in a series with the lineup of Rondo Allen Pierce Garnett Perkins
You can't use the full strength argument bro. Despite not being at Full strength (no Ariza or Bynum in 2008), they did only lose 1 game at home in that 2008 finals run. That Celtics team was pathetic on the road. They were taken to 7 games in 1st round by Atl, 7 games vs Cleveland, and 6 games vs Detroit. That Celtics team were the better team & I strongly believe just a healthy Ariza would've made a difference
LA can win on the road as much as Boston can win on the road... Boston hasn't played that well at home. So, really... the home court gets thrown out in this series other than the crowd being involved in a game 7.. but then again it's LA.
It's almost a given Boston will drop one at home. If LA can win the first 2 games, Boston have no chance.
i dont think its a given that boston will drop one at home but its very tough to win 3 games in a row against a conference winner period, to expect the road team to do so makes it even tougher for the road team to win a finals series detroit and miami have both won their 3 games at home to win those series but the lakers are a poor road team this playoffs, even though they are coming off of their most impressive road win of the playoffs in phoenix. lakers will win this in 6 but i think there will be some blood spilled for sure
Lakers are winning half of road games this playoff. That's actually pretty good. In the 4 road games they lost, the FT disparity were all 19 or more. There's some cooking by refs there to extend the series. Plus Celtics are pretty bad at home.
in the four games they won: 2 were because of last second makes or misses on layups (Gasol/matthews) 1 was an injured utah team (still a w) the phoenix game 6 was legit consider also that at least in one of the phoenix games the lakers were purposefully following at the end to extend the game which adds on to the FT disparity. Also while you could say some was "home cooking" i just think in general home teams get favorable calls and at least in the games i viewed these playoffs there hasnt been anything in particular where I said the lakers were screwed or the lakers got a huge benefit. The lakers get their calls in their own ways (3 seconds, travels, etc) the celtics are 5-2 at home this year thats not the perfect 8-0 the lakers are of course but one of those games was just based on an ungodly performance by lebron. either way while the celtics havent been perfect at home i wouldnt say they have been bad either. on the flip side the celtics have much more impressive on the road this year than the lakers have. Up until the phoenix series Boston has had to face much tougher opponents on the road this playoffs than the lakers have had either way it will be a tough series but the lakers will win it in 6
