With all the homering aside, the Blazer's fans shut the Rockets down. The Rocket's did not choke. Give the Blazer's credit... they had much more energy and fed off the crowd. Last game, Toyota Center was ridiculous. Players play better when their home court is going nuts. AB is still a rookie. He faced an enormous amount of pressure last night. He is not a bad player. 20,000 fans yelling at you = deficient performance. Example: Rose, rookie of the year, tripped over himself in the game @ Boston during the 4th Q. It happens to young players, so chill the F out. Aldridge played with a lot of confidence last night. Confidence creates trust in your team mates and eventually victory. This is attributable to the being at home. Ron Artest did what he was supposed to do: play D and pass the ball. He did both. Yao got the ball and perhaps didn't get many calls. It's called homecourt advantage. Moral of the story... if you're going to the game... scream your heart out. We are the most valuable players in this series. To win, go to the game and do your part.
Fan effect is overrated. Where were those great fans when we were thumping Blazer ass by 30 in game 1? Fans are just reactionary. If the Blazers come out on fire and work up a big lead, it's not going to matter how loud you are. But be loud anyway, because it's more fun.
Good point, but I disagree. The first game was an anomaly because the Blazers were extremely nervous. Now that the pre-game jitters are out of the picture, the crowd gives confidence to the players down the stretch. Example: Battier hits a wide open three and the crowd goes nuts. Battier rides that confidence and nails another from the corner. I promise you the second three would have had a much lower percentage if we were in Portland. Perhaps not that much during the 1st quarter, but in the 4Q, the crowd is instrumental in pushing their team to victory.
The Blazers, Rockets, Jazz and other playoff teams amaznig home records and terrible road records would like to say hello.
I don't think fans are the whole story there. Sleeping in your own bed, with your own routine all day in your home city with your family might have something to do with it, too. Playing in the same building you play 41 times/season helps. I'm not telling you fans are irrelevant. I'm telling you they're overrated. LA fans are notrious for arriving late and leaving early....that hasn't stopped the Lakers from winning a ton of rings. Talent on the court wins. Teams can shoot a crowd right out of a game....and we've seen it happen in this very series.
IT IS TEXAS! Toyota Center should be one of the noisiest court. If our players are in trouble, let's take over the game If BRAzbilla & OLDen wrestling Yao, break their eardrum!
