Indiana Pacers Need Home Court Advantage

Over the past day and over the season, I’ve seen the discussions about the Indiana Pacers and that top spot to which I say, they do in fact need homecourt advantage.  I look at yesterday’s game, and really believe, if it’s played out in Oklahoma City, we are talking up another Indiana Pacers’ loss with the way they’ve played out the season.  Just look at the Miami game, and how the Pacers were right there, even after not playing so strong, and then Miami charges out of the gates after halftime and the Pacers can’t recover.

I thought yesterday’s crowd really helped bring the energy to the Indiana Pacers.  Sure, the team had to go out and play their game, which was a good thing to see.  Look at someone like Lance Stephenson, who was even more amped up than I’ve seen before.

The crowd yesterday made that seem like a playoff atmosphere, which is going to be the case here on Saturday or Sunday, whenever the Pacers start their run to what hopes to be a long run.  The Pacers clinched the best home record in the NBA with their win yesterday, which always shows how important that home court advantage is.

At this point in the season and for the playoffs, everyone talks about needing to win one game on the road throughout the playoffs, but now you look at it, and think you can just roll through and home to pick up all the home wins.  That’s why home court advantage is important.  This season I would feel much better about playing the Miami Heat in a game seven here in Indy.  The outcome might be the same as last year, but you know how this Indiana Pacers team just plays so much different at home.

If you want to throw some numbers out, you can look at how the Pacers have had some good success of scoring over 100 points at home.  Even throwing out 118 against the Los Angeles Lakers.  One stretch they had three straight games over 100 while playing a home stand.  It’s the comfort of Banker’s Life that makes the Pacers that much more deadly.

Sure, they might have to take a game or two on the road to make it easier on themselves. But I look at it as in a playoff series, you can grab those first two games on your home floor and already be in a good position.  Plus, it’s that mindset of the team as all they’ve talked about is that top seed. Now if you get that top spot, you have to defend it and prove it by winning those home games to show that’s why you grabbed it.