Hazardous Roads.......

There have been 15 second round NBA play-off games. Only once have the road team come away with a victory. The home teams have a 14 - 1 record.......Why?

We here at 5 on Five have put our crack research department on notice........We want to find out why these play-off caliber teams .....play so well at home..........yet so poorly on the road.

There are theories..........there are facts......

First ...........let's examine the facts:



The ball itself...........courtesy of Wikipedia........

The National Basketball Association (NBA) allows only one official ball: The ball must be the official NBA game ball manufactured by Spalding. The ball is orange in color, 29.5 inches in circumference and weighs 22 ounces (size 7). It must also be inflated to between 7.5 and 8.5 pounds per square inch. Starting in the 2006 season, the NBA switched to a new ball from Spalding that had a synthetic surface and a modified rib pattern (See section below).

Until 2005 the ball had a leather surface. On December 11, 2006 the NBA decided to revert back to the old leather ball due to numerous player complaints, lawsuits and injuries from the synthetic ball. Spalding has manufactured the official NBA game ball since 1983.

OK ........so it's the same ball.......every game.....

But what about the dimensions of the basketball court? Again, here is Wikipedia:

This diagram is for the dimensions of every court in every arena for every team.

All courts are the same..........home and away....... the basket is the same height ........the ball the same size....

So ...........then............what is it?

You just saw some very factual information........now .......let us theorize..............

Is it travel time?...........Every team has charter flights........Every team uses plush hotels.....

What about pre-game meals..........girl friends? Rental cars? The rides on the bus to and from the hotel? Too many trips to the local bars? Couldn't find a barber? Couldn't speak the language? (Toronto)..........

The referees perhaps? Well........maybe a little....(they're only human)..........but no........they are not the answer to all these blow outs.

The answers may lie in the unknown..........home crowds creating an adrenaline that flows through the home team players veins......an adrenaline flow that is still a mystery to scientist. On any given home court...........that player........runs a little faster, jumps a little higher, sees that basket a little bit better.......... and sends a psychological message to the road team.

We........still ..........don't know.........14-1..........and the games weren't even close. If some one out there has the answers...........please come forward........and solve this mystery........once and for all. It can't just be the crowds........or could it?