Quagmire
Years ago
Home court- home refs?
Free throws;
In LA-
Game 1 LA 38-46 Utah 22-30
Game 2 LA 35-43 Utah 13-16
In Utah-
Game 3 Utah 20-28 LA 30-37
Game 4 Utah 37-45 LA 14-25
In LA-
Game 5 LA 34-42 Utah 24-28
Totals-
Home 164-204 Away 103-136
Thats a dif of 61 points. Thats 12 every game. The average margin in each game- 8pts.
If you remove the Game 3 results, here is what you get;
Home 144-176 Away 73-99
Can this gross disparity simply be put down to home teams making the plays? Maybe. Not.
ESPN writer Adande said this about yesterdays game-
"The benefits of home were more apparent on the stat sheet: The Lakers enjoyed a 42-28 advantage in free-throw attempts (and that includes the four free throws Bryant shot in the final 10.7 seconds, when the Jazz fouled to stop the clock).
When the Jazz got close to the basket, there was more contact than in a rush-hour crowd shoving into the subway, but rarely a blown whistle. Meanwhile, at the other end, Lamar Odom breezed past Carlos Boozer for a layup and got a gift and-one. And Utah players and coaches are still wondering how Mehmet Okur could wind up sprawling toward the baseline, leaving Pau Gasol alone under the basket for an easy offensive rebound and dunk to put the Lakers ahead by five points with 20.5 seconds remaining. "
Sorry for the long post but i think BOTH Jazz and Laker fans should be a little pissed.
