Suns Last in League in Home Games??? Lakers the MOST!

[AZ Shocker]

Perhaps this has already been mentioned but has anyone else noticed that the Suns have only had 7 HOME games thus far this season. I know it's early, but in contrast...the World Champion Los Angeles Lakers lead the league with 15 HOME Games to start the year off. The Lakers have only had 4 (FOUR) road games thus far.

Is this a way for the NBA to help try to pad the win column early in the season for the Lakers??? In other words... to assist the Lakers in the media "spotlight" where all the other teams are tryng to catch them all season???

 

[Linderbee]

While I feel the Lakers should be given some preferential treatment for being the Champs, I do find the ratio a little more lopsided than it should be. IMO.

 

[Bufalay]

I remember the Lakers having the same BS schedule a few years ago when they sucked. They started off very well and then faded. Seems kind of odd that they would have such a different schedule than everyone else. Two possible reasons for this that come to mind are that Stern loves all the teams that I hate (or vice versa) or it has something to do with the fact that they share an arena with the Clippers.

 

[D-Dogg]

Staples center is packed with events in the spring, and it is shared between two teams. It's always like that.

It's not an advantage to be on the road a lot the second half of the season, either. I'd prefer the Suns schedule, by far.

 

[AfroSuns]

I'd prefer the Suns schedule, by far.

Yeah right, not if you are trying to improve team chemistry and confidence. Starting the season well, will boost both in a team. When you travel so much like how the Suns have so far this season, and your legs starts to give way, this early in the season, It is only a matter of time before doubts sets in.
With the kind of home record the Suns currently have do you honestly think it will not help their psche down the stretch if they played as many home games as the Lakers have. Not to mention that padding your stats early is advisable, not knowing what is down the road, in terms of injury to players among other unforeseen factors.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Staples center is packed with events in the spring, and it is shared between two teams. It's always like that.

It's not an advantage to be on the road a lot the second half of the season, either. I'd prefer the Suns schedule, by far.

I would too, being able to pay this well at the beginning of the season is perfect for them in the second half.

 

[Ninjafish]

How isn't this in a good thing? By February and March, we'll have plenty home games, and December will be a forgotten memory. Meanwhile, the Lakers will be struggling with all of their long road trips.

You might as well get all the road games out of the way.

 

[Mainstreet]

I agree with Donald, Dreamcastrocks and Ninjafish on this one. Now if the Suns had started 3-14, I would feel differently.

 

[Mulli]

This thread is a tad whiny. Will it not even out in the end?

 

[Superbone]

This thread is a tad whiny. Will it not even out in the end?

Number of road and home games evens out but consecutive home/away might not. It seems like we only get one or two consecutive home games at a time.

 

[Mulli]

Number of road and home games evens out but consecutive home/away might not. It seems like we only get one or two consecutive home games at a time.

I see.

 

[Yuma]

I have been noticing this and I think it bodes well for us. We will get more home games later as the team is more tired. You could argue the team will be tired from so many away games to start. In general, teams win more games at home. So we are just a couple games back with the more home games left, so that could help us pass the Lakers in the standings.

 

[Mainstreet]

I have been noticing this and I think it bodes well for us. We will get more home games later as the team is more tired. You could argue the team will be tired from so many away games to start. In general, teams win more games at home. So we are just a couple games back with the more home games left, so that could help us pass the Lakers in the standings.

"Sweet dreams, Moonpie. It's a bad habit you got there."


This quote is from the 1975 movie "Rollerball" with James Caan. It just seems appropriate when talking about the Suns passing the Lakers in the standings.

 

[HooverDam]

I bet the Suns will end up with 41 home games just like everyone else.

 

[Chaplin]

I bet the Suns will end up with 41 home games just like everyone else.

Obviously a simplistic view of the situation. Come on now.

 

[HooverDam]

Obviously a simplistic view of the situation. Come on now.

My point was it doesn't matter and it doesn't. If anything it benefits the Suns who will have more home games at the end of the year when it would matter more.

 

[AfroSuns]

It does matter now, we are talking about the present situation. It is common sense the schedule will get easier. This quote from Grant, sums it up nicely....

"We're on the road a lot, and it's tough. We're kind of tired of it, but we'll make up for it in January, February, March. We're going through a tough period right now with our schedule, but we've just got to weather it. I don't want to make an excuse out of it, but we'd like to give it our best shot. More than one home game at a time would be nice."

 

[Duke of Oysters]

Staples center is packed with events in the spring, and it is shared between two teams. It's always like that.

It's not an advantage to be on the road a lot the second half of the season, either. I'd prefer the Suns schedule, by far.

This does have merit.

Tied for second with the most home games so far is ... the LA Clippers

 

[AZ Shocker]

I guess I was just wondering if the NBA does this purposely to give the Lakers a good chance of being on top of the standings early in the year. In other words...to boost they're (Lakers) chances of being in first place for an exended amount of time during the season to keep NBA fans intersted and watching their favorite teams trying to catch the Lakers in the standings.

Set's the precedent so to speak...

 

[D-Dogg]

Number of road and home games evens out but consecutive home/away might not. It seems like we only get one or two consecutive home games at a time.

Take a look at the Lakers upcoming schedule. In addition to having two 5 game road trips (the Suns had one 5 game road trip in their opening schedule) they have an EIGHT game road trip. That's brutal. Last year it was a 9 game trip, IIRC. And 1, 2 or 3 home games in a row is the standard then.

Silver lining for us, is that teams "come together" on the road and that hopefully it will lead to them peaking at the right time. Of course, I'd much, much, much rather they be holding down the home court later in the season, less travel and fresh for when the games really count.

Let's look:

December

H
H
A
A
A
A
A
H
H
A
A
H

January

H
H
H
A
A
H
A
A
H
H
A
A
A
A
A
A
A

February/March

A
H
H
A
H
A
H
H
A
A
H
H
H
A
A
A
H
A
A
A
H
H
A
A
A
A
A
H
H
A
A
H
H
A (H - Clippers)

 

[Linderbee]

Take a look at the Lakers upcoming schedule. In addition to having two 5 game road trips (the Suns had one 5 game road trip in their opening schedule) they have an EIGHT game road trip. That's brutal. Last year it was a 9 game trip, IIRC. And 1, 2 or 3 home games in a row is the standard then.

Silver lining for us, is that teams "come together" on the road and that hopefully it will lead to them peaking at the right time. Of course, I'd much, much, much rather they be holding down the home court later in the season, less travel and fresh for when the games really count.

Let's look:

December

HHAAAAAHHAAH

January

HHHAAHAAHHAAAAAAA

February/March

AHHAHAHHAAHHHAAAHAAAHHAAAAAHHAAHHA (H - Clippers)

Sorry, Donald...but that's just not funny at all.

 

[TJ]

I bet the Suns will end up with 41 home games just like everyone else.

While the Lakers get 43....

 

[TJ]

Donald, that almost looks like you're laughing at us

HA HA HA HA

 

[AfroSuns]

Would have been nice if you included the opponents (not just when they share home court with the Clippers). How many of those back-to-back is against a good team. I know our next Lakers game at home is not a back-2-back game for the Lakers, while ours have been 2x on their home court.

 

[HooverDam]

This is another (though very small) reason I wish the Clippers would move. At the very least out of the Staples Center. They should go play at the Honda Center (or whatever its called now) and become the "Anaheim Clippers" try to cash in on that Angles/Ducks fan base, maybe you'd actually be able to grow your own fans and not entirely be an after thought. Or maybe to the Inland Empire, they don't have any pro teams as well but the IE is huge and could likely support one, and may jump behind it like San Jose did with the Sharks. Or my preference would be to Vegas or back to San Diego. Now of course Donald Sterling won't do any of that, but here's hoping he falls into a well soon or something.