Game 3 In The NBA Playoffs: A Potent Mixture Of Home Court And Desperation.



Since the 1990-91 season



The adjacent table shows series in which the higher seed won the series, and only lost one game in the series.  What game is the inferior team most likely to win?  According to the table, the series-losing team is most likely to win game 3.  The losing team’s lone victory came in Game 3 in almost 62% of those matchups.  It makes sense; the losing team is down 2-0 (desperation).  Additionally, it is also the their first home game in the series.  Most teams plays better at home, and the home crowd is usually in a frenzy trying motivate the team.  This occurs in the first home game much more than it would in the second.  The fans usually have an unavoidable drop in enthusiasm between the first home game and the second home game.  That being said,  I think the Knicks(healthy Amare), Pacers, Nuggets and Blazers are near-locks for Game 3 victories, and the Sixers will probably win their Game 3 too.

Other Posts:

http://theresastatforthat.blogspot.com/2011/04/game-7-in-nba-playoffs-home-court_17.html

http://sportstatistics.blogspot.com/

http://theresastatforthat.blogspot.com/2011/04/hawks-magic-hawks-had-perfect-game-plan.html

http://theresastatforthat.blogspot.com/2011/03/nfls-new-kickoff-rules-are-they.html

http://theresastatforthat.blogspot.com/2011/03/carmelo-what-has-he-done-to-knicks.html

http://theresastatforthat.blogspot.com/2011/03/wait-til-next-year-which-league-gives_09.html

http://theresastatforthat.blogspot.com/2011/03/kobes-shot-selection-driving-ability.html