SERIOUS QUESTION ABOUT THE NBA

I'm sure this has been asked before, but I did not want this to get buried in the NBA forum.  I hear stories from other members over the years about the bashing and juvenile comments made in said forum so I'm posting among the Good People that frequent this GD forum.

OBJECTIVELY, WHY DO YOU GUYS THINK THAT HOME COURT ADVANTAGE PLAYS SUCH A BIG ROLE IN THE OUTCOME OF A GAME/PLAYOFF SERIES?  DO CALLS/OFFICIATING OFTEN FAVOR THE HOME SIDE?  

I don't know how avid NBA fans can tolerate it.  Celtics dominate at home and get blown out when they visit Cleveland.  Come back home and win fairly easily.  

I'm an NHL fan, and any seed can advance to the next round if momentum and the teams are playing well.  It doesn't seem to me that dogs in the NBA ever have a shot at upsetting a top seeded team.

Thoughts?  

Last time I checked the stats, home team in NBA wins 80% of game 7s.  In the NHL it is 50%.

There is a big edge to shooting the ball on rims you are used to.  Even a recreational player will shoot a lot better at the gym he plays at twice a week, than the gym he plays at 3 times a year.  It is always 10 feet high, but the backgrounds are different, the floor has a different amount of bounce, etc.

Also, in the NBA, if you expect to win, having that confidence is a big edge.  

Plus, the refs will usually favor the home team, either on purpose or subconciously because of the crowd.

Agree with all of the this ..

In addition to the above points.  Read this in an article, a long time ago. (like 80'/90's, used to read alot of newspapers, and there was a lengthly article on this)  The 'background depth' behind the rim varies in arenas.  Some players adjust seemlessly, most don't, they're conditioned to their home court.

Thanks fellas.

All of this makes a lot of sense.  Excuse my ignorance.  

I obviously am not a fan of pro ball but I love the NCAA.  

it seems the officiating is a lot less loose and fouls aren't called for breathing too heavy on a guy.  If they'd let "the players play" a little, the NBA would be a little more appealing.  

I hear about the 1980s Pistons and how physical they were, and that's what I would like to see from today's league.  More phsyical, less calls.

Basketball officiating isn't as bad as soccer.  One crucial call can determine the outcome of a game.  

anyone who's played would agree. it gets in your head when a loud crowd is cheering your mistakes.

Role players and bench players typically play far better at home...plus the team with home court advantage usually is the better squad overall, thus higher ranked team gets game 7 on their floor...you will see road teams steal a game 7 if they have a mega star on their team play lights out