Coaching styles and homecourt rules!

PARIS (The Monday International Show) - The conference semi-finals in these NBA playoffs have only produced 2 victories in 23 games away from home, a surprisingly small number considering that all the NBA champs since 2003 have won at least 6 road games on the way to their title!

Why? Statistical oddity, maybe? Parity and the increasing level of competion are the biggest reasons which means that no teams are really dominating the others and to win away from home in the playoffs takes a strong-willed, cocky, experienced team like Detroit which squeaked one out by one point in Orlando or the Lakers which just barely closed out their series in Utah's noisy arena!

The other two semi-final matchups have been totally dominated by the home team to the point that some US experts wonder if there isn't a disturbing trend to study concerning the refs being overly influenced by the home crowd!

Here we're dealing with four defence-first teams that get their energy and defensive intensity from the home fans and also a little more leeway with the refs to be more physical and intimidating in the familiar surroundings!

For instance, as Duncan points out, the Spurs have been blown out 3 straight times in New Orleans and their superior experience hasn't been a factor there yet.It looks like only an unexpected, total mental breakdown due to the one game, winner take all, unique game 7 pressure on this young team could enable the Spurs to finally break through for a win there!Coach of the year, Byron Scott, with his laid back " playground " coaching style as Popovich calls it, has, so far, been a master at keeping his young stars loose and letting them play!

Pop, with his team of aging veterans was undoubtedly happy to have 3 days rest before monday's hemongous game 7 as was David West's back!Even if both coaches stress defence, Pop's style is the opposite of Scott's even though he's been less of a control freak the last few years thanks to Parker and Ginobili's improvisational skills!

Recently, Robert Horry said he thinks Popovich is a better coach than Phil Jackson because Pop dares to yell at his stars, something Jackson carefully avoids!By the way, Parker, objectively, deserved more than one measly vote for third-team All-NBA!

It was great to see top sixth man, Manu, make it though. Now if those two would just stop flopping so much!And if Horry and Bowen could cut out the 90's type cheap shots and Pop the hack-a-Shaq, the Spurs would be more popular!

I guess if I had to bet the family jewels I would go along with the home teams in these two passionate game sevens but it's obvious that San Antonio's pride of champions and Lebron's overall steely confidence and brillance could possibly tip the tables!

Here again, in the east, the coaching styles are completely different despite the eternal emphasis on defence. Doc Rivers has gone back to his old bad habits of over-coaching and confusing his guys by throwing out the regular season rotations-which worked beautifully-for haphazard, panic-induced player management whenever things go sour on the road which instills doubt in his players' minds!

Cav's coach Mike Brown, on the other hand, seems less stressed-out and is sticking to his simple guns letting team D, rebounding and Lebron's creativity on offence do the trick. In the off season though, Lebron has really got to work on pull-up, straight as an " i ", on balance jumpers after a couple dribbles and post-up moves to become the totally unstoppable player he should be!!

Watching these knock-down, dragged-out, low-scoring defensive battles between the Cavs and the Celtics makes me want to get out an old dvd of a Suns-Warriors game!Ah, nostalgia! At least the Lakers and Hornets can score big among the remaining teams!

One last word to wish Mike D'Antoni good luck trying to bring his much-needed offensive magic to the Big Apple! Can Diaw and Barbosa be far behind in exchange for Marbury's expiring contract for example? Mike got out of Phoenix just in time to avoid their decline.

Isn't Rick Carlisle sort of a clone of outgoing coach Avery Johnson?

What's the point?

I'll bet you Avery ends up in Chicago!Last question-how long before Larry Brown blows a gasket with Jordan down there in Charlotte? 

George Eddy