Home field advantage is available in a lot of shapes and sizes.  One cursory have a look at the National Football League and you’ll see what I mean. 

The Green Bay Packers get pleasure from weather, the brand new Orleans Saints gain an edge from playing in a dome and the Seattle Seahawks reside in a remote corner of the rustic that may be approximately 800 miles from the following closest NFL franchise. To position that into perspective, the Philadelphia Eagles can reach no less than ten different NFL cities without traveling greater than 800 miles. 

Weather, venue and travel length are all commonly known elements of home field advantage. 

Following two Super Bowl appearances over the past three seasons, do you think that it’s a secret that the Denver Broncos have the benefit of playing their home games at an elevation of 5,280 feet?  After all it isn’t.  The Broncos was a vital story over the past few years and that implies everything in regards to the franchise was a vital story - including what number of feet above sea level the team plays its games.

As sports bettors, we’re constantly on the lookout for information that may be flying below the radar to be able to gain an edge over the competition. It’s important to grasp the importance of the way Drew Brees and the Saints perform on the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in comparison to outdoors on a grass surface - these details matter greatly. 

But that is freshman-level Introduction to Business-type stuff.  What we’re looking for is the study room that houses Economics 415.

In October of 2011, ESPN published an interesting piece entitled, “A case of the Roxy flu” that highlighted the name of the game weapon possessed by the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks.  The Roxy is a well-liked Vancouver dive bar with a penchant for attracting business from the Canucks’ out-of-town guests, such a lot in order that players affected by the all-too-familiar hangovers that appeared day after today at Rogers Arena were deemed to be battling a case of “The Roxy flu.” 

In some small way, the Roxy played its part in helping the Canucks post the most efficient home record in hockey in the course of the 2010-2011 season.

The NBA has its own version of the Roxy, even though it isn’t quite as specific. 

For years, probably the most Association’s under-the-radar betting maxims was to vanish road teams playing matinee weekend games in La and New York.  Why? The speculation was that with an abundance of opulent and lavish nightlife there for the taking within the league’s top two markets, visiting players would partake within the fun somewhat an excessive amount of before playing an early game the following day. 

If true, this theory would help explain the most important upset of the season, when the 17.5-point underdog Lakers thrashed the Golden State Warriors by 17 points in a Sunday home game that tipped-off at 12:30pm pacific time.

But here’s the massive question: Are we able to bank in this theory or is it just that - a theory?

Below you’ll find the breakdown for all Knicks, Lakers and Clippers games played on a Saturday or Sunday with a neighborhood tip time of 1:00pm or earlier for the reason that 1998-1999 season. 

New York Knicks

SU: 37-31ATS: 34-34O/U: 29-38-1

Los Angeles Lakers

SU: 29-15ATS: 21-20-3O/U: 20-24

Los Angeles Clippers

SU: 50-42ATS: 44-47-1O/U: 39-53

While all three teams have found varying degrees of success playing weekend home matinee games for the reason that 1998-1999 season, not one has turned a profit.  In fact, the Clippers are 4-10 ATS in these situations over the past two years, while the Knicks are 2-4 ATS in these situations this season alone. 

You’d actually be capable to make a better case that the Clippers, not their opponents, are those who've been enjoying the la nightlife slightly an excessive amount of before weekend matinee games.

However, while the Knicks, Lakers and Clippers all didn't turn a profit under this specific set of criteria, all three franchises was profitable within the totals department, specifically because it relates to unders. 

For weekend home matinee games from the 1998-1999 season until now, the under is hitting at 54.5 percent or higher for every club and 56.6 percent for all three teams collectively.  Those aren’t the kind of percentages to be able to send a bettor running for the counter, but they do function an extra piece of useful information when handicapping games that fall within this specific set of criteria.

So maybe the NBA doesn’t have its own version of the Roxy (although I hear the Toronto strip clubs have derailed quite a lot of Raptors opponents).  On the very least, we were capable of take a theory and debunk its merits in accordance with facts and data.  The betting game is all about information, but more specifically, it’s about correct and useable information. 

Now if you happen to don’t mind, I’ve got my very own case of Roxy flu to shake off.

Read More... [Source: Covers.com: NBA News and Stories]