Home teams finally do it

LOS ANGELES – Homecourt advantage didn’t mean much in the NBA playoffs until yesterday morning (Manila time) when three games were won by teams playing before loyal fans, including the Houston Rockets who survived a do-or-die situation against Portland.

Before the three home wins, 21 of 36 playoff matches were clinched on the road. Now, it’s 21 of 39 so the rate of incidence has dropped from 59 to 54 percent. It’s still an improbable statistic that there are more road than home wins so far in the playoffs.

Only two series have been iced. Miami brought down Charlotte in four straight and No. 5 Washington upset No. 4 Chicago in five with four of the games won on the road. The Wizards clinched in Game 5, 75-60, in Chicago.

Today, the East’s No. 1 seed Indiana tries to stay alive against No. 8 Atlanta in Game 6 on the road. If the Pacers survive, they bring the clincher back to Indiana. Atlanta won Games 1 and 5 on the road and the Hawks lost Game 4 at home. Two other series could end today. The Los Angeles Clippers go for the closer in Game 6 against Golden State in Oakland while Memphis hopes to dispose of Oklahoma City in Game 6 at home. If the three home teams win, Atlanta and Memphis advance to the next round and Game 7 will be played in Los Angeles between the Clippers and Warriors.

Tomorrow, three more series could end. Toronto is a win away from striking Brooklyn out but Game 6 will be played at Barclays Center. San Antonio could finish off Dallas in Game 6 on the road where the Spurs won Game 4. Coach Gregg Popovich’s squad has won two in a row after losing two in a row. Popovich is a master of adjustments but to ditch the Mavericks, the Spurs must play uncompromising defense on Vince Carter, Dirk Nowitzki and Monta Ellis. Portland is under pressure to beat Houston in Game 6 at home. If the Rockets win, Houston will host Game 7. The Trail Blazers once sat on a 3-1 series lead and lost Game 5 on the road. LaMarcus Aldridge was held to eight points in Game 5 after averaging 35.3 points in the first four encounters. Aldridge tallied 46 in Game 1, 43 in Game 2, 23 in Game 3 and 29 in Game 4.

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A player in Houston’s playoff roster is 6-9 Josh Powell who played two games for Ginebra San Miguel in the PBA a few weeks ago. Powell flew in to replace Leon Rodgers in the Ginebra cast and in his PBA debut, delivered 16 points and 15 rebounds to lift the Barangay to an 88-78 win over Meralco. Then came a call from his US agent. Powell was offered a contract by the Rockets. Powell played 15 minutes and didn’t score in his second and last game for Ginebra against Alaska last April 13. He didn’t see action even for a minute in the second half, claiming some kind of foot injury. Powell left Manila after the game and suited up for Houston in the Rockets’ last regular season game against New Orleans last April 16. He had four points and five rebounds. Powell hasn’t stepped on the floor for the playoffs.

A source said when Powell bade Ginebra farewell, Gabe Freeman was the only player ready to fly in at a moment’s notice. Despite being undersized, Freeman came through with 29 points and 17 rebounds in his first Ginebra game which turned out to be a 105-101 loss to Rain Or Shine. In the playoffs, Ginebra battled unbeaten Talk ‘N’ Text with a twice-to-beat disadvantage. The Texters crushed Ginebra, 97-84, to rule out a rematch. Freeman exited with 15 points and 22 rebounds.

Prospective naturalized player Andray Blatche was involved in the final play of Game 5 between Brooklyn and Toronto yesterday morning (Manila time). He hit two free throws as the Nets tied it, 106-all, with 1:23 left. Blatche then scored a layup. With the Raptors up 115-112 and eight ticks to go, Blatche was fouled. He sank the first free throw, missed the second and grabbed the offensive rebound. Blatche threw a pass to Deron Williams but the ball sailed over his head and wound up in the backcourt for a turnover. That settled the count for the Raptors, 115-113. Blatche finished with seven points and four rebounds in 15:31 minutes.

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In five playoff games, Blatche is averaging 6.6 points and 4.6 rebounds. He’s the Nets’ leading rebounder with 23 overall and tied with Joe Johnson with 20 free throw attempts, second to Williams’ 27. Blatche compiled 12 points and four rebounds in 18:02 minutes in Game 3 where he went 8-of-8 from the line.

If the Pacers lose to Atlanta in Game 6, they’ll be the sixth No. 1 seed to fall in the first round in NBA history since 1994. Indiana is imploding and under pressure to survive by beating the Hawks twice in a row. Neither Indiana nor Atlanta has won two straight in the series. The Pacers must win Game 6 on the road before sending it back to a winner-take-all showdown in Game 7 at home.

Washington will play the Indiana-Atlanta winner while Miami faces the Toronto-Brooklyn survivor in the second round. The San Antonio-Dallas winner takes on the Portland-Houston survivor while the Oklahoma City-Memphis winner meets the Clippers-Golden State survivor in the second round.