It was one of like five points in my post. You and a few others decided to debate it with me. I'm merely defending my position.
Yes, it ruins the experience for me. There's nothing you or PG can say to change out minds on this. Cheering for any member of the other team during a playoff game is RIDICULOUS. And this does not make us less "classy" than you. That is a fucking retarded thing to say. If any thing, you guys are bigger pussies. j/k
Superstars aren't generally bothered by crowds. True. Is Aaron Brooks a superstar? I think there's a lot of evidence, if only circumstantial, that role players and young players can underperform when they are singled out for ridicule by an opposing team's fans. Not everybody has the mental toughness of a Kobe Bryant. How else do you explain home court advantage? Do you really think it only exists because players aren't sleeping in their own beds? Do you think players are lying when they say, "X arena is one of the toughest places in the league for a visitor."? I think a lot of what they mean is, "The fans there really get into the heads of some of our role players." Was cheering for Aaron Brooks a deal breaker? I doubt it. In the second quarter, Oden clearly had his man pinned behind him, yet Outlaw refused to pass the ball in for the easy dunk. Instead, he took a tough 20 footer and missed. Did that one shot lose us the game? I doubt that too. It doesn't absolve Outlaw of responsibility, though. And it doesn't make it a good idea to cheer for an opposing player, regardless of the circumstances. Hopefully the fans come tuesday night ready to scream at everybody in a Rockets jersey. Save "classy" for the regular season.
My $.02 I would never cheer any Laker. I don't care if he's my brother. Or my brother's husband. Or my wife's brother. Or if he saved my life when I was drowning or saved Brandon Roy's life when he was drowning. I may love him off court but on court he's a Laker. Period. I can see acknowledging Rick Adelman at a playoff game. After all, he coached a playoff run for this team. Not an ovation, just polite applause. Opponent players, no. No ovations. As to who is louder. I was not there but have gone to lots of games in 3 sports including post season. In playoffs a lot of tix go to sponsors, A list, league and team officials, etc. They are not true fans, they are not the ones who have been there all year. And the only seats available to the truly manic fans are in the higher, or further back (depending on venue) sections. So yes they tend to be louder and more enthusiastic. I once scored a prime seat for an A's playoff game, Rickey Henderson stole second, stole third, scored on a "sacrifice fly" that was barely more than a pop-up; no one else would have attempted to score that run. I was on my feet screaming and people were looking at me funny. One man even told me to pipe down. In Oakland, in the League Championship Series. It was like, who is this refugee from the bleachers? Then I sat in the bleachers and everyone was screaming.
