Great review! I love it when our fans get some props like that! It's true though, the majority of arenas have NO atmosphere, it's just some loud ass guy screamin' in a mic trying to get the crowd to yell D-Fense!
I think with Seattle and Vancouver now in Oklahoma City and Memphis, it's a special purpose trip to get up to the Pacific Northwest, so it's a long trip for visiting teams. That extra bit of travel can make a difference.
dimemag is blocked by McAfee on my laptop. Can you copy/paste a little more of the article? I'd like to at least know who is #1...
Toughest places to play? 1. LA Clippers. 2. Minnesota Timberwolves. 3. New Jersey Nets. 4. Toronto Raptors Oh you meant to visit for a road team, not to play on their team?
#1 - Utah #2 - Portland #3 - Denver #4 - Golden State #5 - Sacramento All Western Conference teams/arenas.
The thing about Arco is, all the steps in the arena are wood! When they stomp on it, it is real loud.
I agree with Denver. I'd say Utah then Denver/Portland are a close 2/3. Denver reminds me a lot of Boise State and the blue turf. Outside of the fans or noise, playing in Denver has the most physical edge of all locations due to the altitude. In a busy NBA schedule, you simply can't break from routine to specially prepare your body for a completely different 48 minutes of basketball as you'll get in Denver. You simply make yourself aware of it and attempt to mentally adjust, but the body still fails you to a point. So it gets the nod in my opinion on that alone - as where Utah and Portland get it based on environment, fans & noise.
Utah should get extra credit for the altitude, as should Denver. That has got to have an impact. Remember SLC is still at 4300 feet. Good enough for some thin air. And Arco is typically filled with a blue collar crowd. I used to go there and it was insane.
The thing about Arco is that it's a rundown piece of crap and the fans are obnoxious. Oh - and they do not take kindly when you respond to their stupid cowbells by ringing one of your own when their guys step to the line. The things they were yelling at me were not pretty.
Funny story, had an off day in Denver last season and there is a full hoop court in our hotel there. Played a little 3 on 3 half court and I literally almost died! After one game, I almost passed out..... lungs were burnin'!!!
My brother lives there and when I played there my lungs were burning. After a little bit I kind of got used to it so what they say about the players being fine after catching their second wind is true.
