Yao got booed and didn't miss a shot. Karl Malone, Kobe, and Shaq all got booed and took it to us.
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.