Is it the home crowd's fault?

[Bob-Section104]

The whole home record discussion has become inexplicable to the team and the coaches. No one seems to have a coherent answer. Many want to blame the fans who go to the games. But some of us fans who sit in the arena are doing everything we can to support the team.

But not EVERYONE who goes to a game is going to be a screamer and yeller in the face of lackluster and boring and frustrating play. (With that said, for the record, I have not booed the Nets once this year.)

Here is my top 10 list of plays that PLAYERS NEED TO MAKE to get and keep a crowd -- any crowd -- into the game:

1. An alley oop
2. Any other slam dunk (preferably on a dribble drive to the basket, and against a big guy)
3. A big time 3 when the team needs it or is on a roll
4. A great rejection -- a ferocious blocked shot
5. A fast break with a great basket at the end
6. Taking the lead when the team's been down for a while
7. A buzzer beater (at the end of any quarter, but especially at the end of the half and game)
8. A sustained run...anything over 8-0
9. Two 3-balls by the same player on consecutive possessions
10. A hard foul against a player on the other team who's killing us with shots

I welcome additions to the list, or comments about how the IZOD Center crowds are or are not to blame.

 

[Netsfan99]

Good list. We seriously have to do something about this home crowd, we cant continue losing @ home all season.

VC should start dunking @ home. Pull of a windmill or a 360.

 

[soul driver]

I don't think it's the crowd at all. The staff seems to try really hard to get people to have a good time- contests, dancers, etc. It's the players who have to put more effort into it.

 

[Claud]

My personal opinion is that if I'm getting paid millions of dollars to play basketball.. I would not give a shit if there were five, a hundred or a thousand fans cheering for me and my teamates who also are getting paid a lot of money just to play basketball. I have to give the fans something worth cheering for, not them giving me something to play for.. that is the reason I'm getting paid in the first place anyway.

 

[chingd15]

My personal opinion is that if I'm getting paid millions of dollars to play basketball.. I would not give a shit if there were five, a hundred or a thousand fans cheering for me and my teamates who also are getting paid a lot of money just to play basketball. I have to give the fans something worth cheering for, not them giving me something to play for.. that is the reason I'm getting paid in the first place anyway.

I absolutely agree with this comment, 100%, but I don't think it's the effort at home, I just think it's the momentum at home. Teams like Cleveland FEED off their crowd, so if they get one big play, they just get very very amped and it carries. When we get a big play, it doesn't feel like it has the same effect. Just an observation.

I don't think it's anyone's fault, we're the ones that care, but let's be honest.. when they come home, there's maybe.. 8,000? I know they say 13,000 but for the games I've been to, that's def not the case. I mean.. there just aren't that many people coming to the games and when it IS a big crowd, it's more in favor for the other team (ie: Knicks, Heat, Cavs, Lakers games).

 

[jacobronniegeorge]

this may seem a bit radical but how bout this

the team ownership is losing money anyway this year like it has over the past few years, by not having peeps in seats its hurting the profits and also the team

how about you offer free tickets to a game like and open game a couple of times a month this way you atleast ahve a shot at some sort of energy from the crowd

 

[Himuki]

i like the dunks but the stadium is in an ugly town

 

[SportsTicker]

Players wont say so, but they think so, acccording to Dave D'Alessandro in the Star Ledger tomorrow.

 

[MatUK]

i like the dunks but the stadium is in an ugly town

That tells us that we should stop this new asian fanbase bollocks. You obviously don't know what a lay-up is. (most probably because Yi can't do one)

 

[ly_yng]

Players wont say so, but they think so, acccording to Dave D'Alessandro in the Star Ledger tomorrow.

The 2015 Seattle Nets?

edit: Nope, the city retained the naming rights. Seattle Supersonics, baby!

 

[PsychoNetsFan34]

They can't win even when the crowd is in it. I was at the Bobcats game on Friday and with the 17,000 announced people their it was loud, roudy, and wild and they still lost. The fans were incredibly loud and into the game at all times. I've been to every game this year and aside from this one probably the Detroit game was the only one with as much energy for the team. Their were fans starting give me a N..give me a E...and so on chants...the whole arena was chanting Lets go Nets all at once and Defense incredible loud. It was actually one of the first games I have been to in the last couple of years that had that much energy (outside of a playoff game).

They definitely have it easier to turn around a home losing record then a road one, so at least they have that on their side. Hopefully they can put 3-5 home win games together and get out of the funk. It's all mental right now.

 

[MaxaMillion711]

they certainly dont help. everytime the opposition does something, they oo and ahh and cheer for them.

 

[PsychoNetsFan34]

they certainly dont help. everytime the opposition does something, they oo and ahh and cheer for them.

We'll that's because their not Nets fans. The way the Nets advertise, the last two seasons at least, is always about the opposition. They always say come see Lebron James, or Dwayne Wade. So people come out to see those guys play. Not to mention alot of people get free tickets and just cheer whoever is having a good game.

That's why the Bobcats game atmosphere was so great. People were on their feet and getting loud, and for once it was for the NETS.

 

[AhLian]

this may seem a bit radical but how bout this

the team ownership is losing money anyway this year like it has over the past few years, by not having peeps in seats its hurting the profits and also the team

how about you offer free tickets to a game like and open game a couple of times a month this way you atleast ahve a shot at some sort of energy from the crowd

Welcome to Sportstwo!

I think free tickets, or close to free tickets, is a good idea. It gives people a chance to watch the game and fills the empty seats. Once everyone gets to see a full stadium, they'll start paying money to watch the game again in the same environment.

 

[PsychoNetsFan34]

Welcome to Sportstwo!

I think free tickets, or close to free tickets, is a good idea. It gives people a chance to watch the game and fills the empty seats. Once everyone gets to see a full stadium, they'll start paying money to watch the game again in the same environment.

The Nets already give out free tickets all the time. Which is fine sometimes but upsets me as a season ticket holder who shelled out 700.00 for season tickets. It also doesn't make the environment any better because most of the free tickets go to Joe Anybody who doesn't care about the Nets and will cheer anybody who can dunk. Also sometimes the people that do get the tickets are from the inner city (and before anybody says anything I live in the inner city myself on the borders of East Orange and Newark) and unfortunate some of them don't appreciate it and just come to cause trouble or break a lot of rules.

 

[Himuki]

That tells us that we should stop this new asian fanbase bollocks. You obviously don't know what a lay-up is. (most probably because Yi can't do one)

i know what dunk is YI does a lot!

 

[Accelerate]

According to the Elias Sports Bureau

NETS: WHAT HOME-COURT ADVANTAGE?
The Nets won 114-103 in overtime at Charlotte, improving their road record to 10-4 versus a home record of just 5-11. New Jersey is the first NBA team ever to be simultaneously more than five games over .500 on the road and more than five games under .500 at home at any point in any season.

 

[ly_yng]

According to the Elias Sports Bureau

NETS: WHAT HOME-COURT ADVANTAGE?
The Nets won 114-103 in overtime at Charlotte, improving their road record to 10-4 versus a home record of just 5-11. New Jersey is the first NBA team ever to be simultaneously more than five games over .500 on the road and more than five games under .500 at home at any point in any season.

That's incredible.

 

[Bob-Section104]

They can't win even when the crowd is in it. I was at the Bobcats game on Friday and with the 17,000 announced people their it was loud, roudy, and wild and they still lost. The fans were incredibly loud and into the game at all times. I've been to every game this year and aside from this one probably the Detroit game was the only one with as much energy for the team. Their were fans starting give me a N..give me a E...and so on chants...the whole arena was chanting Lets go Nets all at once and Defense incredible loud. It was actually one of the first games I have been to in the last couple of years that had that much energy (outside of a playoff game).

They definitely have it easier to turn around a home losing record then a road one, so at least they have that on their side. Hopefully they can put 3-5 home win games together and get out of the funk. It's all mental right now.

Totally agree. I had the same reaction Friday night. The Dooling dunk (off the Harris steal) got everyone going crazy. The tight game had people loud and cheering.

There are some things that have to be accepted. We have a new team (only 3 guys from last year, and only one who played consistently for us all year long). We have one superstar and one who is emerging. We are a lame duck New Jersey franchise. We play in a horrible building. Even when the team was king of the East, we didn't draw huge crowds every night.

Players all knew this when they signed up (except for the ones who were traded here or drafted).

Now it is time to give us the kind of effort, intensity and energy that inspires the crowd to give it back in spades.

 

[Bob-Section104]

An interesting note on crowd excitement: For those who were at the two games where they let fans come down (Dallas and I think Miami they let about 6 sections come down), didn't it seem like the crowd was more vocal, more intense, more INTO the game, than most others? Now a bit more "packed in", you could actually HEAR people cheer and the crowd could also be heard by the players. I know I felt there was more buzz around the arena.

When 10,000 fans are spread out in a 20,000 seat arena, the noise gets muffled. I know my section is often 1/3 to 1/2 empty most nights.

By the way, one of those games we won and one we lost. Go figure; we're a .500 team.

 

[DevinNets34]

For those who keep thinking how to make this team better, I appreciate all of you.

Let's figure out how to make this stadium better.

Those tickets holders, you have to be the cheerleaders there, and make some slogans for the crowd to chant.

 

[PsychoNetsFan34]

An interesting note on crowd excitement: For those who were at the two games where they let fans come down (Dallas and I think Miami they let about 6 sections come down), didn't it seem like the crowd was more vocal, more intense, more INTO the game, than most others? Now a bit more "packed in", you could actually HEAR people cheer and the crowd could also be heard by the players. I know I felt there was more buzz around the arena.

When 10,000 fans are spread out in a 20,000 seat arena, the noise gets muffled. I know my section is often 1/3 to 1/2 empty most nights.

By the way, one of those games we won and one we lost. Go figure; we're a .500 team.

It's funny cause my girlfriend brought up the same thing. She said on any game where their is less than 12,000 people their they should move sections down. I also noticed the intensity when the lower level is full after being moved. What they should do is black out parts of the upper level. What I mean is a couple years ago (for reasons unknown to me) they had a black tarp cover 2 sections in the upper level. So more sections in the upper level were packed in together. I just think 20,000 seats is way to much especially for our franchise.

 

[killa kadafi191]

no.

the home crowd doesn't suit up and play. It's all about desire to win.

 

[Dumpy]

It's funny cause my girlfriend brought up the same thing. She said on any game where their is less than 12,000 people their they should move sections down. I also noticed the intensity when the lower level is full after being moved. What they should do is black out parts of the upper level. What I mean is a couple years ago (for reasons unknown to me) they had a black tarp cover 2 sections in the upper level. So more sections in the upper level were packed in together. I just think 20,000 seats is way to much especially for our franchise.

A long time ago, I remember it being said that the arena has amazing acoustics for concerts, but that, for the same reasons, you can't really hear the crowd cheer loudly at sporting events. Now, of course, they may not be cheering at all anyway, so who knows how much of an effect it has, or whether the acoustics are really any better than any more recently constructed arenas.

 

[Bob-Section104]

Ok, back from tonight's game. I walked in to the arena SHOCKED to see so many people (was this one of the games that had free tickets offered)?

This losing streak is NOT the crowd's fault.

The crowd didn't even boo during the first half; other nights they would have.

When the Nets went on their third quarter run, the crowd was into it. And stayed into it. We were DESPERATE for a win. Hungry. Loud. And the team? 1 point in the last 4 and a half minutes of the game.

I love the Nets. I hate this trend.

 

[PsychoNetsFan34]

Ok, back from tonight's game. I walked in to the arena SHOCKED to see so many people (was this one of the games that had free tickets offered)?

This losing streak is NOT the crowd's fault.

The crowd didn't even boo during the first half; other nights they would have.

When the Nets went on their third quarter run, the crowd was into it. And stayed into it. We were DESPERATE for a win. Hungry. Loud. And the team? 1 point in the last 4 and a half minutes of the game.

I love the Nets. I hate this trend.

I was shocked to see the box score and see almost 19,000 went to the game. And I don't believe it was a free ticket game so its a good sign. I was upset that I didn't go to the game, but after seeing the outcome I felt a little better for not going. Just would have been super pissed trying to get out of the parking lot....

 

[soul driver]

It wasn't exactly a free ticket game for tons of people, but it was a voucher game I believe. I was very happy to see how many people came- on a Monday night of all nights!

 

[DevinNets34]

Hey, why does the amount of crowd that goes to the IZOD CENTER become much more recently?

Is that caused by Chinese Population or what ?