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I can't speak for the whole nation, but here in OKC at least, home advantage has always been a point of pride. I mean, does the term "Loud City" ring any bells? Recently, we've all been hearing a lot about home court advantages, especially concerning the Thunder. So, I set out and tried to determine the team that gets the best boost from the home crowd in the metropolitan area. Keep in mind, this doesn't mean most raucous crowd. It's a ranking of which team's play at home is the most significantly better than their season averages. Also, because the Thunder are new to OKC, I only included stats from the most recent season, including seasons in progress. So, here we go...
6) Oklahoma City Blazers
Current Season Win %: .688 Home Win %: .545 Difference: Down 14.3%
Current Season PPG: 3.563 Home PPG: 3.091 Difference: Down 13.2%
Current Season Opp. PPG: 2.719 Home Opp. PPG: 2.5 Difference: Down 8.1%
Final Home (+/-): -19.4
This is really stunning. The Blazers usually have one of the best home ice advantages in the league. This year in particular it's bizarre. Attendance is down because of the Thunder, but they still lead the league. They're also first in their division. For whatever reason though, they do much better on the road. If there is a plus though, it's that they allow 8.1% less points at home as opposed to their season average.
5) Oklahoma City Thunder???
Current Season Win %: .209 Home Win %: .261 Difference: Up 5.2%
Current Season PPG: 96.0 Home PPG: 95.48 Difference: Down .5%
Current Season Opp. PPG: 102.8 Home Opp. PPG: 100.09 Difference: Down 2.6%
Final Home (+/-): 7.3
How'd this happen? I thought this was the loudest crowd in the league. I can testify that they're easily pound for pound the best crowd in the 405 area code. One answer: they play teams capable of beating them every single night. Outside of the major league ranks you're bound to play someone who is completely out-manned. There's just a bigger difference in talent disparity.
4) Oklahoma City Redhawks
Previous Season Win %: .528 Home Win %: .553 Difference: Up 2.5%
Previous Season RPG: 5.13 Home RPG: 5.553 Difference: Up 8.2%
Previous Season Opp. RPG: 4.92 Home Opp. RPG: 4.908 Difference: Up .2%
Final Home (+/1): 10.5
Also a little surprising. As with most OKC area teams, they do well, winning their division and coming just short of a AAA Championship last season. They play well enough at home for it to be a significant difference, but they definitely aren't too much different on the road. Will the new logo help? I doubt it.
3) Oklahoma Sooner Basketball
Current Season Win %: .947 Home Win %: 1.00 Difference: Up 5.3%
Current Season PPG: 79.21 Home PPG: 82.09 Difference: Up 3.6%
Current Season Opp. PPG: 64.21 Home Opp. PPG: 62.46 Difference: Down 2.7%
Final Home (+/-): 11.6
The Sooners do better offensively, defensively, and in the win column at the LNC. However, these are all moderate improvements. The Lloyd Noble crowd has always been notoriously dim, but I will say, I have been there a couple of times this season, and they are getting better. Is it the new Starbucks in the arena that is helping the Sooners? No way Jose. I think it's spelled B-L-A-K-E. And the Starbucks line is always the shortest at the game. That's right, people would rather buy pitiful pricey personal pan Pizza Hut pepperoni pizzas (alliteration anyone?) than coffee at a basketball game.
2) Oklahoma Sooner Football
Previous Season Win %: .857 Home Win %: 1.00 Difference: Up 14.3%
Previous Season PPG: 51.14 Home PPG: 52.67 Difference: Up 3%
Previous Season Opp. PPG: 24.5 Home Opp. PPG: 19.67 Difference: Down 19.7%
Final Home (+/-): 37
As we all now, the Sooners under Bob Stoops have been near unbeatable at home. Granted, their toughest game of the year, Texas, is at a neutral site every season, and that does help. Still, look at that defensive improvement, 19.7%. Not bad for the Big XII. Owen Field has, is, and always will be kind to the Sooners. If only the BCS were as nice...
1) Oklahoma City Yard Dawgs???
Previous Season Win %: .375 Home Win %: .625 Difference: Up 25%
Previous Season PPG: 43.25 Home PPG: 52.75 Difference: Up 22%
Previous Season Opp. PPG: 57.06 Home Opp. PPG: 58.63 Difference: Up 2.8%
Final Home (+/-): 44.2
I'm as shocked as you are. How did the worst team in OKC have the best home boost? Well, it helped that most of their early games, when they sucked so terribly, were on the road. Still, the improvement in winning percentage and offensive production is amazing. Sure, the defensive unit actually did worse at the Ford Center, but that is easily masked by the other huge numbers. Interesting Note: The Yard Dawgz recently signed former OU quarterback Tommy Grady. You remember, the guy who transferred to Utah because he couldn't pass Paul Thompson or Rhett Bomar. He didn't start at Utah either. All signs seem to indicate that he'll be on the bench in OKC as well.
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