Quote:
Originally Posted by Oil Stain
Players/Coaches/Media say whatever suits their narrative in interviews.
Winning during a busy stretch of games? "It's great to get a good stretch of games so we can get in the rhythm."
Losing during a busy stretch of games? "We have had too much travel and no chance to practice which hasn't helped us get in the rhythm."
Home teams win more than away teams.
Tired teams, second night of back to backs, and especially third game in four games lose more than rested teams.
All the data I've ever seen backs up that playing at home and being rested is superior to playing tired and on the road.
I'll go with the data over what may be rationalizations.
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If a team were to start the season 10 games behind everyone else and just sat home and practiced for a month, no travel, hang out with the family, just a little daily skate with the boys, then they started playing games against teams that had played all month, how do you feel that would go?
Now imagine that team's core was replaced in the off season and the critical pieces are all new.
If you have any experience playing or coaching, you'd know habits are instilled during game play and reinforced during practice. You cannot fully form an in game habit from practice, scrimmage or even exhibition.
The home game part of the narrative may be a red herring, but the deficit in games compared to the rest of the league is not. Team needs to play some games.