Last night Arco was amazing. Makes me realize the reason that you can never count this team out of a playoff series, the Arco crowd is just too good. It is interesting that Arco seems to perform its best when the team's back is against the wall and momentum is truly not in our favor. That is what you want in a home crowd. Any arena can be jacked when their team is in control of a game or series, but what is so special about Arco is that it is loud in good times and bad, and really gives the team energy.
I saw the beginning of the Philly game last night, and the first few minutes of the Memphis game before I headed to Arco, and the difference was noticeable. The Philly fans were quiet early until the team got rolling (almost like they didn't believe they could win the series until Philly had the game in hand). Memphis came out with incredible fan energy, but once they fell behind the crowd went dead and there was no crowd energy. You would never see either one of those at Arco. Just another reason why Kings fans are the best in the NBA.
That begs the question, what is the best crowd atmosphere you have experienced at Arco (playoff or regular season). I have only had the pleasure of about 5 regular season games a year, and about 8-10 playoff games, so here is what I say...
1) Game 5 vs. Lakers WCF- AMAZING. You would think the crowd would be flat after Robert F****** Horry, but the crowd came out with just tremendous energy. The place was rolling all night long, and the loudest moment I can ever remember at Arco was the pure orgasmic scream when Bibby hit the game winner.
2) Game 3 vs. Seattle, 1996- Yeah, we lost, but the standing ovation to greet the players, and the incredible noise all game long were something special.
3) Last night- Like I said, my prespective is a little skewed because I haven't been to every game, but I didn't know what to expect from the crowd. Correct me if I am wrong, but the last time we came home down 0-2 was the year the Lakers swept us. The crowd then didn't have a memorable game 3, and it is always tough to know if everyone has given up down 0-2, or if they still believe. Last night led me to think everyone still beleives.
4) Game 7 vs. Lakers WCF- It makes the list because of the magnitude of the game- the biggest ever at ARCO- but to be honest, the crowd, liek the team, seemed more nervous and apprehnsive rather than truly ear-splittingly loud.
Otehr games... opinions....
I saw the beginning of the Philly game last night, and the first few minutes of the Memphis game before I headed to Arco, and the difference was noticeable. The Philly fans were quiet early until the team got rolling (almost like they didn't believe they could win the series until Philly had the game in hand). Memphis came out with incredible fan energy, but once they fell behind the crowd went dead and there was no crowd energy. You would never see either one of those at Arco. Just another reason why Kings fans are the best in the NBA.
That begs the question, what is the best crowd atmosphere you have experienced at Arco (playoff or regular season). I have only had the pleasure of about 5 regular season games a year, and about 8-10 playoff games, so here is what I say...
1) Game 5 vs. Lakers WCF- AMAZING. You would think the crowd would be flat after Robert F****** Horry, but the crowd came out with just tremendous energy. The place was rolling all night long, and the loudest moment I can ever remember at Arco was the pure orgasmic scream when Bibby hit the game winner.
2) Game 3 vs. Seattle, 1996- Yeah, we lost, but the standing ovation to greet the players, and the incredible noise all game long were something special.
3) Last night- Like I said, my prespective is a little skewed because I haven't been to every game, but I didn't know what to expect from the crowd. Correct me if I am wrong, but the last time we came home down 0-2 was the year the Lakers swept us. The crowd then didn't have a memorable game 3, and it is always tough to know if everyone has given up down 0-2, or if they still believe. Last night led me to think everyone still beleives.
4) Game 7 vs. Lakers WCF- It makes the list because of the magnitude of the game- the biggest ever at ARCO- but to be honest, the crowd, liek the team, seemed more nervous and apprehnsive rather than truly ear-splittingly loud.
Otehr games... opinions....