Celtics own prime real estate

Home court in playoffs ultimate accommodation

Sam Cassell (left, with James Posey) owns two NBA championship rings and knows the first playoffs games in Boston will "get crazy. It's going to be bananas . . ." (File/Mike Stone/Reuters)

Celtics guard Sam Cassell had a spirited visit with former NBA forward Charles Oakley after last Saturday's win in Charlotte - a victory that clinched home-court advantage throughout the playoffs for Boston. When asked how significant an accomplishment that was, Cassell smiled toward Oakley and said, "Ask him. He lost a Game 7 on our home court."

Cassell was referring to the 1994 NBA Finals, when his Rockets knocked off a New York Knicks team that featured not only Oakley, but a guard by the name of Doc Rivers in Game 7 at the Summit in Houston.

"[The Knicks] had a big, physical, compact team," Cassell said. "We had Hakeem [Olajuwon], but we were basically a finesse team. But I think because we had home court is why we won the championship. I don't think we would have won that Game 7 in New York."

Rivers remembers the loss as if it happened yesterday and described it as "a terrible day."

"I remember sitting in the locker room and in that old Summit, you could hear everything," said Rivers, who was lost for the season in December with a knee injury. "[Coach Pat] Riley didn't have anything to say to us. What do you say? We just lost Game 7 of the world championship. That's something I've told several guys about.

"You'll never forget that."

Home court should suit the Celtics, who are 33-6 at home, including 14-1 against the Western Conference. They have outscored opponents by an average of 12.4 points at home. They also own advantages in rebounds (4.5), assists (6.2), and steals (1.3).

The Celtics are averaging a franchise-best 18,624 fans this season and have sold out every regular-season and playoff game.

Paul Pierce understands how intimidating the Garden can be in the postseason. Among his four trips to the playoffs is the 2002 run to the Eastern Conference finals. While Boston's regular-season crowd was ear piercing at times, Pierce is expecting the playoff crowd to reach another level in the place he calls "The Jungle."

"I expect it to be off the charts," Pierce said. "People see how our crowd is during the regular season, but I tell them that it's going to be 10 times as loud as that. You're probably going to have games where fans won't even sit down. I just remember watching the games from TV and listening to how loud it was when I watched games over that I played in playoffs there. We're going to have a crazy atmosphere."

Cassell, who owns two NBA championship rings, agreed.

"It's going to get crazy. It's going to be bananas that first playoff game. For these guys that have never been to the playoffs, Rajon [Rondo], Leon [Powe], they won't believe the intensity and how loud the crowd is going to be from start to finish.

"It's a different loud. They aren't going to understand it. They haven't seen nothing like it. It's louder than a college atmosphere."

Forward James Posey, who won a title with Miami in 2006, noted that another big plus to having home court is less time on the road.

"There are just comforts that come with being home," Posey said. "You are in your own bed. You're in your regular routine getting ready for the game. Average things like that.

"When you're on the road, you're in a hotel. You have to find places to eat and you're just thrown off a little bit. At home, you're in a comfort zone of having your home crowd. It feels good to have that backing."

Home-court advantage has historically been great for the Celtics.

Boston is 156-57 overall in the postseason at home. The Celtics are also 14-3 in Game 7s at home and 17-5 in Game 7s overall.

"Home-court advantage can be an advantage," said Celtics general manager Danny Ainge, who won NBA titles with the Celtics in 1984 and '86. "Game 7s on a home court can be an advantage. You have to win on the road to typically win a series. But that final and deciding game on your home court is something everyone wants.

"I played in seven Game 7s on my home court. I think it's an advantage, but not a guarantee."

Marc J. Spears can be reached at mspears@globe.com.