Just how tough is it to play in EngergySolutions Arena as an opposing player in a regular season game?

Ask the most recent Jazz home playoff game victim - the Houston Rockets. As if a regular season game wasn’t tough enough for Jazz opponents; now pack EnergySolutions Arena with 19,911 rabid fans and tell them it is playoff basketball time.

“(The Jazz) have good fans, they are loud and they are into it.” Rockets forward Shane Battier said. “There is a reason why they are 39-5 here on the year. (The Jazz) always draw energy from the fans and to beat them you have to take the crowd out of the game and play a solid game.”

For many Jazz opponents, coming out of the visitor’s tunnel and onto the floor in Salt Lake City during the NBA playoffs is not something they look forward to. The Jazz have used that extra energy their “sixth-man” provides and have turned it into a 79-32 overall playoff record in Salt Lake City, including a 16-7 record in series close out games.

“It’s always been a tough place to play. Utah has been a team and a city (Salt Lake) where it is hard to come in and win.” Rockets guard Bobby Jackson said. “I think the fans have a lot to do with that.”

The Jazz welcome the Los Angeles Lakers to Salt Lake City for Games 3 and 4 of the second round matchup and if history is any indicator, the Jazz should be able to gain momentum in the series with a Game 3 victory. Overall, the Jazz are 17-2 in the third game of a playoff series in Salt Lake City.

Second round games in Salt Lake City have gone in the favor of the Jazz an astonishing 74-percent of the time (27-7 overall) and Utah players look towards the fans to help continue the success in EnergySolutions Arena.

“I know playing on different teams in years past, coming here you always knew that the crowd was going to be into it, and that the crowd was going to be a factor.” Jazz sharp shooter Kyle Korver said. “Now that I do play from the other side, it is a factor and it helps a lot.”

The Jazz bring a 7-1 record against the Lakers in playoff games played in Salt Lake City, including picking up two wins over Los Angeles in Salt Lake City during the 1998 playoffs where Utah completed a sweep of the Lakers in the Western Conference finals.

Since its first trip to the NBA playoffs, Utah has seen only three postseasons in which the Jazz have completed the playoffs with a sub .500 playoff record at home and all three seasons resulted in first round exits for the Jazz (1989 against Golden State 0-2, 1990 against Phoenix 1-2, 1995 against Houston 1-2).

Jazz coaches are aware of the driving force that helps make up EnergySolutions Arena and know how the venue can make an impact. “I’ve never seen the wood or the baskets (of an arena) win you a game, you still have to play well.” Jazz assistant coach Phil Johnson said. “But it helps that the fans certainly give you a lot of support and I think it helps the younger players who are the role players who come off the bench.”

For Utah, getting in the flow of the offense is much easier during a home playoff game. The ball takes the fortunate bounce, the rim seems to get a little bigger for the home team and the calls seem to end up on your side. The Jazz have never had problems scoring in their home arena during the playoffs. In the 22 years of postseason action and the 111 playoff games that have been played in Salt Lake City, the Jazz have averaged 101.2 points per game, while holding playoff opponents to only 92.6 points per playoff game in Salt Lake City.

Perhaps it is frenzied Utah fans that make it difficult for opposing teams to get a rhythm in its offense. Maybe it is the fact that when opponents walk out to the floor at EnergySolutions Arena they know that they not only have to deal with the Jazz players on the floor, but they have to deal with the Jazz’s “sixth-man”, all 19,911 fans that make up the crowd.

“(The fans) are awfully loud. They really like their team and they are into the game.” Johnson added. “You go some places where the fans just kind of sit back and then in the fourth quarter they get into the game. But our fans are into the game, if we give them something to cheer about at all they are ready to go.”

By Kyle Flanagan