Philadelphia 76ers big man Al Horford is concerned that the absence of fans in the NBA restart may affect how the game is played.
Horford — who's on his 13th year in the league — acknowledged that all players will be entering an unfamiliar environment. A good chunk of them is used to playing high-octane games with thousand of fans in the stands. But over the next few months, no crowd will be present to boost their energy. And Horford believes that this may have a significant impact on the game.
“It’s very different. This is all uncharted territory for all of us,” Horford said, per Ky Carlin of USA Today. “The level of basketball is put in question and you look at the intensity of the game and the fact that there are no fans. That’s something that I know has been talked about. That’s a big thing and it’s definitely going to be very different.”
As Al Horford mentioned, the points he raised have been talked about amongst NBA circles. The fact that there is no homecourt advantage can be a boon or a bane for teams. After all, basketball is a game of momentum and rhythm. Thousands of fans cheering a team on has the capacity to turn the game around. The same is true if thousands of fans boo the hell out of the team.
The 76ers will face the Indiana Pacers on Saturday for their first game back. It'll be followed by the San Antonio Spurs, Washington Wizards, Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers, and the Phoenix Suns.
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