Hawks hope Lakers don't feel welcomed at Philips Arena

By Michael Cunningham

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Los Angeles Lakers are in town on Wednesday.

That doesn’t mean they have to feel welcomed.

Feel free to boo Kobe Bryant. Go ahead and goad Pau Gasol. Let Lamar Odom know there will be no Southern hospitality for the Lakers at Philips Arena.

It seems Hawks fans may need to be reminded, so Hawks coach Mike Woodson will do so. The marquee teams and stars who’ve visited Philips Arena this season have been too warmly received for Woodson’s tastes.

“It shouldn’t be that way,” Woodson said. “There [are] enough people in this city to support the Hawks. I think we are a fun team to watch. We’ve grown definitely over the years, from the time we started to where we are today.

“Sure, I’d like to see more people in their seats and rooting for our guys.”

Instead, the Hawks have seen fans root for opponents in their house.

Cleveland’s LeBron James has been cheered here even though the Cavaliers swept the Hawks out of the playoffs last season. Even Kevin Garnett and the Celtics, foils in some testy games with the Hawks, have gotten some love.

(Fans get a pass for cheering local guy Dwight Howard, the Orlando Magic center.)

At least they booed Heat guard Dwyane Wade, who drew their ire during Miami’s first-round playoffs loss to the Hawks last year. He heard it nearly every time he touched the ball during Miami’s victory last month.

But it may not be like that for Bryant, who probably remains the most popular player in the league.

“Before the game if [fans] want to cheer him, that’s fine,” Hawks center Al Horford said. “But once the game gets going, obviously, you came to watch us [so] you have got to support us.”

The Hawks have put on a show at Philips Arena this season. Their 30-7 home record is tied with Boston for second-best in the Eastern Conference behind Cleveland. The Hawks rank fifth in points scored per game at home (104.9).

Now Woodson would like for Hawks fans to do their part to make Philips unwelcoming for visiting teams. That’s how it was for the Pistons when Woodson was an assistant coach there prior to taking over the Hawks.

“When you came up in The Palace, you were in ‘Detroitland,’” Woodson said. “They [fans] made the difference in a lot of ballgames that we won. And it needs to be like that here.

“I am selfish in my own ways because I’ve coached this team for six years and I’ve watched them grow and I think they deserve that. They don’t come out and lay down. They play hard every night and I think they deserve the support.”

The Hawks’ distaste for the cheers for their opponents is about more than just pride. A big part of the home team’s advantage stems from players drawing energy from their fans, as well as the pressure a boisterous crowd can put on opponents.

Hawks forward Joe Smith played with James in Cleveland. He said the support the Cavaliers enjoyed at road arenas gave them a lift.

“It does,” Smith said. “You are on the visiting floor but it gives you a little home feel.”

And what’s it like for the home team when fans back the visitors?

“It sucks,” Smith said. “You always want to use home floor as an advantage. When we go out there and teams have more [jerseys] or more fans cheering, that’s a bad feeling for the home team.”

Of course, Atlanta is hardly the only place the Lakers have a following. They are one of the top brands in the NBA along with the Celtics and Knicks.

The Lakers lead the league in average road attendance at 19,172 per game, according to league figures. Officially, they’ve played in arenas packed to 100.7 percent capacity for their 37 road games.

Bryant has been No. 1 on the NBA’s list of jersey sales since the beginning of the 2008-09 season and the Lakers are No. 1 in team merchandise sales.

“How can you not be a fan of the Lakers?” Woodson asked. “There are fans all over the world who root for the Lakers. They win titles. We are trying to get where they’ve been. I understand that.

“But if we are going to be a serious team and a city that really stands behind our team, then it should just be one way: Hawks fans in Philips Arena, getting it on and having a good time. That’s what it is all about.”

Hawks guard Jamal Crawford makes the case that support for visiting teams is due to the significant number of transplants in Atlanta. Crawford was on the other end of that equation when he played for the Knicks, who were supported by relocated New Yorkers in several cities.

Will it motivate the Hawks if the Lakers get too many cheers in their arena?

“We will have our fans in there, too,” Crawford said. “It will be like one of those boxing matches where the same place is kind of divided. I am sure it will be a lot of fun.”