Beware these houses of horror during the postseason

It's called "home-court advantage," but not every team has it.

In Atlanta, Miami, Charlotte and Memphis, the term is more myth than reality. In Houston, New Jersey and Indiana, home-court advantage comes into play only during winning times.

Kobe's house is a tough place to play in large part because it is Kobe's house. (Getty Images)

Until Monday's loss to Phoenix, Golden State was in the playoff picture, but the defeat eliminated the Warriors from the postseason. It's too bad because the "We Believe" crowd took NBA enthusiasm to a new level last spring.

But there are a few arenas in the NBA where home-court advantage comes into play each and every night of the regular season. And come playoff time, that edge is taken to another level.

So, if your team is heading into the postseason next weekend, here are four arenas you don't want them to play in.

Utah Jazz, EnergySolutions Arena

There are many Jazz fans out there who really do think the home team has yet to receive a favorable whistle in its building. That includes EnergySolutions and the Delta Center before it.

No arena reacts with more incredulousness when there is a foul on one of their players, and it's one of the reasons it's difficult to win in Salt Lake City. Well, that, the altitude and the fact they have had some pretty special teams.

Jazz fans are spoiled, truth be told. How can you not be when you get to have John Stockton-and-Karl Malone for more than a decade and then get Deron Williams-and-Carlos Boozer after that?

But you have to give it to them: Jazz fans are among the loudest and most passionate in the league. It means something, too. Utah is 36-4 at home this season.

Philadelphia 76ers, Wachovia Center

Don't expect Philly fans to be all rah-rah when the 76ers are bad. They are no chumps, and they don't just show up because there's a game on.

Poll What team has the best advantage on its home court?   44%  Jazz     25%  Lakers     4%  Sixers     13%  Pistons     14%  Warriors     Total Votes: 4436

But when the 76ers are good, the fans are, too. You can see the swell beginning right now, with Maurice Cheeks cleverly and unexpectedly steering this team into the postseason.

It is generally acknowledged that Philly fans are among the most knowledgeable, and when it's big-game time they rarely take a possession off.

The little-known bonus at 76ers games is the fan who writes taunts and jabs on his hand-held greaseboard behind the visitor's bench. One memorable sign, circa 2001: "The Warriors are three years away from being three years away."

Detroit Pistons, The Palace of Auburn Hills

In terms of sheer volume, the Palace is nothing special. In Philadelphia, crowd noise can consume the arena and the cascade of boos that rain down on an opposing player is truly a sound to behold.

The Palace, though, is huge and cavernous and virtually impossible to fill with noise. What you get instead is the ruthless courtside heckler, coming in loud and clear, willing to insult any visiting player, coach or even the strength and conditioning coach, for goodness sake.

L.A. Lakers, Staples Center

Sure, Lakers fans are infuriating. They arrive late and leave early. But give it up for them in the second and third quarters.

There aren't very many goose-bump moments in pro basketball. But one of them is when the Lakers go on a 15-2 run at the end of the third quarter, the opposing team calls timeout, and Randy Newman's I Love L.A. comes blaring out of the sound system.

You might hate the Lakers, but you've got to love that.

There's another reason Staples Center is one of the toughest places to play: Kobe Bryant is on the Lakers.