1.   And none had to overcome the lack of homecourt advantage in the semifinal round, a task the Lakers are handling nicely against San Antonio.

2.   Arco Arena is considered the best homecourt advantage in the league, and though the Kings know that guarantees little, they like the edge.

3.   Besides, the Sonics had the homecourt advantage, the best record in the West and a historic matchup dominance over the Rockets that bordered on the preposterous.

4.   Boston may have homecourt advantage at that point, but every other edge will belong to Philadelphia.

5.   But Robert Horry, eyeing the coveted homecourt advantage the Lakers lost out on by one game, was rooting for a pair of upsets.

6.   But the Sonics would then face the prospect of meeting either the Lakers or Jazz in the second round without homecourt advantage.

7.   But without homecourt advantage in the conference finals, they still come up a game short.

8.   Even for an All-Star Game, the intensity level was unusually low, robbing The Admiral of his homecourt advantage.

9.   For the moment, the Sonics sit atop the race for homecourt advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs.

10.   For the second straight year they bowed out in the first round despite entering the playoffs with homecourt advantage.