Every sport that uses a 7-game series to decide their champion says the same thing: When a series is tied 2-2, the winner of Game 5 will likely win the series. In the NBA, the same holds true.

In the 2010 NBA Finals, the Celtics and Lakers find themselves in this very situation. The series is tied at two games apiece and the winner of Game 5 is in the driver’s seat for another championship in their illustrious history. Game 5 is in Boston, even though the Lakers have home court advantage in the series due to the 2-3-2 format for the seven game series.

Which brings me to a very serious question: Who truly has home court advantage?

In the three rounds prior to the Finals, the playoff format is 2-2-1-1-1, which means a pivotal Game 5 is located at the team that has earned home court advantage. This keeps the pressure on the team that doesn’t own home court advantage, rather than the team that has earned the right to keep grips on the series.

Since Sunday’s Game 5 is in Boston, the Celtics have a better chance to win the game and take a 3-2 series lead than the home court advantage holding Lakers. I’m not ignoring the fact that the Lakers do have two home games waiting for them after Game 5 if they do lose, but that’s a lot of pressure for a team that was supposed to have earned something.

How is this fair, and why is there a change for the Finals? As it turns out, it can’t be TV because there are two days off between Games 4 and 5 and there was only one day off between Games 2 and 3 (which was used for travel). So that can’t be it. I guess it’s simply tradition; which to me is no excuse to keep it. The NBA is already using instant replay in the final two minutes of the game, which nearly screwed up the end of Game 3. So it’s time for David Stern to reassess this setup for the Finals. Although, while this likely won’t happen regardless, it is even less likely to happen if LA does pull out the road win.

For anyone who is thinking that the Game 5 winner doesn’t necessarily hold control in the series, take this statistic to heart: When a series is tied 2-2, 19 times out of 25 the winner of Game 5 wins the series.

Are you sold yet?

-Shooter