Why do teams win more at home?

In the NBA, the primary purpose the long and tedious regular season serves is to help garner home-court advantage in the post-season. But, looking at the game logically, it should not matter whether the game is home or away as all rules of the game are pretty much standard (unlike baseball and cricket, where the dimensions of the field are not completely specified). And, of course, you would expect professional players to be hardened against vociferous opposition from the crowd in away games! So, what advantages do home games really offer. Follow the below link for an insightful on this (thanks to Sumit for this).

http://msn.foxsports.com/story/3216500

Donno if any of you followed the Aus-NZ game the other night. I was following it on Cricinfo and was amazed to read that Oram played a "reverse pull" off Hogg. Yeah, you read right, a "reverse pull". Never heard that term before and don't actually remember anyone playing that shot. Missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?!! Anyway, after the drab series against SA, the Indian team is finally the subject of some excitement with the death threat from some arbit terrorist outfit. Let's see how things go. Atleast England completed the tour of Zimbabwe without anything much happening (other than England's objection to use of Ian Bell's photographs as propaganda by the Zimbabwe goverment).

The sports world is pretty dull right now other than the sparkle provided by Nadal's drubbing of Roddick. Hope the Aus tour of Pak will produce some interesting contests (though Pak managed to lose to a Western Australia Second XI !!).

Cheers,
Harsha