>I used to think that and am now not so sure. I agree it's less of an advantage than the more typical 2-2-1-1-1 format. Bear in mind that the team with the middle three games at home almost never wins all three of them.
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>The only two times in the NBA I recall anyone winning all three middle games were ROAD teams. In the '90 finals, Detroit split the first two games at the Palace against Portland, then won all three in Portland. And then in 2001, the Lakers split the first two against the Sixers, then won all three in Philly.
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>I recall the home team winning twice in the NHL when they did the 2-3-2. When Edmonton won their first two Stanley Cups in '84 and '85, they split the first two games against the Islanders and Phillly, and then won all three games back in Edmonton.
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>I think it should ALWAYS be 2-2-1-1-1. The team with the better record shouldn't have to play three straight on the road.
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Unless it's to their advantage to do so ;-)

Add one to your list of NBA teams that swept the middle three on the road: the 1991 Bulls, their first championship team. They lost game 1 at the old Chicago Stadium to the Lakers on a last-second shot by Sam Perkins, then won four straight. The next year they won it at home against the Trailblazers (before they became the Jailblazers). The year after that Johnny Pax hit a 3 pointer in Phoenix to complete their first three-peat. That hadn't been done since the Celtics dynasty of the 60s.

The most memorable clincher of all for the Bulls -- Craig, you may want to go walk the dog now -- was in 1998 in Salt Lake City. The Jazz led by 3 with less than a minute to go. With Scottie Pippen's back so hurt he could hardly walk, much less contribute, prospects seemed dim for the Bulls if it went to game 7, also in SLC. The inbounds pass went to Michael and he took it straight to the hole for a layup, using only 3 or 4 seconds of the clock. That was the play that made the drama to come possible. The Jazz could no longer run out the clock. They brought it upcourt and worked it over to Karl Malone on the left side. MJ gave weakside help and stripped Malone of the ball. About 18 seconds to go, Jazz up 1. Shot clock off. MJ walked it up the left side of the court with the patience of an assassin. With under 10 seconds to go he made his move. He drove hard to a point near the right side of the free throw line, stepped sharply left, and squared up. The iconic photo of that shot, taken from behind MJ, the ball aloft, the faces of Jazz fans behind the basket frozen in apprehension, is on den walls and corporate lobbies all around Chicago and elsewhere. What a beautiful moment. As Bob Costas said on the game call, that would have been the perfect end to the perfect career. The shot leaves the hands and time momentarily freezes.