09 Playoffs- Lakers vs Rockets Series thread

[cly2tw]

BRook and Artest wasted way too many offensive possessions. Now Yao seems to be hurt. It's unlikely for Rox to turn the tide now.

 

[D-Dogg]

And btw, I totally heart Yao. I remember when he came into the league I thought he was at best a bust, at worst a gimmick.

However, he's refreshing...a very freaking good player, great offensive touch, great ball skills, decent D for a dude his size, and as a personality he is incredible. If you've never watched a Yao presser, he's very freaking funny. From what I've read, he's even more funny on day to day things when he's with the media.

abomb and I were talking about how interesting this series is...where I can't really say anything bad about the other guys. Battier, he's a stud and a hard worker. Ron is certifiably insane, but I love the guy. Yao is great. The young dudes are fun and they all work SO hard. Brooks is a freak...midget freak. Wafer was a former laker, fauxhawk and all. Hell, I even feel bad for sleepy eyed TMac.

So far, it's been really interesting to see the lazy, complacent, half-ass Lakers against two teams that though they aren't within the talent range of the Lakers, are stacked with guys who WILL NOT STOP coming at you, at all, all game long. And thus, they make these games very fun to watch...wondering how long the Lakers can ride talent before they have to dig deep and start laying their blood on the floor as well. Houston is forcing them to play the way they must play if they want to win a title.

 

[Darth Llama]

And btw, I totally heart Yao. I remember when he came into the league I thought he was at best a bust, at worst a gimmick.

However, he's refreshing...a very freaking good player, great offensive touch, great ball skills, decent D for a dude his size, and as a personality he is incredible. If you've never watched a Yao presser, he's very freaking funny. From what I've read, he's even more funny on day to day things when he's with the media.

abomb and I were talking about how interesting this series is...where I can't really say anything bad about the other guys. Battier, he's a stud and a hard worker. Ron is certifiably insane, but I love the guy. Yao is great. The young dudes are fun and they all work SO hard. Brooks is a freak...midget freak. Wafer was a former laker, fauxhawk and all. Hell, I even feel bad for sleepy eyed TMac.

So far, it's been really interesting to see the lazy, complacent, half-ass Lakers against two teams that though they aren't within the talent range of the Lakers, are stacked with guys who WILL NOT STOP coming at you, at all, all game long. And thus, they make these games very fun to watch...wondering how long the Lakers can ride talent before they have to dig deep and start laying their blood on the floor as well. Houston is forcing them to play the way they must play if they want to win a title.

Agreed, Yao is a warrior through and through. I was skeptical on him when he came into the league, but that guy has earned every bit of the hype around him. His shooting, his passing, his defense, the guy is a fantastic player. I'm obviously rooting for the Lakers, but man the more I watch Yao, the more I like him.

 

[D-Dogg]

Yeah, and lest you forget just how freaking IMMENSE Yao is, check the pic below.

It is unreal how large he is...it makes his footwork more impressive, and it also makes Kobe's moves on him (the dunks and blocks) all the more ridiculous.

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[cly2tw]

Yeah, and lest you forget just how freaking IMMENSE Yao is, check the pic below.

It is unreal how large he is...it makes his footwork more impressive, and it also makes Kobe's moves on him (the dunks and blocks) all the more ridiculous.

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Funny pic. I thought they were holding a blond Barby doll together.

 

[Mulli]

War Lakuz!

 

[D-Dogg]

Yao's ankle is apparantly pretty badly sprained...his status for Game 4 is unknown.

I hope he plays...and if he doesn't, I'd be mad at Adleman if I were a Rox fan. And also...China. They make that poor man play basketball non-stop, every summer, all the time. He's ginormous, and that much pounding isn't good for his legs. Any wonder he keeps having issues with his knees and lower legs?

 

[mojorizen7]

So was such a hard foul when the game was already out of reach. Just go up with the guy and try to block it, especially a "soft" player like Gasol. Going for the upper body with a lot of force when a guy is in the air and your name is Ron Artest is just asking for trouble.

"No hard fouls!"

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Horrible call. NBA refs are clueless.

 

[O]

Yao is done, out for the rest of the series.
Series over.

 

[mojorizen7]

Yao is done, out for the rest of the series.
Series over.

link?

Now my only hope for the cancellation of the LakeShow is LeBron and his CAVALRY.

 

[mojorizen7]

Nvrmnd, found it.
http://www.nba.com/2009/playoffs2009/05/09/yao.out.playoffs/index.html

Rockets center Yao Ming has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2009 NBA Playoffs after further diagnostic procedures conducted today revealed a small hairline fracture in his left foot. The finding is in addition to the earlier diagnosis of a left ankle sprain that he sustained during Friday night's 108-94 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals playoff series. While no surgery is needed, the expected recovery timeline is between eight to 12 weeks.

"Yao Ming had an initial test taken in the early morning hours on Saturday following the game," said Rockets Team Physician Dr. Tom Clanton. "The original diagnosis of the left ankle sprain was based on the results of that test. Further diagnostic procedures performed later in the day, revealed a hairline fracture on the top of his left foot. In order for the bone to heal properly, Yao will need to immobilize the foot by wearing a walking boot. No surgery is required and he should be able to resume his regular workout routine sometime between the next eight to 12 weeks."​

​

 

[Renz]

Yao is done, out for the rest of the series.
Series over.

The series was over anyway. This will just make it that much easier.

 

[D-Dogg]

The series was over anyway. This will just make it that much easier.

Yep, but watch the Lakers lose this next game by coming out fat and lazy thinking they have it in the bag now that Yao is out. Still coasting on talent.

 

[Errntknght]

Yep, I wouldn't be surprised if the Rockets won the next game. With Scola, Landry and Hayes they aren't too badly outmanned in the paint. The little I've watched, Hayes seemed to do pretty well defending Gasol down low, though I imagine Pau can shoot 16 ft jumpers at will with his 6" height advantage. Their big problem is that Artest may fire off 40 even more difficult shots...

 

[mojorizen7]

Artest will surely get the

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to fire away at will.
I still think the Rockets lose this one though. Kobe will bury them.
Houston will miss Yao's rebounding the most.

 

[Darth Llama]

link?

Now my only hope for the cancellation of the LakeShow is LeBron and his CAVALRY.

Don't count out the Denver Nuggets, they're scary good.

 

[Proteus]

Lakers down 36-54 after the 2nd quarter.

 

[Proteus]

Lakers down 40-67 with 6:55 left in the 3rd quarter.

 

[Proteus]

Lakers down 54-83 after the 3rd quarter.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Maybe a "Mother's Day Massacre" will wake this team up.

 

[D-Dogg]

Yep, but watch the Lakers lose this next game by coming out fat and lazy thinking they have it in the bag now that Yao is out. Still coasting on talent.

:iwin:

 

[KloD]

Lakers in 5.

Lakers will roll off 4 straight.

If you think this isn't over...you will be singing a different tune in game 5 when LA closes it out.

 

[D-Dogg]

If Yao wouldn't have gone down, my 4 in a row would have come through. I have no doubts about that.

Taking Yao out of the equation speeds up the Rox, and let the Lakers get big-headed thinking they had it in the bag. Those are two VERY bad omens, and had the makings of a classic Lakers turdfest...hence I called it prior to it happening.

I expect the Lakers to buck up, and take the next two, but that swirling turd they just flushed down would have, IMO, been a Laker win going back to LA up 3-1 if Yao would have been there to keep the pace slower and the emotions/urgency at a normal playoff level. Instead, the Lakers got intense competition and emotion from a team that just shoved the ball down their throats as fast as they could, and for whatever reason didn't expect it. I did. I know a lot of others did, but as usual, the Lakers were clueless. Now they'll simply close it out in game 6 in Houston. They only give up one of those kind of stink bombs.

 

[KloD]

If Yao wouldn't have gone down, my 4 in a row would have come through. I have no doubts about that.

I do. Your overconfidence does nothing to change that. You made the prediction, boasted about the one you got right, accept that you were flat out wrong on this. Don't try to add conditions after the fact.

Taking Yao out of the equation speeds up the Rox, and let the Lakers get big-headed thinking they had it in the bag. Those are two VERY bad omens, and had the makings of a classic Lakers turdfest...hence I called it prior to it happening.

Maybe, just maybe the Rockets were the better team today? They far out played the Laker's, no need to insult them w/ claims the Laker's lost due to their attitude. I saw no evidence of over confidence on the court, only evidence of poor play which every team goes through.

I expect the Lakers to buck up, and take the next two, but that swirling turd they just flushed down would have, IMO, been a Laker win going back to LA up 3-1 if Yao would have been there to keep the pace slower and the emotions/urgency at a normal playoff level. Instead, the Lakers got intense competition and emotion from a team that just shoved the ball down their throats as fast as they could, and for whatever reason didn't expect it. I did. I know a lot of others did, but as usual, the Lakers were clueless. Now they'll simply close it out in game 6 in Houston. They only give up one of those kind of stink bombs.

We'll see. I think it will go seven with the Laker's winning at home. Laker's have match up problems when Houston plays that small. I'd bet the home team wins the rest of the series.

Laker's should beware of Denver though, they are playing great.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Lakers in 5.

Lakers will roll off 4 straight.

If you think this isn't over...you will be singing a different tune in game 5 when LA closes it out.

Here's what he meant to say...

Lakers in 5. (Unless Yao goes down)

Lakers will roll off 4 straight. (Unless Yao goes down)

If you think this isn't over...you will be singing a different tune in game 5 when LA closes it out. (Unless Yao goes down)