09 Playoffs- Lakers vs Rockets Series thread

[TBaslim]

Good job so far by Houston - can't stand em on principal as a Suns fan (cept for Yao and Battier), but credit where credit is due.

Lakers probably win in 7 - but they had really better watch out for Denver. The Nuggets run like Houston did in this last game, but are bigger, a better offensive team, and play rougher defense.

 

[jandaman]

Nuggets have Billups who will dominate any of the Laker's PGs.
They also have a pretty darn good rotation of Nene, K.Martin, C.Andersen at the 4/5.
They have a offensive dynamo in Anthony and a streaker in J.R Smith.

Basically, Nuggets are BIG team who runs a lot, but have a good enough defense both inside and out when the game becomes close....



Rockets in game 5 can still win it... but dont expect Brooks to score 30+ again. If Brooks can catch on fire and carry that momentum, then you never know... and of course gonna have to make Bryant shoot "badly" in the next 2 games, he's been "okay" from the field...

 

[dodie53]

lakers in 6

 

[95pro]

i think if the rockets can win this next game at la, game 5, they will take the series.

if not, then a 7game series, where the home team wins.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Here's what he meant to say...

LMAO!!!

 

[Errntknght]

I expect the Lakers to take the next two... now that they've had a game to calibrate the Yao-less Rockets. Houston could surprise them by raising their collective game a couple of more notches but I don't think they have that in them.

 

[TheHopToad]

I expect the Lakers to take the next two... now that they've had a game to calibrate the Yao-less Rockets. Houston could surprise them by raising their collective game a couple of more notches but I don't think they have that in them.

Lakers will win the next two and rather easily. Rockets are spent. Career games from Brooks and Scola (rebounding) won't happen again. Plus, the Lakers won't be taking them for granted again either.

Phil will make them realize that they need to close this series out in 6 in order to stay fresh against Denver, who will be sitting back rested and ready to challenge.

I think the Nuggets may prove to be a little bit bigger of a challenge than previously thought. I might actually watch that series now...

 

[D-Dogg]

Here's what he meant to say...

Or unless anyone major goes down.

Kind of goes with predictions in that you predict on what is known.

 

[Darth Llama]

Lakers will win the next two and rather easily. Rockets are spent. Career games from Brooks and Scola (rebounding) won't happen again. Plus, the Lakers won't be taking them for granted again either.

Phil will make them realize that they need to close this series out in 6 in order to stay fresh against Denver, who will be sitting back rested and ready to challenge.

I think the Nuggets may prove to be a little bit bigger of a challenge than previously thought. I might actually watch that series now...

If things remain the way they are now, the Nuggets will beat the Lakers with relative ease. The Lakers are not as good as they're supposed to be. I'm not saying it as a "hater," the Lakers are my favorite team, but watching them is painful. They will need to really step up to beat Denver, they are playing out of their minds, and Billups has been unstoppable lately. I hope they do it, beacause I am anxious to see how the Lakers will react to being the under dog in the finals. I don't think anyone can beat Cleveland.

 

[D-Dogg]

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.

Yep, I was wrong...because the conditions changed. Note when the conditions changed, I accurately predicted what would happen next (and by default, that's admitting I was wrong on the 4 straight). Big whoop.

Maybe, just maybe the Rockets were the better team today?

Obviously.

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.

You should have watched it closer...the Lakers walked on the court with that attitude and got it handed to them, from the lazy flip pass leading to an Artest layup to start the game. It's happened to this team many, many times. It's no shocker...not at all.

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.

Lakers will finish this in six with two easy wins. The needed adjustments will be made, and they won't be packing it in the paint again (no clue what in the hell they were doing yesterday).

Denver is playing well, but they don't have guys that can make Kobe work like Houston does. And they really don't have an answer for Gasol. (nor for Bynum, but it seems that Bynum's shut himself down for the time being). The only teams in the playoffs I worry about are Orlando and Boston. Of course, if the Lakers play entitled basketball, anyone can beat them. Including the Charlotte Bobcats.

 

[Darth Llama]

Donald is right, the Lakers played the last game like they were entitled to the win. It was lazy, arrogant, heartless basketball and they lost because of it. It's the one thing I dislike most about this current Laker team, I haven't seen the hunger or the fire that they had in 2000 going for their first title under Jackson. I have seen flashes of it, but flashes don't do it, I see it in the Cavaliers every single game. If the Lakers establish that killer mentality then they will be a force to be reckoned with. When they come out on the court with the attitude that the other team is lucky to just bask in their glow, they're going to get their arrogant asses handed to them like they did yesterday.

 

[nashman]

How funny its going to be that the supposed favorite to win it all isn't even going to make it to the finals!

 

[elindholm]

When they come out on the court with the attitude that the other team is lucky to just bask in their glow

So that's where their fans get it from!

 

[Darth Llama]

So that's where their fans get it from!

And in typical fashion, you use a select minority to cast judgment on the majority. Fine then, all Laker fans are arrogant and all Suns fans are crybabies that wine that the league is out to get them. You happy now? We're all stereo types, mission accomplished.

There are minorities in every fan base that give their team and fans a bad name. Be it Phoenix, Los Angeles, Dallas, whatever. There are good fans and bad fans, no team is immune. If you want to keep buying into the idea that it's all fans, fine by me, you're the one that looks foolish in that judgment.

 

[elindholm]

And in typical fashion, you use a select minority to cast judgment on the majority. Fine then, all Laker fans are arrogant and all Suns fans are crybabies that wine that the league is out to get them. You happy now? We're all stereo types, mission accomplished.

There are minorities in every fan base that give their team and fans a bad name. Be it Phoenix, Los Angeles, Dallas, whatever. There are good fans and bad fans, no team is immune. If you want to keep buying into the idea that it's all fans, fine by me, you're the one that looks foolish in that judgment.

And in the same vein, I can now conclude that no Laker fan, anywhere in the world, has a sense of humor.

 

[Proteus]

Lakers up 64-39 after the 2nd quarter, they were up by as many as 29 points. Lakers are shooting 55% with 5/8 3 pointers, Rockets 31% with 3/15 3 pointers. Lakers have committed 5 turnovers, Rockets 9. Lakers with 6 offensive rebounds, Rockets 9.

 

[Proteus]

Lakers up 94-54 after the 3rd quarter.

 

[Mulli]

Come on over!!!

 

[Proteus]

Lakers down 25-42 with 5:43 left in the 2nd quarter.Lakers shooting 30%, Rockets 60%.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Weakest T so far. Call a foul, but a T? Nice acting by Artest too.

 

[Ronin]

This game is over.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

This game is over.

I wouldn't say that yet.

 

[O]

"If" the Lakers survive the Rockets. I don't think they will make it past the Nuggets.

 

[Proteus]

Lakers down 36-52 after the 2nd quarter. The Lakers still can't buy a basket as they're shooting 31% for the game, Rockets 51%.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

This game is over.

2 point game.