All the pressure on the Lakers now, how do you think they will respond?

[Artest93]

I think they win a close game b/c crowd is gonna be fired up, but it will also depend on Odom, Brown, Vujacic, Fisher (who has been a no show the in all 4 games). For the Rockets, it's going to take everything they've got to steal one on the road without Yao. Like Artest not jackin up 19 shots when his shot is off. I know Phil is gonna come up with a plan to stop Brooks, but might be dangerous if Scola is on his game, and Battier miraculously has another 23 point game. I still say Lakers in 6, but it could be 7.

[Banzai]

who knows.

[scanry]

This shit is going 7 games.

[E20]

Phil should have started Farmar or Brown and had Fisher come off the bench after Game 2. Fisher is useless against Brooks, he moves like a enegizer bunny and the best thing fisher can do is get torched. I wouldn't expect Artest to suck this bad again.

[TampaDude]

Lakers will fold like a $5 lawnchair...Rockets in 6. :lmao

[Banzai]

Phil should have started Farmar or Brown and had Fisher come off the bench after Game 2. Fisher is useless against Brooks, he moves like a enegizer bunny and the best thing fisher can do is get torched. I wouldn't expect Artest to suck this bad again.

agreed..don't forget Deron Williams,Tony Parker and all the other quick pgs in the league.

[Ghazi]

What's Odom's status?

[sook]

meh

I hope we can win the next game, but there is no way in hell we win this series. If we do win this series, Yao was Denver's biggest weakness, and they would murder us

[DrHouse]

How have the Lakers responded all season? That's your answer.

I wouldn't think there is anymore pressure on the Lakers than there was to start this series. The Lakers have HCA again and need to win 2-3 games, 2 of which are at home.

[Artest93]

How have the Lakers responded all season? That's your answer.

I wouldn't think there is anymore pressure on the Lakers than there was to start this series. The Lakers have HCA again and need to win 2-3 games, 2 of which are at home.

The pressure is on the Lakers b/c Rockets don't have Yao

[iggypop123]

if brooks goes for 40 they have a shot

[TampaDude]

The pressure is on the Lakers b/c Rockets don't have Yao

+1 Everyone expected the Lakers to win easily today...didn't turn out that way, did it??? Game 5 will tell all.

[Banzai]

+1 Everyone expected the Lakers to win easily today...didn't turn out that way, did it??? Game 5 will tell all.

true..just like game 5 against Utah last year.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

if brooks goes for 40 they have a shot

They won by 12 and Brooks had 34.

So Brooks can score 24 and Houston could still win.

Great math douchypop.

[DrHouse]

The pressure is on the Lakers b/c Rockets don't have Yao

The pressure is on any team that wants to win a championship moron.

Unless you think the Rockets are content to have just gotten out of the 1st round. They aren't playing like they are that's for sure.

[sonic21]

if bynum goes for 4 pts, the lakers have a shot.

[stéphane]

The pressure is on any team that wants to win a championship moron.

Unless you think the Rockets are content to have just gotten out of the 1st round. They aren't playing like they are that's for sure.

You can't expect a team with $35M in suits on the bench to get the championship.
Besides, by Houston standards, indeed, they can loose the next two and be content of what they showed badly shorthanded.

[Laker-fan-in-SanAnto]

Lakers did what they had to. That was winning one in houston and taking HCA. but as a plus, we got handed a gift by Yao being out of the playoffs and it seem like we didn't liked it so we return it. Now it should get interested. Could've gone up 3-1 but no, for some reason we like to play with fire and let them tied the series. geez,

[iggypop123]

http://picasion.com/pic9/f8214a0d5c5d7facda89ac23c93f6505.gif

[DAF86]

How have the Lakers responded all season? That's your answer.

I wouldn't think there is anymore pressure on the Lakers than there was to start this series. The Lakers have HCA again and need to win 2-3 games, 2 of which are at home.

Are you fucking retarded? Didn't you start a thread saying that the Lakers are done? Why the fuck are you defending them now?

[mytespurs]

+1 Everyone expected the Lakers to win easily today...didn't turn out that way, did it??? Game 5 will tell all.

And if you follow the Lakers history, you should know that they always follow up a bad performance with a good one...and they're playing at home = Lakers victory Game 5.

[Indazone]

You can't expect a team with $35M in suits on the bench to get the championship.
Besides, by Houston standards, indeed, they can loose the next two and be content of what they showed badly shorthanded.

More like $40 MM in suits but yeah good point.

[Armando]

I don't think the Lakers (Kobe) feels any pressure he has been there before.

[Randy]

they won by 12 and brooks had 34.

So brooks can score 24 and houston could still win.

Great math douchypop.
pow!

[Indazone]

Fold like a house of cards!

[Armando]

Since when did LA turn into the Mavs?

[Indazone]

Speed beats Lakers Bigs. Well Mitch Kupchek has built a great Lakers franchise with big guards, big center, big power forwards and big small forwards. In true Jackson fashion, he's gotten as many bigs as he could. Even big backup players.

This squad beats most other squads with size any day of the week but this squad is also slow and a faster team seems to be their achilles heel. Other than the Rockets, which other playoff team posses a lot of speed right now? Orlando? No Atlanta? Maybe Celtics? No Denver? possibly Mavericks? Yes Cleveland? No

Which means, best possible upsets against the Lakers will come from Houston, Denver or Mavs. Possibly Atlanta. Cleveland might have the skills to beat them straight up without speed.

[j-money24]

I really dont give a fuck if the Lakers win anymore, i want the team who has more heart and more deserving to win the series.

[Jacko]

Maybe you should wait until the series is over before you throw out these end-all-be-all statements.

[lefty]

1. Stern will make sure a game 7 is played :downspin:

2. But will make sure the Lakers win that game 7 because, you know, It has to be Kobe vs Lebron in the Finals :bang:bang:bang:bang:bang:bang

[Roxsfan]

The crowd will be a plus for the lakes, but if the roxs hit the 3s decently (enough for the lakes to defend them) to spread the floor, and if brooks is on....watch out.........turn overs must be low......

[Stringer_Bell]

I'd like to see the Rockets pull out a victory next game, but the Lakers will most likely take the win after the LA coaching staff figures out how to deal with a Yao-less team of pitbulls. I think if Houston is to win the series they need to do it in 6 games.

[Jacko]

I think a large part of the loss had to do with the fact that this Laker team has never faced a Yao-less Rocket team this season. They, including the coaching staff, were completely unprepared for what the Rockets brought today. It didn't help that they did not match the intensity and played a rather lackluster game from start to finish.

The winner of Game 5 wins this series. I would think that if the Lakers win Game 5 they will close out in 6.

[Indazone]

pffft! Lakers knew Yao would be out and thus should have been prepared. They know what each player brings and have advanced scouts with all the data that the Lakers need. You guys just got asswhooped.