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I'mma say it right now: Rockets will sweep.
In 3 of the four games between the two this year, 3 games have been close through most of the game, with the scores coming as such:
- Lakers 93, Rockets 81 : Kobe, Lakers Top Rockets
BOX SCORE | APRIL 3, 2009 IN LOS ANGELES
Rockets point guards struggle as Rockets fall 93-81 in LA to Lakers- Lakers 102, Rockets 96 : Too Much Kobe
BOX SCORE | MARCH 11, 2009 IN HOUSTON
Artest struggles, Bryant goes off for 31 in the second half as Lakers win 102-96- Lakers 105, Rockets 100 : Homesick: Rockets Fall to Lakers
BOX SCORE | JANUARY 13, 2009 IN HOUSTON
Rockets execute poorly in final 25 seconds, Lakers take game 105-100- Lakers 111, Rockets 82 : Rockets Bottom Out
BOX SCORE | NOVEMBER 9, 2008 IN LOS ANGELES
T-Mac, Artest shoot 3-22 combined as Lakers embarrass Rockets, 111-82
Now, the Rockets have gotten the first round monkey off their backs, and are now free to play loose. The Lakers have all the pressure on them now because of the projected Cavs/Lakers finals. Rockets are more dangerous than people think, and if Kobe's teammates don't step up, it'll be a long series
I'mma say it right now: Rockets will sweep.
The Rockets play compe ively versus the Lakers because they match up pretty well.
The games are VERY winnable for the Rockets.
The reason why the Rockets keep losing these winnable games is because they don't have a closer. In closing minutes of games, the Rockets ignore Yao and become the Brooks and Artest 3 point show.
On the other side, the best closer in the game is waiting.
That's why this series will be done in 4-5 games.
^ what he said
we lack a closer, which is a pretty important part of the game in the playoffs. if we had a closer, those close blazers game wouldve not been so close, instead, would have been closer to double digits.
as a rockets fan, im happy we got to the 2nd round with a 21 million dollar hole in our roster. if we lose to the lakers 4-2, thats nothing to sweat. everyone and their momma knows lakers are a pretty complete team and on many nights, the only team that can beat them is themselves.
It will go at least 6.
The March 11th game is the game that tells you exactly why the Rockets stand no chance in this series. The Rockets were at home on a long home win streak of I think 12 games and the Lakers who didn't have Bynum and Odom won and Kobe completely owned Artest and Battier for 37 points. The Lakers should take this series in 5, anything more would be a letdown.
goooo rockets ....
lakers in 5 tho ...
Fool...I laughed.
Didnt we blow double digit leads in two of the games? I cant remember.
we just need Ron to talk more trash so hopefully Kobe can stop playing teamball. thats about the only way we can beat LA
yesterday was a good start. "Roy was the only person to every score 40 points on me"
This is a very exciting series...out of all the teams in the West, Houston was the only one who could conceivably even push the Lakers to possibly 6-7 games. Every other team they would/could beat in probably 4 or 5 games.
If someone from the Lakers gets hot for a game or 2, it could be enough to make up for the lack of closer. Also, I'm sure the Lakers game plan is to speed up the game and tire out Yao by running up and down the floor. So it's going to depend on how much Yao has left in the tank.
Oh and hopefully, Artest learned his lesson and shuts up and doesn't rile Kobe into going for 50+ points.
^ not really lakers should still beat Houston in 5 games....
Lakers in 5. This series will not go past 5 games. Same formula as the Lakers/Jazz series. LA wins games 1 and 2, will lose a close game 3, then wins game 4 in Houston and blows out the Rockets in game 5.
Yeah, they blew double digit leads in two games, b/c Ron Ron started jackin up shots, but, that was the regular season...I'm pretty sure Mcgrady is gone this offseason already, but, if the rockets somehow win the series, Mcgrady should be banned from the city of houston
Utah quit in games 1, 2, 4, and 5
Yeah that's why they cut 20 point leads to single digits late in the forth in all but one of those games. Utah fought hard in that series.
Lakers in 5.
I wouldn't be surprised; I'd be ing shocked. This series has a better chance of being a sweep than it does of going 7.
"As we enter this series, Bryant just the other day renewed his vow to stay more aggressive with his individual offense, whereas Battier’s plan to shepherd Bryant into being a volume shooter as opposed to an efficient one is perhaps Houston’s only hope for winning this series."
Interesting...
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/b...lakers-houston
The Lakers will have matching up troubles against Rockets. although they swept the Rockets in the regular season with 4-0, 2-3 of the head-to-head matches were close games and involved with tmac. Ron's physical and aggressive defense were restricted by refs in the regular season, but the refs always get relaxed in the postseason, which makes Ron's defensive work more effective. Kobe won't feel that easy to drop points on Ron, not to mention the Rockets have Shane Battier too, who can also take good care of Kobe. In the paint, Yao will dominate Pau on both ends of the floor, at least Yao won't be out-played by Pao. Out of Pao and Odom, the Lakers haven't got any other decent paint players on bench, while Lanry and Hayes both will sit on the rockets bench waiting for the call from coach. Bynum may be an x-factor to this series, but I really can't give too much expectation on a guy who has no experience for playoffs and has missed tens of previously games.
As a Laker fan I will happily take these "matching up troubles" any time. When you look at the horrid match up issues the Blazers cause the Lakers, the match ups with Houston look like a cake walk.
he already opened his mouth...said Brandon Roy was better than Kobe...
Don't be surprised if Rockets get swept.
Wow, what in the world are you talking about. First off it will be Bynum guarding Yao most of the time not Pau even though he does a decent job on him, and secondly after Yao the Lakers destroy Houston in size, the next guy after Yao is 6-9 or smaller while the Lakers will have two seven footers in Bynum and Pau starting and then 6-10 Odom coming off the bench which will be a tough match up for Houston because of his versatility. Overall the Lakers have much more length then the Rockets in the front court and have two players in Gasol and Bynum who can out quick and out run Yao and get him worn down. Portland did a very poor job of this cause they're two seven footers have no offensive game. The Lakers bigs have the ability to out run Yao and get great position and get him worn down on the defensive end to make his offensive game limited.
Last edited by KSeal; 05-01-2009 at 07:45 PM.
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