Rockets-1 vs Lakers-0 Game 1

[kaji157]

Yao actually sealed the win with a great high pick n pop, a lot of clutch free throws.

Rockets defended very well the 3pt line, they pressed hardd on Bryant, Vijacic and Fisher for them not to jump stop on the 3pt line.

2-19 from 3 from the lakers.

[Jose_TheGenius]

when i saw Yao go to the back and tell the trainer that he wanted to play, man i give him props. that's a lot of heart. i hope the Rockets steal this series

[maldoror]

Rockets caught the Lakers on a week layoff. Don't be surprised to see the Lakers win the next four.

[theinswes]

Originally Posted by jmbarton

The Rockets are playing better Spurs basketball than the Spurs did.

they've got TWO 1st team all-defenders, artest & battier, who can defend multiple positions, rebound, and score. we have an over the hill bruce bowen and ime udoka... that's an enormous talent gap, and it was a real steal to get artest. he's exactly what houston needed - the guy that's a huge risk, but can help put you over the top.

[Uwe Blab]

I love a game where someone has blood streaming down their face. But I would not expect the Rockets to win game 2. It's going to be a long physical series for both teams.

[theinswes]

Originally Posted by Uwe Blab

I love a game where someone has blood streaming down their face. But I would not expect the Rockets to win game 2. It's going to be a long physical series for both teams.

haha, you know what, i can agree. there really is something appealing about seeing a guy bleeding on the court and playing after stitches (obviously more serious bleeding i'm not ok with, but this type of blood just screams playoffs).

i also think yao really does not get the respect he deserves, probably because of his injury problems. this dude's put in more summers w/ the national team than manu since joining the nba. i still think they do a terrible job of finding him enough and ignoring him at times though.

[kaji157]

Originally Posted by maldoror

Rockets caught the Lakers on a week layoff. Don't be surprised to see the Lakers win the next four.

Not so sure, i think what killed the lakers were the refs being fair.
They were crying in all plays, and the refs were actuaally great, they didn´t call the blood foul on battier but that was arguable at best as vujacic went for the ball.
Actually they called some ticky tack fouls on Scola but were smart not to call tocky tack fouls on Gasol flopping as he usually does.
In the end, with Gasol unablee to get phantom calls it was kobe vs the rox and the rox won.

If the refs continue to be fair the rockets stand more of a chance that i thought.

[TheLadiesMike]

Originally Posted by kaji157

If the refs continue to be fair the rockets stand more of a chance that i thought.

If it is going to take fair officiating let me be the first to tell the Rockets "sorry."

[maldoror]

Originally Posted by kaji157

Not so sure, i think what killed the lakers were the refs being fair.
They were crying in all plays, and the refs were actuaally great, they didn´t call the blood foul on battier but that was arguable at best as vujacic went for the ball.
Actually they called some ticky tack fouls on Scola but were smart not to call tocky tack fouls on Gasol flopping as he usually does.
In the end, with Gasol unablee to get phantom calls it was kobe vs the rox and the rox won.

If the refs continue to be fair the rockets stand more of a chance that i thought.

The refs fairness had nothing to do with it. That's a naive analysis. The Lakers were off their game after not playing for a week. They missed shots and the Rockets played well. A well deserved win for Houston.

[kaji157]

Originally Posted by maldoror

The refs fairness had nothing to do with it. That's a naive analysis. The Lakers were off their game after not playing for a week. They missed shoots and the Rockets played well.

Look out how the next game both Scola and Yao will be on foul trouble going into the third.

[maldoror]

Originally Posted by kaji157

Look out how the next game both Scola and Yao will be on foul trouble going into the third.

And if they are not where will you be? Not here to talk about how wrong you were.

The Lakers don't need Yao and Scola to be in foul trouble to win. They have the better team.

[kaji157]

Originally Posted by maldoror

And if they are not where will you be? Not here to talk about how wrong you were.

The Lakers don't need Yao and Scola to be in foul trouble to win. They have the better team.

Don´t worry, i´ll be here.
I agree the lakers were not that great, but they were not that great against Utah, and the refs were important by not letting Utah play at home as Usually plays at home.

Today the refs were fair enough to let the bigs play, Yao was protected when hammered in the paint, and that was very important to stop the peace of the game, usually teams get away with a lot of fouls on yao as some did on tim before, creating fastbreaks.

This also opened the door for a lowered peace from Houston, as they were confident to give the ball into yao in an out untill he found position. Or someone was open, this was the real key along with Houston playing a great D on the 3pt line.

The difference in the game was clearly the 3pt shooting 5-18 vs 2-18 and the FT 12-19 vs 25-29 (although 3 ofthe last 4 rox posessions were fouls due time, lets make it 19-23).

[maldoror]

The Lakers shot fewer FTs than the Jazz in round 1 and the refs are unfair? Oh please.

[My2Cents]

Congrats to the rockets! But beware...Houston will have to play twice as harder now. Because you can bet that Stern is watching! Don't mess with his dream match-up!

[jolly roger]

Speaking of fouls, in the first quarter, when Battier and Kobe got tangled up on the floor, did anyone else see Kobe throwing a elbow to Battier's head? It was well after the whistle.

[clovisnmspurfan]

Hope letting Scola go pays off. Go Rockets!!!

[bilboinsa]

Originally Posted by timm

move over I am on the Rockets bandwagon.

Me too! I'm rooting for whoever bounces the Lakers and the Cavs. Why. to fight "The Man"...you know...the one who has "foretold" of the coming of this Finals since mid-season....

[sammy]

Originally Posted by jolly roger

Speaking of fouls, in the first quarter, when Battier and Kobe got tangled up on the floor, did anyone else see Kobe throwing a elbow to Battier's head? It was well after the whistle.

Yes. I thought that SOB should've been given a T or flagrant foul! No call for that BS! Hopefully Houston will send the tape in to the league!

[theinswes]

Originally Posted by kaji157

Look out how the next game both Scola and Yao will be on foul trouble going into the third.

just a question: how come it's only unfair to our spurs (or non-boston/lakers) dont' get the calls. how does it become "fair" when the spurs get the calls. when the other team gets favored for calls, it's somehow fair?

[spurscrazed]

Originally Posted by theinswes

they've got TWO 1st team all-defenders, artest & battier, who can defend multiple positions, rebound, and score. we have an over the hill bruce bowen and ime udoka... that's an enormous talent gap, and it was a real steal to get artest. he's exactly what houston needed - the guy that's a huge risk, but can help put you over the top.

Very true...

Tell me why the Spurs never took their chances last year and made a run on ARTEST????

F_%^@#