[LAL/HOU] - Western Conference, Round 2

Who wins the series?

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I would not have had a problem with it being called a flagrant during the game...but, I have seen various angles of the play...he was hit in the chest...quite obviously. I would be the first one to say it was a hit to the neck or head, if it actaully had been.

I, too, would like ALL calls to be consistant. (Looks like the Celtics got another break...Perkins elbow to the throat...not even a pf.) I guess we will repsectfully disagree on this...and you know I respect you VF. :)

On to the next game.......
 
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sigh... i thought the rockets could give the lakers a run .. now it's impossible w/o yao. denver, please stop the lakers-
 
Great start for the Rockets. Battier lighting it up and Hayes shutting down Gasol so far. If the Rockets double Kobe smartly, this could turn out to be a good game.
 
Wow. 61-38 HOUSTON with 8:50 left in the third? Hrm... Looks like one team came to play and one team figured they didn't have to.

GO ROCKETS!!!
 
That's embarassing for the Lakers. The Lakers really have pretty big weaknesses and I don't believe they will be able to get past the Nuggets and probably the Cavaliers, assuming they get past Houston still.
 
Derek Fisher needs to retire. He is not giving the team anything. Overall this game has been a disaster, I doubt Houston will do anything remotely close to this in Los Angeles but still.
 
BLNINJA #81 said:
That was a sweet lob! That's what I like to see!
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Absolutely! Artest made a perfect long pass to Brooks who make it with less than .07 on the clock. A lot of players would have just half hearted that play or even flipped it to a nearby teammate with a 27 pt lead going into the 4th Q - not Artest!
 
Chanting Kobe sucks isn't going to change the outcome of the game. The Rockets have played hard all game and they're not gonna just fold against a late-game surge by the Lakers.

I like seeing the Rockets slowing it down and burning seconds off the clock. And I'm absolutely loving Shane Battier.

GO ROCKETS!!!
 
Play of the game

u7hpj.gif
 
PurpleHaze said:
Absolutely! Artest made a perfect long pass to Brooks who make it with less than .07 on the clock. A lot of players would have just half hearted that play or even flipped it to a nearby teammate with a 27 pt lead going into the 4th Q - not Artest!
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We could write a book about the myriad problems with having Ron Artest on your team. What we cannot fault, however, is his dedication and desire to win. Sure, he's pulled up and taken a lot of shots that I would have preferred him not to take, but it's just part of the package. He's passing the ball, he's fighting hard on defense AND he's helping to keep his team motivated and playing hard. And we've said it before - Rick Adelman is probably the ONLY coach in the NBA who can get Artest to perform at his peak without going over the line.
 
IMO, Artest is one of the most fustrating talents in the nba. He gives it his all every time out, is never intimidated, and really does do everything he possible can to win every night. Offensively, he is great when attacking the basket, especially from the block. But he can shoot you right out of a game. He forces a lot of tought shots, and on a number of occasions ignores Yao in the post.

He is one of the best two-way talents in the league. I just think he could be even more dominating if he played a little smarter. I wouldn't be surprised if he went into LA in game 5 and carries houston to a win. He could also shoot them right out of the game, and it seems the more fustrated he gets during a game, the more he forces it.
 
rainmaker said:
IMO, Artest is one of the most fustrating talents in the nba. He gives it his all every time out, is never intimidated, and really does do everything he possible can to win every night. Offensively, he is great when attacking the basket, especially from the block. But he can shoot you right out of a game. He forces a lot of tought shots, and on a number of occasions ignores Yao in the post.

He is one of the best two-way talents in the league. I just think he could be even more dominating if he played a little smarter. I wouldn't be surprised if he went into LA in game 5 and carries houston to a win. He could also shoot them right out of the game, and it seems the more fustrated he gets during a game, the more he forces it.
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Overall I agree. But this is the first game of this series that he's forced anything from outside and Artest was well under control against Portland. Everyone knew, including him, with Yao out someone had to pick up the slack in a big way for Houston. He just kept firing away with the big Rockets lead and it didn't hurt them in the end. Had a strong game on the boards, let Houston with 6 assists and his D was it's usual. Battier, Brooks and Hayes D on Gasol all combined to stomp LA this time. As announcer Mike Breem said, Artest could go into LA for game 5 and drop 30 or more on them as the Rockets still think they can win the series. Why not?
 
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If only the Rockets had come out to play in Game 3. :) Ah well, the Lakers did what they needed to do and got HCA back. I seriously doubt they lose Game 5, but at least now I have a reason to keep an eye on the score.
 
damn rockets play better with out their stars!! remember that 22 win streak they had? hope it happens again lol

it would be so funny if the lakers lost to a yao-less tmac-less rockets



its unlikely but as garnett says

anythings possiiiiblllllllllleeee
 
A team of roleplayers destroys the Lakers, despite Ron's shooting antics.


I forgot what a treat it is to watch an Adelman coached team clicking. Great ball movement all game. Great energy. Sure am gad we let Rick walk.

Yao was getting stripped and stuffed like a chump that last game. I know its a stupid thing to say, but I think the Rockets are almost better off without their 20/10 C. Granted I know I'm wrong, but still. It's refreshing to not have to watch Yao **** up on the block.
 
Rick never got enough credit for this same thing when he was with the Kings -- he ALWAYS has guys out, even right through our peak years in the playoffs (Peja, Webber, BJax etc.), and yet somehow he always kept the guys together and believing. Now he's got both his cornerstone stars out, and hey, why not? Resiliency is a byword with his teams. Houston winning the series is still a longshot, but they are not going to quit, and there is a danger zone for the Lakers. Takes one bad shooting night, one major guy in foul trouble, an injury, whatever, and all of a sudden they could end up in a do or die game.
 
Bricklayer said:
Rick never got enough credit for this same thing when he was with the Kings -- he ALWAYS has guys out, even right through our peak years in the playoffs (Peja, Webber, BJax etc.), and yet somehow he always kept the guys together and believing. Now he's got both his cornerstone stars out, and hey, why not? Resiliency is a byword with his teams. Houston winning the series is still a longshot, but they are not going to quit, and there is a danger zone for the Lakers. Takes one bad shooting night, one major guy in foul trouble, an injury, whatever, and all of a sudden they could end up in a do or die game.
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Well said, there is 0 pressure on the Rockets and if they win 1 of the next 2, this comes down to 1 game where anything can happen.
 
PurpleHaze said:
Overall I agree. But this is the first game of this series that he's forced anything from outside and Artest was well under control against Portland. E
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I actually disagree. He was out of control earlier in the series too, but was making his shots. He's a 40% shooter, who was hitting over 50%. Then at the end of games 2 and 3, part of the reason the Rockets lost was he kept barging into the lane and turning the ball over. Especially when the Lakers switched Kobe onto him in the 4th quarters, who is much stronger than Ariza and faster than Walton. The second half of game 3 and then in this game, his selfishness was exposed because the law of averages caught up to him.
 
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