<div align="center"> <font color="red">Houston Rockets (46-26)</font> vs <font color="purple">Los Angeles Lakers (38-33)</font> Friday, March 30, 2007, Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA 9:30 Central; ESPN, FSNSW, SportsRadio 610 AM <font color="red"> <font size="1">(R. Alston, T. McGrady, S. Battier, C. Hayes, Y. Ming)</font></font> <font size="1">Leading Scorer: Yao Ming - 24.5 PPG Leading Rebounder: Yao Ming - 9.5 RPG Assists Leader: Tracy McGrady - 6.3 APG </font> <font color="purple"> <font size="1">(S. Parker, K. Bryant, L. Walton, L. Odom, A. Bynum)</font></font> <font size="1">Leading Scorer: Kobe Bryant - 30.8 PPG Leading Rebounder: Lamar Odom - 9.9 RPG Assists Leader: Kobe Bryant - 5.4 APG </font> <font size=""1""><font color="red">Luther Head (6th Man)</font></font> <font size="1"><div align="center">27.3 MPG, 10.3 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.4 APG</div></font><font size=""1""><font color="purple">Brian Cook (6th Man)</font></font> <font size="1">17.1 MPG, 7.6 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.1 APG</font> Predictions: <font color=""Red"">Rockets 101</font>, Lakers 95</div> Keys To The Game: <font color=""Red"">Rockets:</font> T-Mac had an good game after the great win against the Clippers. Yao was playing pretty good but needs to stay more positive on the offensive side of games. The Rockets had a great offense after blowing a few games before and the Rockets need to continue that. Bonzi may also play in this game if JVG lets him so it will be good for the Rockets. T-Mac needs to continue the offense but also now the Rockets need to start using Yao on offense alot because the Rockets will need it for the playoffs. The Rockets defense needs to continue and they need to lower the opp ppg. We have to contain Smush Parker and Kobe Bryant because they are great shooters. The Rockets need to contain Kobe every time down the court because he had a 50 pt game earlier against the Rockets in which the Rockets went on to lose that game in 2 OT. The Rockets can tie this series at 2-2 with this final game against the Lakers so the Rockets need to play well and if they can win, use this game as a momentum factor for the Jazz game on April Fools Day. Juwan needs to continue to do good, and Yao also needs to continue and do a good job on Kaman. The Rockets need to rebound, score, and defend. Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum are big players too so they need to contain them. The Rockets will have trouble guarding Lamar Odom as they had in the previous matchup but they need to do their best on him and Kobe is unstoppable but Battier needs to do his best. The Rockets have to contain the penetration of Smush Parker. <font color=""Red"">Luther Head hit some 3's!! </font> <font color=""purple"">Lakers:</font> Keep Tmac from scoring more than 30. The Lakers need to rebound and get points in the paint and make open 3 pointers. Kobe should continue what he is doing and keep scoring on and on. The Lakers need to feed the ball to Kobe in the post so they have an advantage on the offensive end and run alot of plays for Odom. Brian Cook will come off the bench so he needs to contribute well and they also need Kaman to score. The bench needs to produce and Vujacic needs to give them energy with Points. Walton is also a key player because he is offensive minded and he can help the Lakers on the offensive end. Parker needs to use his perimeter offense to force the Rockets to open the paint a little bit. Use Odom to space out the offense and give Bynum the ball from time to time on offense to score on Yao so he can ware Yao down. The offense needs to go through Parker and Bryant. They should also use Kobe to penetrate and find open shooters as he has been all season and also they really need Kobe to defend T-Mac well. The Lakers, if the game comes down to the line, have to find a way to get the ball in to Kobe's hands. Cover luther head on 3's! <font color=""Black"">Bottom Line:</font> This is another game to help the Rockets to get a home court advantage in the playoffs so the Rockets need to win this. This game will be very exciting because two of the best players in the game are going against each other, Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady. The Rockets need a streak because every good team has been on a streak lately and they need to prove they are good and also the Rockets need this game so they can use it as momentum going into the game against the Jazz on Sunday. The Lakers lost to the Grizzlies on Tuesday by 2 so the Rockets need to put the Lakers away early because they will be hungry for wins. Kobe Bryant's offensive display earlier last week was amazing but the Rockets cannot let him score 50 in this game. The Rockets mainly need to score because you cannot win a game if you do not score. All the Rockets need to do is pickup their offense and defense and not play Lazy then they will win. If the Rockets can close the game out well they will come away with the victory. The Lakers are still a tough team to beat because they have Bynum at the C to contain Yao and Odom at PF and they are both tall players, nonetheless the Rockets should do good. The Rockets won the game earlier in Houston but they lost the other two and this is the final one so the Rockets can even up the series so the Rockets need to do good. Chuck Hayes seems to be fine after the Clippers game and Mutombo is fine with his knee and Bonzi is traveling with the team on this 2 game road trip. Kwame Brown is also out of the lineup for the Lakers so the Rockets need to use Chuck Hayes more on offense. Hope for a great game and may the best team win.
The Rockets are obvioulsy the more talented team here. But Phil Jackson has outcoached JVG in every game this season. If the Rockets get outcoached again, we're gonna have a hard time winning.
<div class="quote_poster">Rock4life Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">The Rockets are obvioulsy the more talented team here. But Phil Jackson has outcoached JVG in every game this season. If the Rockets get outcoached again, we're gonna have a hard time winning.</div> So you are saying if we lose, its JVG's fault, yet if we win it isnt because of JVG? Anyways our losses to Lakers has more to do with Yao being injured than JVG being outcoached. It's funny how you only notice bad things against people you dislike and only good things about people you do like. I guess if Rockets went through a losing streak that Lakers went through, you would jump all over JVG, yet no mention of Phil when the Lakers wen through the slump. Somehow you seem a better fit as a Lakers fan.
<div class="quote_poster">Rock4life Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">The Rockets are obvioulsy the more talented team here. But Phil Jackson has outcoached JVG in every game this season. If the Rockets get outcoached again, we're gonna have a hard time winning.</div> In the two losses -- we didn't have Tracy or Snyder (not to mention Bonzi) playing, putting us at a serious disadvantage defensively against Kobe and Walton. I wouldn't say we had superior talent on those nights. In the other game, we had Tracy but no Yao and we blew them out. Phil Jackson got ejected in the third quarter. Was he outcoaching JVG from the locker room? Phil Jackson's a good coach, but the only way he's won anything in the last few weeks is by letting Kobe dominate offensively. He hasn't gotten his team to play decent defense, and they seem to have forgotten how to play together on offense.
i got the funny feeling in my stomach, just so anxious to watch this game. should be a great one. anyone going to the viewing party at wings-n-more tonight? ill be there.
The Lakers are at a serious disadvantage tonight if Kwame can't suit up. He's still hampered by his high ankle sprain, and without him, Yao is a tough matchup for the Lakers. Bynum is still treated like a rookie by the officials, so he picks up cheap fouls and ends up on the bench. Kobe against TMac is always an entertaining duel, I'll be looking forward to it again tonight. The first two games these two played were classics, that came down to the wire. The Lakers got their butts chewed out by PJax after the Memphis loss for playing lackidasical in the second half. They gave up a 19 point lead in that game, and were beat by Terrance Kinsey. Who? Yeah exactly. I think the Lakers need this win more than Houston does for their own confidence heading into the post season. Houston is basically locked into the 5th seed and just need to worry about staying healthy the rest of the way. Usually this time of the year, coaches start game planning for the playoffs and figuring out their 8 man rotation. I'm not sure if JVG has his set yet, because of all the injuries to the bench players. I'll be cheering on the Lakers tonight againt my friends from Houston.
<div class="quote_poster">foo82 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">So you are saying if we lose, its JVG's fault, yet if we win it isnt because of JVG? Anyways our losses to Lakers has more to do with Yao being injured than JVG being outcoached. It's funny how you only notice bad things against people you dislike and only good things about people you do like. I guess if Rockets went through a losing streak that Lakers went through, you would jump all over JVG, yet no mention of Phil when the Lakers wen through the slump.</div> I'm not saying that. But if you paid attention to the details (which you don't), you'd of seen whenever Phil inserted Walton on the block, JVG left Luther out to dry each time. How tall is Walton? 6'8. How tall is Luther? 6'3. BAD MATCH UP! Each time they did that, we lost control of the the game. <div class="quote_poster">foo82 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Somehow you seem a better fit as a Lakers fan.</div> Oh really. I've lived in Houston my whole life and have watched the Rockets for over a decade. You (out of all ppl) have the nerve to question me. No comparison kid <div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">In the two losses -- we didn't have Tracy or Snyder (not to mention Bonzi) playing, putting us at a serious disadvantage defensively against Kobe and Walton. I wouldn't say we had superior talent on those nights.</div> That's completley FALSE. Bonzi acutally STARTED the 2nd half in one of those losses . If you can recall, we came back within one basket in the 4th quarter, and JVG refused to put Yao back in the game Bad coaching!
<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">In the two losses -- we didn't have Tracy or Snyder (not to mention Bonzi) playing, putting us at a serious disadvantage defensively against Kobe and Walton. I wouldn't say we had superior talent on those nights.</div> That's completley FALSE. Bonzi acutally STARTED the 2nd half in one of those losses . If you can recall, we came back within one basket in the 4th quarter, and JVG refused to put Yao back in the game Bad coaching!
<div class="quote_poster">Rock4life Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">That's completley FALSE. Bonzi acutally STARTED the 2nd half in one of those losses . If you can recall, we came back within one basket in the 4th quarter, and JVG refused to put Yao back in the game Bad coaching!</div> Yeah, you're right about Bonzi. About JVG not putting Yao back in, that's not how it went down. He did put Yao in the game in the final minute when we had a chance to sub him in. It didn't make a difference. BTW, D'Antoni yesterday did what you're accusing JVG of -- the second unit brought the Suns back and Mike never subbed in Nash, Amare, and the rest in the final minutes even though they were only a few baskets away from tying it. He stuck with guys that made the run. Bad coaching?
<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah, you're right about Bonzi.</div> Yea, you were wrong about Bonzi playin against the Lakers. Thanks for remembering <div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">About JVG not putting Yao back in, that's not how it went down. He did put Yao in the game in the final minute when we had a chance to sub him in. It didn't make a difference. BTW, D'Antoni yesterday did what you're accusing JVG of -- the second unit brought the Suns back and Mike never subbed in Nash, Amare, and the rest in the final minutes even though they were only a few baskets away from tying it. He stuck with guys that made the run. Bad coaching?</div> What do the Suns have to do with this? Yao is the tallest player in the league and the most effecient bigman in the NBA. If ur in need of one basket, there shouldn't be any question whether or not he plays. Another example of JVG making examples instead of winning games. He's a good coach, but his one-tracked vision hurts him and our team from taking that next step. Hopefully he'll bounce back tonight.
<div class="quote_poster">Rock4life Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">What do the Suns have to do with this? Yao is the tallest player in the league and the most effecient bigman in the NBA. If ur in need of one basket, there shouldn't be any question whether or not he plays. Another example of JVG making examples instead of winning games. He's a good coach, but his one-tracked vision hurts him and our team from taking that next step. Hopefully he'll bounce back tonight.</div> Nash and Amare are the most effective/efficient offensive duo in the league. Phoenix needed points, and D'Antoni never went to them. Bad coaching on his part, right? As for Yao, we had just gone on a 26-1 run without him. 26-1. In that second half, while he was on the court we were outscored by 17. He had a measly 5 points (1-5 from the field), 0 rebounds, and 3 turnovers in the half. Totally ineffective. Despite all of that, JVG put him back in with a minute left, and it would have been earlier but Chuck was on the line in the previous possession. And guess what? We didn't score again. Knowing all of that, you have to be nuts to blame the coach for not putting Yao in earlier. Ok, I'm concentrating on tonight's game now.
Wtf.. why is Lucas in...its the 2nd quater... I really hope he doesnt get into the rotation. Hmm whats the first thing he does when he touches the ball -----> try to score. He missed the rim...wtf was that.
I liked our aggression in that first half. McGrady's having a tough time finishing around the basket, but as long as he's attacking the basket good things will usually happen for us. I don't know what the Lakers gameplan was for Yao, but whatever it was it didn't work at all. We shot only 34% in the first half and still we're leading by 5. Got to be happy about that. Kirk and Juwan have to play better for us off the bench, being short handed.
<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I liked our aggression in that first half. McGrady's having a tough time finishing around the basket, but as long as he's attacking the basket good things will usually happen for us. I don't know what the Lakers gameplan was for Yao, but whatever it was it didn't work at all. We shot only 34% in the first half and still we're leading by 5. Got to be happy about that. Kirk and Juwan have to play better for us off the bench, being short handed.</div> I think it was relying on kobe's scoring throughout the game to compensate for yao's and tmac's points LOL but with the way things are going i dont see it happenning
Seems like TMac is only a shadow of what he used to be, he's not performing that well this season. Not as clutch as he used to be.
