Who here thinks that all that physical Houston ball they played against us is simply OVER against LA? I say Yao, Artest and Battier are in foul trouble in the first half? Further I think Houston will be lucky to pull out one game! It's going to piss off Blazer fans just how much the refs now focus on Houston! I hate it, but it's true!
It's got nothing to do with officiating and physicality. LA is going to win because they play at a fast pace and are veteran enough not to get bogged down by Houston's ugly style of play. This is bad of a match up for Houston as Houston was for us.
It won't be a sweep. Houston's already lost four straight to the Lakers in the regular season and I just don't see them extending the streak to 8 games. Artest and Battier's defense on Kobe will harass him into at least one poor shooting game.
I'll be interested to see if they call those ticky tack fouls on Bynum like they did on Oden? Further I'd like to see just how much they allow Artest and Battier to bump Kobe?
8 out of 9 aint bad for them though. Not saying it to talk trash I just think LA is that much better.. than both you guys.. and us.
I'll be really pissed if the Rockets are out in 4 or 5 because I know the Blazers could've taken them to 7. Go Rockets!!! Kick their ass!
It is all about matchups. The Blazers match better with the Lakers than the Rockets - but the Lakers have the missing ingredients that Portland lacked against the Rockets - more offense from the center position to go at Yao and experience.
I don't under stand how the Lakers match-up better against the Rockets than us. Fisher = Blake Kobe = Roy Gasol = Aldridge Is it a case that Kobe makes them better?
I think Bynum's offensive skillset is quite a bit better than Oden/Pryz at this point. Same with Odom and our SF spot.
Lakers run the triangle. We do not. Our offense relies too much on the pick and roll and Brandon Roy being able to iso. With that said, GO LAKERS. I hate the fucking Rockets.
We have a winnah! It's that and the fact that L.A. makes it's living off of up-tempo basketball which kills Yao and stretches Houston's defense. The Blazers on the other hand are a bit like a guy in scuba gear trying to imitate a fish when it comes to up tempo basketball; they can do a reasonable facsimile for a little while, but you still know it's a guy in a wetsuit.
Odom rarely plays SF for the Lakers, he's their starting PF. Ariza and Walton were at the 3 for them almost always. STOMP
I think LA's EXPERIENCE is huge for them in this series as well. I don't think Portland lacked talent in the Houston series- we just didn't execute our game plan and automatically let them run theirs. Next time, our boys will know better. Uptempo play is the key against Houston; if we had run, we would have beat them as well. LA in 5.
Fisher > Blake - If only for defense alone Kobe > Roy - Not by much, but definitely better Gasol > Aldridge - Gasol is more consistent and has better inside moves the Aldridge. He also handles double teams far better. I wish it wasn't true, but facts are facts.
I still think it comes down to how physical the refs allow the Rockets to play against the Lakers. If they call it like they did against Portland, LA will have their hands full!
Lakers try to score in the paint much more than POR. You guys love the outside shot for the most part....sorry
