So what do you guys think (Lakers fans)? Lakers in 6 or Lakers in 7 (because I'm sure you don't think Rockets will win) I mean... you're a Lakers fan.
The first play of game four was Ariza jogging after a loose ball, then he realized he wasn't going to make it even after running harder, and ended up giving it to Artest on a fastbreak dunk. :[ Yes we're stupid.
you couldn't be more wrong. yao is a very good defender and absolutely is a number one option of offensive. just look at the attention he drew and the effort that was put forth in keeping him from getting the ball if you disagree. chuck hayes getting more time is fine because he's a great defender even though he is almost worthless offensively. landry is dangerous off the bench, but he's better when yao is in the game which gives him a lot more room to work with off the ball. same with scola. now instead of always going against single coverage and being left wide open for mid range shots, scola may even face some double teams and shouldn't get an open look for the remainder of the series(assuming of course that the lakers put forth some effort on defense). the less attention scola gets from the defense is far more helpful to his game than him getting "more room to do his thing" because yao won't be in his way.
rockets will miss Yao offensively, but I agree that Hayes is better on the defensive end. He gives Pau fits and he can guard the pick and roll much better....But having Yao would still be nice......very nice.
i disagree that the rockets are better defensively with hayes in yao's place, though i'd agree that they are about equal defensively. the rockets are able to better defend the pick and roll and hayes is better at defending quicker guys and guys facing up, but the rockets losing yao's presence inside blocking and altering shots hurts. the rockets also lose yao's ability to get opposing bigs in foul trouble which helps the team's defense as well. individually, hayes is a better defender but since yao was the only shot blocking presence in the paint, hayes can't really make up for that.
I'd be extremely shocked if Houston won this series. Shocked, disappointed, sad, nervous...all the bad words together. I cannot find words for game 5, just pathetic. Lakers would have a better chance if they trailed 3 games to 2, because maybe then they would wake up and give a fight. Kobe said before the playoffs that this team knows that getting to finals isn't a walk in to park this year, surely doesen't look that way
They just might trail after tomorrow night. Hopefully they've realized that the Rockets aren't gonna just roll over. They have too much heart. Heart that I haven't seen from the Lakers. Heart isn't screaming as loud as you can after you get a dunk or after you finish an and-1. It's losing your starting center and coming out and kicking the #1 seeds ass. Heart is when you get ran off the floor and you decide that in Game 5 nothing is going to stop you. I'd like to see some heart from the Lakers tomorrow.
Odom - Very, smokes weed every day Gasol - Yes Vujajic - No, needs anger management Ariza - Yes Kobe - No, but he was handed a high school diploma Bynum - No Fisher - Maybe, maybe no Walton - Hell yes Powell - No Farmar - No
Dude, sorry but that is pretty off. Sasha/Farmar/Powell no (especially for the season)? Farmar has talent, not the gifts to put it together. Gasol is one of the smartest players we have. And Ariza is light years ahead of Vlad/Walton and is decent normally.
