Time: 6:00 p.m. Location: Toyota Center TV: ESPN ---------------------- Probable Starters: Gary Payton/Steve Francis Kobe Bryant/Cuttino Mobley Rick Fox/Jim Jackson Slava Medvedenko/Kelvin Cato Shaquille O'Neal/Yao Ming ---------------------------------- Injury Report: Lakers- Karl Malone-Out Brian Cook-Out Rockets- Mike Wilks-Out ------------------- Keys to the game: - The Lakers are now 4-2 on this seven game road trip which ends tonight, so in order for them to win today, they'll have to allow Shaq to receive as many touches as possible, and once he gets the ball...he'll have to dominate over Yao. I'm sure Shaq would want to make Yao look silly since that Christmas Day loss back at Staples Center, and since Yao beat Shaq over the starting center position at the All-Star game. Kobe returns in this game also. I'm sure his shoulder is close to 85% healed with all the time he missed, so he'll have to hit outside shots; to get his stroke going again, and to penetrate to the basket, and dish off to open teammates. I feel the same way for Gary too. Even though he scored 17 at Miami last night, 7/19 won't cut it for me so if he gets into a slump, allow his teammates to pick up the slack. - The keys for the Rockets is they have to get better contributions from their starting backcourt of Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley. In their last game at San Antonio, they dished off a combined 10 assists and 16 rebounds, but shooting wise, they only made 19 of 30 shots, so they really have to improve on that. I like Jim Jackson in this one. The last matchup at Staples Center, he got into an offensive flow and started hitting outside shots and gave not only himself huge confidence, but also his team as well. Rick Fox will have his hands full for this one. After bouncing back from a seven point effort against Atlanta on Saturday, Yao scored 25 pts on 11/16 shooting in a San Antonio loss, and Shaq will have to all he can to make him feel uncomfortable in the low post. Laker Fever's prediction- With L.A. being 4-2 on this road trip, and with Kobe returning tonight, I feel the Lakers will avenge that Chrstmas Day loss back at Staples Center, and I feel they are close again to being that dangerous team we've known in early Nov-Dec. Lakers by 14.
lakers will win by 8, 96-88. i think shaq will dominate and take yao ming to school especially that yao took over shaq's position in the all-star line up. i hope that kobe don't force his shot if he's really playing tonight. this will be a good game. :thumbsup:
I think this game will be a very close game ...It might go down to the buzzer ..I think I will take the Lakers to win , even though i would like to see the Rockets win ...I say the Lakers win by 4 BTW , nice preview Go Kings ~
I don't know if the Lakers will take this one that easy. If the Lakers can stop the Rockets perimeter shotters and Yao they will take the W. But now that Kobe's back it should be easier for the Lakers. Lakers by 2.
A little to much confidence, especially because they already beat us, but I also think L.A. will take this one by 6
Lakers score a 101 to 95 baby. I like the Rockets and Lakers. But the Rockets play really slowdown ball. Dag, and Yao still looks the same from last year. 296-310. I swear even for his height, he's the slimest 300 pounder ever. His legs must be really thick, but his upperbody still looks the same from last year. Oh and he has short arms for his height, that's why guy 8 inches shorter then him has a chance to block his shot.
Lakers get revenge in this game for their X-Mas loss. The return of Kobe gives our team much needed depth to beat the Rockets tonight. This is the Lakers 3rd game in 4 days, and all of these games have been on the road. Should be a very close game, but the Lakers will come away with another win.
Lakers by 7 with kobe back. Shaw will have his normal game. I look for gp to guard francis fairly well to keep his shooting around 30 percent still.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ANiMuS:</div><div class="quote_post">Yao can't bulk up in the offseason because he's obligated to play for the Chinese National Team.</div> He's big enough, 310lbs is good. Just doesn't show on his upperbody, and that's where Bill Walton said he put his weight at. Just doesn't look like it, he just gotta be alot tougher like everybody else says. His game is like the Dream, but he can't allow himself to be pushed around so much. He must not be able to bench his own weight or something, he gets pushed around by people 65lbs lighter then him.
In showing their appreciation and respect back for the game, the big three (shaq, payton, kobe) are gonna be dedicated to playing a team ball and refocus on their season... malone is gonna cheer for them and wave towels like never before, Lakers stunningly demolished the defensive minded Rockets 98-74 (BY 24!)!!! (And Francis gets traded to another team shortly after the game, just like SAR did after that Dallas game)
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting 30 standing ver:</div><div class="quote_post">He's big enough, 310lbs is good. Just doesn't show on his upperbody, and that's where Bill Walton said he put his weight at. Just doesn't look like it, he just gotta be alot tougher like everybody else says. His game is like the Dream, but he can't allow himself to be pushed around so much. He must not be able to bench his own weight or something, he gets pushed around by people 65lbs lighter then him.</div> That's right. Yao is too weak, and that is the reason he commits so many turnovers. If he can bulk up at some time in his career, it would be greatly benefitiary.
Just got home, and turned the game on. 54-54 Rockets mid way through the third, how is Kobe looking? Does he have his shot back? Looks like one that is going to go down to the wire
^ Kobe has only took 2 shots...a missed fadeaway, and a made trey....Stu Lance and Sunderland were saying he was bombing it from downtown in practice before the game...but he's not shooting in the game so far Franchise just made GP look silly with that crossover he put on him...ouch
Yao dominated shaq, Francis played one hell of a game. Kobe's shot looked decent he looked good late in the 4th.
Dag it was a good game, Lakers just fell apart. Yao got hit in the head and still dunked it. I know he's 7'5-7'6. But his reach is 9'7, he actually has to jump a little to dunk. I thought his reach would be 10 feet minimum. Anyways, this games sucks now. Dag, I like Houston, but geesh Lakes.
Lakers definetley fell apart, they were in it for a second and then the Rockets just pulled away. Can't speak much for this because I didn't see all of it, but it got ugly towards the end of the game. And just for the record I would like to ask, does Tim Legler watch basketball? What a bold statement to make, seeing that he only took 7 shots, Legler came up with a "I'm sure Kobe is full healthy, I don't think he would come back if he wasn't 100%". - from Sportscenter Worst thing I've ever heard, Kobe was very anxious to get back on the court, he pushes to get back from all his injuries. Oh well, props to to the Rockets for winning this one. Their big three stepped up big for them, and down the stretch Yao Ming made key baskets and Francis would execute everytime Houston needed him to.
