Preview: Western Conference Quarterfinals Game 1 Rockets @ Lakers (ESPN)

<div align="center"><font color="Purple"><font size="5">WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS GAME 1</font></font></div>

<div align="center"> </div>
<div align="center"><font color="Red">Houston Rockets (0-0) </font> @ <font color="Purple">Los Angeles Lakers (0-0) </font> </div>
<div align="center">Time: 7:30 p.m. PT
Location: Staples Center
TV: ESPN</div>

Head Coaches:
Jeff Van Gundy/Phil Jackson

Probable Playoff Starting Lineups:
Steve Francis/Gary Payton
Cuttino Mobley/Kobe Bryant
Jim Jackson/Rick Fox
Kelvin Cato/Karl Malone
Yao Ming/Shaquille O'Neal

Sixth Men
Maurice Taylor/Derek Fisher

Injury Report

Rockets
(lineup already set for playoffs)

Lakers
Rick Fox (broken thumb, out indefinitely)
Horace Grant (hip, could miss playoffs)
Devean George (probably will start)

Laker_Fever's Game 1 Prediction Matchups:

Point Guards


This will be an excellent matchup. Definitely will be a ton of trash-talking going back and forth between these two players. But a lot of pressure will be on Steve Francis. Can he play like a point guard and not be selfish with the basketball? Or can he play within the Houston offense and try to steal a game in Los Angeles? Payton has to get the Lakers in their typical triangle offense, and not make stupid decisions with the basketball. Even though he's only the #3 option on the Lakers, his defensive contributions will be huge in this game. There's a big difference between these two players. Payton has years of playoff experience under his belt and Francis doesn't.
Advantage Saturday: Lakers

Shooting Guards


Very important for Cuttino Mobley to do all he can to stop I think holds the keys for the Lakers to return to the Finals, Kobe Bryant. Kobe is coming off games of 45 and 37 points. Combined a point total of 82 points. And everybody knows that once the playoffs hit, Kobe can get on fire. Maybe Van Gundy can take something out of Sacramento's scheme by using Cuttino and others by double teaming him everytime he touches the ball, to try and disrupt him out of his game. Very important for Cuttino to work on his shot selection and score early to make Kobe work twice as hard on the defensive end. And also, another downside for Kobe: Will the court hearings have an effect on his performance?
Advantage Saturday: Lakers

Small Forwards


Besides Yao and Francis, I really believe Jim Jackson is the X-factor if Houston wants to pull off an upset here. Jim Jackson always provides his best contributions for the Lakers, and if Fox doesn't guard this guy well, he can light it up from anywhere on the court. Jim Jackson is the only guy with playoff experience in the starting lineup, so it'll be important for Jackson to get his guys motivated at all times if they're down early in the game. Rick Fox hasn't been the same player since his injury which has sidelined him ever since last season. Since his return, he's been a foul machine and making some of the most ridiculous turnovers in recent games.
Advantage Saturday: Rockets

Power Forwards


This will be very interesting since these two players are going to play through their injuries. Cato is a decent shot blocker and rebounder, but he's not a scorer. And he'll have to find a way to get on Van Gundy's good side with his defensive approach. Karl Malone was the key to the Lakers success this year in the mimimal games he's played and a big part of the Lakers drive to the #2 seed in the second half. The big question is, will Malone be able to fight through the injury he suffered at Portland? Will Slava take most of his minutes? If Malone plays 25-30 minutes, his leadership will be critical. Keeping his team motivated at all times, being an excellent passer to cutting teammates, and not being afraid to fade back and shoot his trademark 18 footer.
Advantage Saturday: Lakers

Centers


And the hype continues....Clearly these two centers will be the players to watch Saturday as they do battle in the low post. What Yao has to do is keep doing what he's been doing in the regular season to Shaq. Use his variety of moves to confuse Shaq as he guards him one on one. Like his hook shot, his fadeaway, and his outside stroke. But back in Los Angeles, Shaq had his way with Yao limiting him to six points. The big question is, will Yao be able to contain Shaq for 48 minutes? I really believe that Shaq is fed up with the comparisons, and he'll try to make a statement game to his critics Saturday night. Shaq may still be the dominant center in the NBA, but he has lost a step.
Advantage Saturday: Lakers

Benches

Houston's bench is pretty deep with veterans Mark Jackson and Eric Piatkowski. jackson can control the tempo when he's in the game, and Eric can shoot the lights out from the perimeter when left open. Derek Fisher has hit a ton of clutch shots with the Lakers, but Luke Walton, Slava Medvedenko, and Kareem Rush are new to this atmosphere.
Advantage Saturday: Rockets


<div align="center">Players To Watch Game 1
</div>

<div align="center">Yao Ming & Shaquille O'Neal</div>

<div align="center">Ming: 17.5 pts, 9.00 rebs, 1.5 assists, .27 steals
O'Neal: 21.5 pts, 10.50 rebs, 2.9 assists, .51 steals </div>


Laker Fever's Prediction

The Lakers understand they need to win 16 games to win their 4th title in five years. This lineup is loaded with talent and tons of playoff experience. This is why Gary and Karl came to Los Angeles. To have a chance to win an NBA championship. The Lakers will try to work on their home games, and work on the countdown. Lakers by 10.

 

Amazing preview.:thumbsup:

The Rockets will catch the Lakers off guard in Game one and win by 5.

If the Rockets do in fact win game one we will have a great series on our hands and a possible upset. Although I think this is a grand opportunity for an upset, I think the Lakers will preview in 6 or most likely 7.

The Spurs will be waiting and licking their chops.

 

I loved the preview, and i think Kobe will come strong in game one with a 35+ points performance unless,like you said, the rockets take a play from the kings and double kobe every time he gets the ball. For some reason i have a feeling Francis will not be affective in this series and gary will shut him down. But it's just me. Anyways, the real matchup is the shaq-Yao battle, will shaq be the dominant 3-time finals MVP self? or will Yao play to his potential and bash O'Neal like he has in the last 4meetings? I think this will be a great 1st round series and i expect the lakers to take this game by 6. In the end, I see the series end at 4/1 Lakers.

 

In fairness to Shaq, it is not Shaq vs Yao. Shaq gets doubled everytime he touches it. While he guards Yao man up. I think Yao has too many weapons for Shaq to handle.

Like I already stated, if the Rockets can get that win in game one this will be an interesting series.

I also don't think Payton can lock up Francis. Francis is his own worst enemy. I think he is the real key in this series for the Rockets. Will he try to be the scorer and carry this team on his back or will he play an unselfish brand of basketball and make sure Yao is a major factor? If he does the latter of the two the Rockets will be in great shape.

 

Great preview.

One thing that may be in the Lakers favor is that Cato may not get many minutes as he has been entrenched on the bench recently. This will force Yao to play Shaq for longer periods. At a time when Shaq has been known to play 45+ minutes, Yao will need all the help he can get in order to not die of exhaustion by the game's end. Lakers by 9, 10+ if Yao has extended periods against Shaq.

 

I'll take the Lakers in game 1, but I'll take the Rockets for the upset in 6 or 7.

 

I like the Lakers in this game and in the series for that matter. They have a lot more playoff experience than probably any team in all the playoffs. Plus, the Lakers always play at their best around this time of the year. They are a very tough team to beat come playoff time. My prediction though, Lakers by 12.

 

Lakers by 7

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Q Rich3:</div><div class="quote_post">I wonder who gave you the idea for the preview
Nice, It worked better than I thought it would, I think the Lakers will come to play, they love playoff time and so do I! Lakers by 6</div>

Yeah I can't forget about you QRich. You really gave me a tremendous idea, and I'm glad that this preview turned out to be the best. I appreciate the tip. :thumbsup:

 

So far it's a tight game, Ming has 2 fouls and Shaq has 10 points and 6 boards. Which is a good thing but the Lakers only up 2 after 1. 20 to 18.

 

Kobe's only taken one field goal! He's trying to sabotage this game too!! :mrgreen:

 

They just barely won. 72 71, I was surprised to see the score being so low after I came back home to watch it. They were down 1, and scored 3 the last 2 minutes. And Shaq was 4-13 from the line. Geesh, and I though Jim Jackson was gonna hit that shot. Wheew, that was a close and surprisingly super low scoring game.

 

Wow, I was not impressed by that game. The Lakers should have kept giving it to Shaq in the 2nd half, they should have tryed to get Kobe more involved in the first half. But at least they got the win. But my god the Rockets suck at passing.

Shaq dominated vs Yao
Shaq:20 points, 16 rebounds, 2 blocks and he packed Yao, took it right out of his hands.

Yao:10 points, 11 rebounds, 1 block.

Also Francis and Mobley both had 7 TO's

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Undertakernv:</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe's only taken one field goal! He's trying to sabotage this game too!! :mrgreen:</div>

Don't worry, he ended up taking 18 shots in the 2nd half and shot a nasty 4-19.

 

At least we played some defense. God knows how many shots we missed. I swear, I could shoot free throws blind-folded better than shaq. What was he? 3 for 14 or something?? I know free throw shooting isnt his forte but for the love of god, make a damn free throw please
Well at least we won but we gotta come back monday and play better, especially on offense.

 

Bill Walton saying what a terrific pass to Shaq off Kobe's missed shot was hilarious. That last Shaq freethrow was terrible. He said he makes it when counts, but not tonight. He got the dunk, but the Lakers gotta play better. They finally play good D, but they can't score.

 

btw, why the hell is that clown lambeer on espn?? He offers no real insight on any games and all he does is hate on the lakers. If I can get a job where all I do is offer my biased and slanted opinions on the matter, where do I sign?