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

I agree, he is stupid he wouldn't even give much reasonings why "the lakers are going to lose in 6" Fire him! I'm liking Stephen A. Smith more though

 

I'm surprised the Rockets could keep the Lakers scoring that low. The Lakers have a lot of scoring weapons, but could only manage 72. They were lucky to escape with the W, and this could be a big moral victory for the Rockets who will start to think that they can win the series. Free Throws were responisble for losing / almost losing the game for both teams, neither shot over 70%. The Rockets outrebounded the Lakers 51 - 41.

 

The Lakers escaped with the W in this one, yes, they ESCAPED.

Me and my friends were watching this one and during the Rockets last time out I told my friends that Francis would penetrate and the defense would collapse and he would kick it out to Jim Jackson for the game winning shot. It all happened except Jackson missed the shot.

The Rockets put themselves in the position they wanted to be in but came up short. Even though they lost, they have the confidence that they can take the Lakers deep in the series.

I'm still sticking with my prediction...Lakers in 7.

 

Lakers in 5

They barely escaped. They just gotta have their team chemistry back, and they will dominate Houston. THey should execute the offense through Shaq, and from their improvies, kick it out, to our shooters. Kobe Bryant should be cutting and dishing (which he has), but he should be more aggressive during the whole game, rather than the 2nd half only.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting 30 standing ver:</div><div class="quote_post">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.</div>

Hahaha. Tell me about it. He keeps on saying "What a great pass!" wherein it obviously was a missed shot.

Shaq bailed him out though. Yao was waiting for the ball to bounce off the rim that's why Shaq got it but that dunk was nasty.

Mobley did a great job defensively against Kobe. Jim had a great look but it just didn't go in.

 

Well the offensive player has the advantage on air balls, that is for sure. The Lakers caught a lucky break and unfortunately for the Rockets, it might have cost them Game 1.

 

Oh and the Lakers need to do something about Malone vs. Taylor in the perimeter. Malone couldn't keep up.

 

What a bad way to kick off a playoff game Saturday night. Yeah, we took Game 1, but we didn't play up to our potential in an opening playoff game, and for the final five minutes of the ballgame, it came down to what team would execute better down the stretch, and luckily Shaq bailed us out with a dunk with one second left on the shot clock. And man, was I holding my breath on that Jim Jackson shot?? He was making that perimeter three from the baseline all night long, and when it clanked off the rim, I was so relieved. The Lakers have to come out tonight as the team to beat, and no more of these close games. They have to shoot better from the field, and they can't committ ridiculous turnovers left and right. Tonight should be another good one as we countdown the number of games for a championship. 15 to go.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Laker_Fever_834:</div><div class="quote_post">And man, was I holding my breath on that Jim Jackson shot?? He was making that perimeter three from the baseline all night long, and when it clanked off the rim, I was so relieved. </div>
1-7 3pt was Jackson's stat line. What game were you watching?

 

^ What I meant was Jackson is capable of hitting that corner three when he has a good look at it. He had a terrific look, and it looked accurate enough to get into the basket.

 

You Laker fans should feel lucky you won the first meeting, and scared because my Rockets are going to kick you guys' asses tonight. This is all trash talk and whatnot, but I really am confident of Houston's abilities once Yao starts playing up to his height and Stevie calms his game down a bit.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trip:</div><div class="quote_post">You Laker fans should feel lucky you won the first meeting, and scared because my Rockets are going to kick you guys' asses tonight. This is all trash talk and whatnot, but I really am confident of Houston's abilities once Yao starts playing up to his height and Stevie calms his game down a bit.</div>

Lucky? I wouldn't say that because both teams played horrendous basketball. So it just came down to what team would execute down the stretch, and everything turned in our favor. I don't think the Rockets will kick our asses tonight, but as long as we can harass Francis into committing turnovers, and make Yao feel uncomfortable against Shaq in the low post, then your team clearly has no chance to win tonight. Think I'll see you here after you lose Game 2 tonight? I don't think so.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Laker_Fever_834:</div><div class="quote_post"> Think I'll see you here after you lose Game 2 tonight? I don't think so.</div>

I'm not saying that there's a hundred percent chance that the Rockets will win, just that they won't be the pushovers as you guys are predicting them to be in game 2. Even if they lose, I'll be here to provide some negative encouragement for you people, but I am REALLY sure that Kobe Bryant won't get the 35 points, no matter how hard he tries, because Cuttino Mobley has a feel for Kobe's offensive game and knows the right ways to stop Kobe from scoring.

 

^ If Kobe Bryant doesn't score 35, but the scoring is very well balanced, then that's fine with me. It's all about winning. And as long as we have the upper hand in this series, and take you guys out, we're satisfied with that. All Laker fans are content with that.

 

The Rockets play gritty defense on the Lakers on Saturday, and what makes you think they won't do it again tonight? Yao Ming has to play like he should someday and why not today? Steve Francis doesn't get 7 turnovers nightly and what reason do you have to think he won't turn the turnovers down tonight? Jim Jackson doesn't always miss the clutch three, and why can't he make it if given the same situation tonight? Factor those into your prediction and you can see the reason for my optimism. I am very content with the 1 point loss in LA, and I believe the Rockets also take it as a indictation that the Lakers aren't necessarily better than them.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trip:</div><div class="quote_post">The Rockets play gritty defense on the Lakers on Saturday, and what makes you think they won't do it again tonight? Yao Ming has to play like he should someday and why not today? Steve Francis doesn't get 7 turnovers nightly and what reason do you have to think he won't turn the turnovers down tonight? Jim Jackson doesn't always miss the clutch three, and why can't he make it if given the same situation tonight? Factor those into your prediction and you can see the reason for my optimism. I am very content with the 1 point loss in LA, and I believe the Rockets also take it as a indictation that the Lakers aren't necessarily better than them.</div>

yes the Rockets play gritty, aggressive defense I respect them for not allowing Kobe and Shaq to have their way in Game 1, but do you really think the Rockets can contain them to win four games?? Yao Ming of course will have his big games, but I'll tell you one thing....Shaq will definitely harass him, and force him to be very uncomfortable in the low post. Don't forget..this is Yao's first time in the playoffs, and people coming in playing in their first playoff series tend to struggle. Steve Francis doesn't play like a true point guard. He's selfish....criticizes his coaches, has horrible shot selections from the field, and tries to do everything on his own without putting his teammates first. Jim Jackson is definitely the X-factor for you guys if you want any chance of winning this series, but Jackson can't do everything on his own without a quality effort from his teammates. And I totally feel in Game 2, you're going to see a totally different Lakers team than you did Saturday. I'm not being biased, I'm saying common facts.

 

I never said the Rockets would win 4 games did I? All I said was that the Rockets have a very good chance of winning game 2 and that you Laker fans shouldn't take them for pushovers. The Lakers might be totally different, but so what? Why can't the Rockets play differently in this game as well? They obviously know they can beat the Lakers and will surely come into the game with confidence, and the opportunity to win thrills Francis, and he will tune his game down in order to win. Also, you have to think that the Lakers confidence coming into this series has to have decreased. This game might very well be like the Christmas game: An upset.

I have yet to lay down my prediction for game 2. Rockets by 4.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trip:</div><div class="quote_post">I never said the Rockets would win 4 games did I? All I said was that the Rockets have a very good chance of winning game 2 and that you Laker fans shouldn't take them for pushovers. The Lakers might be totally different, but so what? Why can't the Rockets play differently in this game as well? They obviously know they can beat the Lakers and will surely come into the game with confidence, and the opportunity to win thrills Francis, and he will tune his game down in order to win. Also, you have to think that the Lakers confidence coming into this series has to have decreased. This game might very well be like the Christmas game: An upset.

I have yet to lay down my prediction for game 2. Rockets by 4.</div>

Ok, we won't take them as a pushover team, but you're still going to lose the series. Will you be ok with that? :mrgreen:

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Laker_Fever_834:</div><div class="quote_post">Ok, we won't take them as a pushover team, but you're still going to lose the series. Will you be ok with that? :mrgreen:</div>
Haha, that's what I was looking for: respect for my team. I'm pretty sure that the Lakers will win but a Rockets win tonight will undoubtedly turn some heads.

Btw, you got

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Laker_Fever_834:</div><div class="quote_post">And man, was I holding my breath on that Jim Jackson shot?? He was making that perimeter three from the baseline all night long, and when it clanked off the rim, I was so relieved. </div>I was watching the game with a group of friends. During the time out I told my friends that Francis would penetrate, the defense would collapse, and he would kick it out to Jim Jackson for the game winning 3. If he would have made that I would have been the man at that party.