<div align="center"> <font color="purple">Los Angeles Lakers</font> VS <font color="red">Houston Rockets</font></div> When: Sunday December 18th, 9:30PM EST/8:30PM CT Where:Staples Center, Los Angeles Local TV: FSNSW, NBA TV (high definition) <div align="center"> <font color="purple">Lakers</font> <font color="purple">Smush Parker - PG / Kobe Bryant - SG / Lamar Odom - SF / Brian Cook - PF / Chris Mihm - C</font> <font color="red">Rockets</font> <font color="red">David Wesley - PG / Tracy McGrady - SG / Ryan Bowen - SF / Juwan Howard - PF / Yao Ming - C</font> <div align="left"> 6-2 since Tracy McGrady's return from back injury, the Rockets are hotter than they had been since the beginning of the season. The team went up against the "other" team in LA Saturday night and played a tough game, losing eventually 89-81. The loss snapped a 5-game winning streak, but McGrady and Yao combined for 50 points and 14 rebounds. Tonight, the duo must have a similar performance to negate Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom's offensive prowess. The Lakers, despite the return of prodigal coach Phil Jackson, are still hovering around .500. However, Kobe Bryant is having a MVP-calibre season, and is coming off a 41-point game against the Wizards. It will be TMac's job to hold Kobe in check, or at least go toe to toe and match Bryant's every point. McGrady will have to be careful also not to get caught up playing a one-on-one game, as Chris Mihm is a soft interior defender whom Yao Ming should dominate. If McGrady scores 50, so be it, but Yao had better get 25. The Rockets' role players will also need to step up in order for a Rockets game. Against the Clippers, Moochie Norris scored the highest out of any Rocket not named McGrady or Yao, with just 8 points. The Rockets' power forwards, Juwan Howard and Stromile Swift, combined for just 7 points on 1-6 shooting. They will have to play some tough defense and put points on the board to take pressure of the superstars tonight. Prediction If the Rockets play the way they did against Golden State and Seattle, they should win this game easily. If they play the way they did last night, the Lakers can pull off the upset. Rockets - 96 Lakers - 87 </div></div>
Nice preview, The Rockets should take care of business today.......Yao should be able to have his way with Mihm,Kwame, and Cook.
The Lakers are 11-0 when they shoot a better percentage from the field than their opponents. Shooting and field goal defense should obviously be keys. A big part of that is limiting the Laker's offensive rebounds and second chance points, as they're the 7th best team in the league in offensive rebounding percentage. I think the Lakers should be favored in this one. They've been winning games recently against tougher competition, and they are better rested. McGrady said that fatigue was a factor for him yesterday in the second half, and it will likely again been an issue for the team this time. Yao needs to have a monster game for us to overcome that, in my view.
The Rockets looked really tired at the end of the game last night against the Clippers. With the extra day of rest, I like the Lakers tonight. I wouldn't be surprised if the Lakers went with their speed lineup tonight to take advantage of the tired Rockets and neutralize Yao. Smush-Sasha-Kobe-Odom-Mihm have been an effective lineup for the Lakers this season. I don't think the Rockets match up well with the Lakers and the Lakers are able to play a halfcourt pace or an uptempo game.
I still don't understand how fatigue affects NBA players. Games are only 48 minutes long, and I have seen my high school basket ball team play back to backs with high energy and win both games. I can play BBALL 3 hours a day for 3 days straight without getting worn out. They claim it carries to the next day, but I believe its just an excuse they use if they lose. Rockets need to beat the Lakers today, and finish the road trip strong.
You probably don't play in hard basketball games then for 40 minutes. If our team is playing in a competitive game, I am drenched/exhausted afterwards, and I am sore and tired the rest of the day and the next day. If we're in a tournament and have to play 2 games in 1 day, then adrenaline is the only thing that keeps me going. That's high-school basketball. Imagine playing in the NBA for an 82 game schedule with two-a-day practices on off days. You can't run on adrenaline forever, and eventually the body will just break-down. This game faces off 3 of the NBA's worst starters at the moment: Cook, Parker and Bowen. LA is playing great of late and Houston came off a loss last night. I expect LA to win this one.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting virve119:</div><div class="quote_post"> This game faces off 3 of the NBA's worst starters at the moment: Cook, Parker and Bowen. LA is playing great of late and Houston came off a loss last night. I expect LA to win this one.</div> Parker is not one of the worst starters. Cook is decent as well. Actually, statistically speaking, Wesley, Howard, and Bowen (all Rockets) are three of the worst.
YAO MING ISN't IN THE BUILDING...He went home because of TOE INJURY!! Deke STARTS! I don't know if we could stop mihm kobe and odom. They're on a roll..
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting drm2dnk:</div><div class="quote_post">YAO MING ISN't IN THE BUILDING...He went home because of TOE INJURY!! Deke STARTS! I don't know if we could stop mihm kobe and odom. They're on a roll..</div> Damn beat me to it. Yea, this just makes a win 2x as hard. Lakers win 96-82.
Yao being out is not good at all. Even though Kobe is guarding T-Mac, they're still double and triple teaming him when he starts dribbling.
Who can make up yao's 19 points/game is a crucial problem. We need some one steps up. We cant solely count on T-MAC scores 40+, just too hard. Swift might be the one, i wish.
I think no one will step up to be honest. End of a long road trip they can't win them all. Yao and T-Mac can run it, no one else. 12-14 first quarter is just pathetic. Wait til Kobe steps back in. I think were screwed. 22 FG% in the 1st quarter.
realy.. we're going to choke in the 3rd quasrter soo much that we are giong to be in a run in the 4th but still lose.
I guess we'll be seeing some of Lonny Baxter now... <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">realy.. we're going to choke in the 3rd quasrter soo much that we are giong to be in a run in the 4th but still lose.</div> Pessimists these days LOL.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">i cant see the game. wut is the score right now and wut quarter is it?</div> Halftime, its 31 Rockets and 42 Lakers. We'll come back.
YEA WE CAME BACK! 20-2 Run we are up 60-54, Luther Head's steals. Wesley 11 points in the 4rd quarter YEA! T-Mac watch out, 4 fouls.
