Gasol: Nose is sore. Don't think it's broken. ... Gotta be a collective effort on D. Make them hit tough shots. ... Take care of the details and help each other out. ... We gotta be aggressive and consistent. Hopefully we won't put ourselves in a hole. (Houston) is playing well. They have a good team. We should play our game and be aggressive and force them to hit shots outside. We have to stay in front of guys.
If the Rockets beat the Lakers tomorrow, it would mark the first time this season that I feel the Rockets are likely to finish above the Lakers at the end of the season, than they are to finish below the Lakers. The Lakers have everyone back and are still digging their own hole.
The Lakers have several problems to address. First is Gasol. Buss needs to get on the phone to Minnesota and find a way to turn him into Kevin Love. He will probably have to include draft picks. Their next issue is at small forward. Metta is a shell of his former self. Luckily, The Grizzlies are looking to get Rudy Gay of their hands, so Buss can spin Metta into Gay. Dwight is sucking it up this year and Utah is looking to get rid of Favors, so the Lakers can do a Dwight for Favors trade (and probably rack up draft picks in the process). Utah may be willing to take the chance on Dwight resigning. Finally, Steve Nash is done. Cut him and trade a first rounder for Ramon Sessions from Charlotte. New lineup: Kobe Favors Gay Love Sessions
I was adding to your earlier comment. D'Antoni needs mucho talent AND talent that fits his system to succeed. Otherwise, he is exposed. I'm in the minority here, but Pau's problem isn't all on Pau. D'Antoni needs to adjust his offense and rotations to use the guy properly. He doesn't have the luxury of picking and choosing favorites this time around. Dreamshook, this is the perfect time for the Rockets to play the Lakers. They need to put on the track shoes and make it a full-court game for 48 mins.
OK, then we were in agreement. I thought you were going a different direction with your comments. I also agree with you on Pau.
Not sure if serious. I don't want waste my time to correct such incredible wrongness, but I'm simply going to point out that 1. Utah LOOOVVVEEESSSSS Favors and probably wouldn't trade him for Howard at this point and 2. the Lakers have practically no draft picks at any point. They traded them to get Nash.
BTW, the Rockets are starting to become really interesting. I know you've had issues with the GARM in recent years, but I hope you can wander in there more often and post your thoughts on the team. I always enjoy your take, but I just wish you wrote more about the home team.
