Having three days off before Friday's game in H Town, who benefits the most? I believe it will should help out Houston, if Van Gundy can look at the tapes and come up with a better game plan.
I was thinking about this myself. At first I though Yao could use the rest, but his fatigue seems to be the least of our/his problems. The rest will overwhelmingly benefit the Lakers more than us. They're hobbling. Malone's ankle and Payton's back seem more likely to get better in a short time. No one on our team has anything that 3 days rest is going to cure. Steve's playing better with the injury than without and Cat's shoulder hasn't been a factor.
To me it would be favor LA or than us. They are an older team and with this lay off they can get rest, which sux for us. It will hopefully give us time to do the same but I don't really remember us playing that well when we had anytime of lay off...
it benefits shaq most. he isn't young anymore nor is he in peak physical condition. i also believe that since it will help shaq out, that will help the rockets. allow me to explain. "On the other hand, Lakers coach Phil Jackson thought Shaq looked tired in the second half." http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200~29583~2092064,00.html in game 1, they established the inside game with shaq, but that wore him out too early, and he was innefective the rest of the game sans the 2nd to last play. in game 2, shaq was a non factor for the most part, because of foul trouble, and even before that, it was kobe/malone who were the go to guys. 3 days off will greatly benefit shaq, and yao of course, but i fear our only way of victory is challenging shaq to turn it into a 1 on 1 battle. i predict shaq will have a monstrous outing in game 3, but it will also be the most winnable game in the series.
Physically it favours the old guys. Malone, Shaq, etc. Mentally, it lets the Rockets regroup after two losses. Overall...advantage Rockets.
Favors LAL (what a surprise). Unfortunately the NBA doesn't schedule games on consecutive nights during the playoffs...
If, I mean when, the Rox win Friday NIGHT then the advantage for Game 4 Sunday AFTERNOON is overwhelmingly in favor of the Good Guys!
I would love to see the Rox install some zone D/box and 1 during these days to pla during stretches of the gawe. besides the fact that jeff never ran a zone in NYC because of the rules, anybody know why we never run zone with Yao as the anchor?
3+ days off hasn't been kind to the Lakers over the past 3-4 years either. That 1 playoff loss in 2001 came after they had to wait 9 days for the Finals after sweeping San Antonio. There's no way that team should've lost any to Philly. 2 days is optimum rest for old players. You get one day of rest, one practice session, and rust can't take a foothold.
Its gotta favor the Fakers. They have older players who are more injured and need the rest. Also they are more disciplined and can probably better keep their focus over three days off. The Rox are younger and while three days might help them mentally get over the loss it might also take away their sense of urgency and focus.
it favours whichever teams uses the time best Lakers can just rest they have the momentum and control the series right now The Rockets on the other hand need to rest, and train, work on defensive communication, rotations, doubling when it isn't need, looking for Yao and getting to the rack and finishing.... they have to dig real deep and find another gear, whereas the Lakers are already on cruise control
