ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Lakers 4/28/2004 (Playoffs Round 1, Game 5)

Rockets WIN!

 

Rockets will play hard, but this is Game 7 for LA,,because if they lose this...they certainly wont beat the Spurs.

Rockets 81
Lakers 94

gawd, I hope the Rockets win, and I have to eat crow

 

to conquer or to die!!!

 

Just incase someone doesn't know where it was.


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FIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KH

 

It will be a win, because I have to beable to see more than 1 more Rocket's games this season! Come on Rockets! Pull this one out and make this series respectable!!!

LOL....Tonnay didn't make it.

 

I Believe In The Rockets. I hate the Lakers

Rockets 104
Lakers 103

 

Clutch City officially gets reborn. Rockets win a close one over the Fakers 95-90.

 

Payton eats his words, the Lakers are coming back to Houston

Rockets 90
Rapers 82


http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2004042813

The Los Angeles Lakers aren't sure when or if the youngest of their future Hall of Famers will show up.

It might not matter if the oldest one keeps playing like a 25-year-old.

With Kobe Bryant's status for Game 5 uncertain, Karl Malone and the Lakers try to close out their first-round series with the Houston Rockets and set up a conference semifinal matchup with the defending champions.

It's unlikely the Lakers will know until late Wednesday afternoon if Bryant will be available for tip-off. He is expected to be in court in Eagle, Colo., earlier in the day for a pretrial hearing on his sexual assault case.

Bryant missed practice Monday and Tuesday due to the trial, but, according to coach Phil Jackson, was optimistic he'd return in time for Game 5.

``He's hopeful that the week, the process will be OK, that he'll be able to get back here in time for the ballgame,'' Jackson told the Los Angeles Times. ``That perhaps he'll have half a day there on Wednesday that'll allow him the opportunity to get back.''

Malone appears to not be wasting his best opportunity to win a championship before winding down his Hall of Fame career. The 40-year-old forward led Los Angeles to a 92-88 overtime victory Sunday in Game 4, finishing with 30 points and 13 rebounds while getting under his younger counterparts' skin.

Malone, called a dirty player by Rockets owner Leslie Alexander over the weekend, was confronted by Steve Francis in the second quarter after undercutting Houston forward Bostjan Nachbar.

``It was typical Karl Malone,'' Francis said. ``He brings a lot of dirt to the game that's unnecessary.''

Malone had the last laugh Sunday, drawing Yao Ming's sixth foul in overtime and converting a three-point play to break his previous Laker high by 10 points.

``There's a whole lot of other stuff going on in this world aside from what they're upset about,'' Malone said. ``They're upset all the time. If it's not the owner, it's somebody else.''

If the Lakers win Wednesday and avoid a trip back to Houston on Saturday for Game 6, they will begin the next round in San Antonio against the Spurs on Monday.

At least one Laker is already looking ahead to that showdown of the last two NBA champions.

``Hopefully I can shine in that series,'' said Gary Payton, averaging just 9.3 points through four playoff games. ``I know I can play at another level. I can do a lot of things. It's not happening right now. Next series might be my series.''

Payton has provided one of many distractions in an already turbulent postseason for the Lakers, complaining he did not play in the fourth quarter of Games 2 and 3.

The backcourt of Payton and Bryant often has been ineffective in this series, both shooting below 36 percent from the field. Bryant had 36 points in Game 2, but has averaged 18.3 on 30 percent shooting in the other three games.

Shaquille O'Neal has attempted just 13.3 field goals per game and is a dismal 13-of-42 from the foul line (31 percent). However, the work of Malone, along with Los Angeles managing to pull out two narrow victories has pushed Houston to the brink of elimination.

``I believe in our team,'' coach Jeff Van Gundy said of the Rockets' unenviable position. ``If you look at the series, there are two games that we had where they won in the last minute, but it's going to be tough. They're a team that can have any of their four best players step up at any time.''

Yao has done a respectable job battling O'Neal, averaging 16.3 points and 8.0 boards in the series, and Francis has scored 20 points per game. However, their playoff inexperience, along with most of the Rockets, has shown.

Houston has committed 62 turnovers through four games, compared to 40 for Los Angeles.

The last time the Rockets faced a 3-1 series deficit in the playoffs was 1995, and they came back to beat the Phoenix Suns in seven games.

HOW THEY GOT HERE: Rockets - 7th seed. Lakers - 2nd seed.

PROBABLE STARTERS: Rockets - F Kelvin Cato, F Jim Jackson, C Yao, G Francis, G Cuttino Mobley. Lakers - F Malone, F Rick Fox, C O'Neal, G Payton, G Bryant.

PLAYOFF TEAM LEADERS: Rockets - Francis, 20 ppg and 8.3 apg; Jackson, 11.8 rpg. Lakers - Bryant, 22.8 ppg; O'Neal, 11.8 rpg; Payton, 6.3 apg.


Updated on Tuesday, Apr 27, 2004 7:44 pm EDT

 

ESPN said Kobe should make it to the game to play some basketball, but will miss quite a bit of the game.

 

Time to bring on secret weapons!!

The game starts with Yao scoring three in a row from downtown, effectively draw Shaq out the whole game and waste his energy, with noboby clogging the lane, with or without Kobe, our guards absolutely abuse their back court, either dunk on or foul Karla out or pass to Cato for hoop.

We beat the fakers 102:89.

 

It's Rockets's turn to win closely 98-97 against Lakers.
Go! Rocktes.

 

I never post in these, and I thought that I would for once, because I had a vision. A vision that showed the rebirth of Clutch City Houston. The unprobable is about to happen, the Rockets are going to steal this series from the mighty whiney lakers, the name doesnt even deserve to be capitalized, and this city will be joyous with the unbelievable come back. I taped the "Believe It Again" sign from '95 on my truck window, so they have to win.

Final predictions

game 5 99-90 Hou

game 6 89-83 Hou

game 7 95-94 Hou (hence the rememberance of the years of our championship)

Mark my word, here comes the Rockets

Clutch City Vol. 3

 

Bring out the fishin poles; get ready to see the gone fishin on TNT.

 

Rockets win 96-89 . CAt will have a big game so will Mo Taylor.

 

I'm looking for a good game by the Rockets to beat LA in game 5. The Rockets certainly have plenty of emotional help with this next game, and some of the game 4 emotions are likely to spill over into this one. As much as I have been venting on Malone, and as much trouble as I believe he presents, I hope that he is not able to get into the Rockets' heads. There is one thing I know, and that is Steve can get taken out of the game if he lets his emotions lead the way. Malone could easily get him tossed if he wanted to push his buttons.

My keys to the game (my best impression of a sports journalist):
1) Steve Francis keeps emotions in check.
2) Offensive rebounding.
3) Series breakout game for Yao.

Go Rockets. The Lakers are vulnerable. The Rockets have their backs to the wall.

 

Rockets will win, not just a close win a blow out....they will send a message

 

Baloney Maloney will twist his ankle and end his season! Muahaha!

Rockets need to play IN CONTROL and good Defense and we will have a good chance.

 

ZRB, dont forget to post