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

It looks like Yao has a plane ticket to China already in his bag. Pitiful.

 

Up until this game I have felt like the refs were doing a good job. There were obviously a few spots in Game 4 that I disagreed with, but overall it was a good job.... Tonight I think the refs have their collective heads buried shoulder deep in LA's collective arses.

Why do I think nothing will ever make this any better?

 

this game is painful to watch

 

turnovers, turnovers, turnovers, the story of the series, the story of the season.

So far its 16-4 pts off turnovers favoring Lakers.

 

This is a critical stretch... the Lakers are going to try and stretch out the lead before halftime.

The Rockets need to take care of the ball at all costs... I don't care if we don't score, but lets just get out of this half, regroup, and treat the second half like a new game.

 

Yao must have heard us!

 

Yes,foul shaq out.

 

The problem is... if he starts out the game playing aggresively... he SETS THE TONE...

This helps him get foul calls on BOTH ends of the court (they'll let him play aggressively on defense too).

When you start out passive... you get called for cheap ones on the other end too.

 

u just cant touch kobe

 

Good... they listened to me... and got a lead in the process.

 

He's been sleepwalking out there.

 

Yao just has NO passion. How can you put on this happy go lucky face when your team is in a do or die situation. Atleast try to fake it like you care.

 

Cuttino likes to talk... he'd talk to Sheryl all half if he could.

I'll put big money down NOW... that Cuttino will be the future color man on TV for the Rockets in about 10 years...

 

We are in the game because LA missed 7 free throws.

 

Why bashing Yao? He has been outplaying Shaq in the 1st half.

 

lol, derek fisher didn't hit steve's arm on that one jump shot but boki fouled kobe on that layup? what more did fisher need to do?


still can't figure out how we're in this game. LA isn't bricking (47.5%) and we're turning it over like crazy. those 3's and ft's are huge right now.

maybe yao is awake now.

 

He's neutralized him... which is good in and of itself... but a little more intensity, then Yao not only outplays Shaq... but he DOMINATES him... and we have a big lead.

Nobody's bashing him... people are just expecting more now.

Maybe its too soon... but this is not the same Yao we saw earlier in the year... and we need him to put aside fatigue and find that spark again.

 

It is amazing ! We play like craps and still can lead at the half !Believe ! Dudes !

 

The only thing that I don't understand about the refs is this: Do they think that Gary Payton still plays for Seattle? I mean, they aren't giving him any fake calls. He plays for the Lakers. He is supposed to get preferential treatment. What are they thinking? Derik Fisher, who is fouling and flopping on every play, is getting WAY more respect than the Future Hall of Famer. Payton breathes on Francis and they blow the whistle.

Payton is definetly my favorite Laker. I gained a huge amount of respect for him in the old days as he pummeled the Rockets over and over again on his way to becoming an MVP candidate. It is a sad day when he becomes a Laker, and isn't given an ounce of respect.

 

Even though Yao is playing way too passive, we turned a 11 point lead to a 3 point deficit when Yao was on the bench.