Is it just me or has the entire Rockets playoffs been called very well? I have to give props to the refs, they're not perfect but I feel like they've made a huge transformation. I've been very satisfied with their calls. Heck, the Laker players were getting whisteled left and right and they pretty much didn't complain at all...because they were fouls.
I agree that the Rockets are very deep as well, but they're deep in a different kind of way. If you were playing street ball or 1-on-1, yes, the Lakers are VERY deep. They've got a lot of athletic guys who can score. The Rockets players however, know their role, and they play by them very well. That's why we're so deep.
hmm, there were some calls weren't getting called....but it has been consist...lets see what ref crew is next. NO CRAWFORD!
I agree 100%. The Laker fans were horrible. However, I'm not understanding why everyone is saying the Lakers played dirty. I didn't see dirty. Sure, Kobe got frustrated by Battier once but the elbow to Battier's head was pure accident...he was just trying to tip the ball to the outside to regain posession.
I don't know about you guys, not to jinx anything, but for the past months of watching Artest, he seems to be running/walking/jogging awkwardly, is it because his ankle is still bothering him and/or it's really taped up, or is that how he is his whole career? His footwork while defending is kinda different from the other people too, it's like he's holding back or in pain
It's strange.. I even did not favor Rockets can win the game 1.. But that's my rockets, even the fans didnot favor, you still play with big heart and win.. Proud of my Rockets
Right on. At half-time they were saying Rockets could do no wrong...I was like, "Uh, what??!!" The Rockets played very good defense the first half but were far from perfect offensivley (for a flawless offensive performance see Portland game 1). I'm not sure they can play better Defense but they sure as heck have way more up their sleeve on offense. The national media has no clue. Did they not watch the Portland series?
Just a shout out to Shane Battier for keeping his head cool and played well throughout the game despite some jackassery by the Lakers.
hahah from ESPN DAILYDIME: "...And Chuck Hayes? Well, you couldn't even find a box score by his locker. He said he doesn't even bother to read them anymore, because they don't reflect his contributions. "What he does, it does show up ... just in winning and losing," Morey said. The most deceptive part of the halftime box score was the zero points (on zero shots) down the row from Hayes' name. He beat Pau Gasol for an offensive rebound, which led to a Ron Artest 3-pointer that banked in. On another possession, after Artest dribbled around in circles and then launched a 3, Hayes grabbed the rebound and the Rockets wound up with a 3-pointer by Brent Barry. That's six points right there attributable to Hayes. And what about points prevented? Hayes stands 6 inches shorter than Gasol and Andrew Bynum, yet neither could budge him an inch when they tried to back him down. Tree stumps are short, too, but have you ever tried to move one? Gasol gave up and ran a give-and-go with Trevor Ariza instead. Bynum threw up an awkward-looking hook shot that didn't have a chance of going in..." I think hayes should play a lil longer to give yao even more rest.
imo, the refs were about to give prefermental treatment to the lakers by the end of the 1st qtr, when they see that Lakers were behind. Note Yao's bs foul on Gasol that saved Lakers from the turnover pass. I see that they were about to give Lakers another call on 1st qtr's last possession. However, all the rockets were incensed of injustice, especially Shane's bloody face which spoke for itself. Battier's intense (bloody) image of fighting against the refs' judgements gave the ball back to the rockets in the final 0.8 sec. This intense moment, imo, also made the refs feel ashamed, and they were calling it fairly ever since. I think we were lucky that it happened in the 1st qtr and before our lead was taken away by the lakers+refs co. in other words, the Rockets' hearts evoked the refs' conscience!!! It was beautiful to see, and we reaped our reward at least for game 1 (we didnt blow it!). I believe the Rockets can be on an up swing. Our image to the national crowd just went up, so our stock, marketability, talking points, could all rise up from now on to the next season - hence, we will see more fair calls because we're expected to be good!! At least this is what I hope.
he's always been walking like that. like on his tips. and "bow leggeded" sometimes. he's fine though.
oh I see, interesting, it's good that he's healthy then, I was a little worried the ankle may come back again. btw I find this amusing: looks like Jazz fans are a little bitter about their lost in 1st round, they're rooting for us vs the other states who's going Lakers... An unexpected support from our most hated rival.
I am excited to watch this game and had a hell of fun. Yao is my man, I also love Kobe. First round Yao knock out Kobe. Eager to see how round 2 pans out. I expect Kobe to get >40 somewhere in this series.
Yeah, but I think had they beaten us you would see the majority of the Rockets crowd cheering them on. Unlike the Jazz or Mavs where we would have delighted in seeing them go down.
hahaha! Well said! I really really think I can see AB turning into one of the premiere players in the league in just a few more years. He is lightning quick, and I think he'll only grow to be a smarter and hopefully more consistant player as well. If I was Houston management, I would do everything I could to keep this kid here because I can very easily see him be a game changer in the future like he was tonight. Having 3 Lakers players following him around and leaving their man wide open because he is so quick to penetrate was a nice sight to see. I think this will be a very tough, close series for us but I think we can win if our entire team is willing to put everything out on the line every night. Like Kenny Smith said, we match up WELL with them, and I think AB/Yao could be the X factor that throws us over on offense IF we can keep it up. Also Shane Battier is such a class act. I never find myself disappointed by his post game interviews, he's so well spoken and very likeable. I think he puts on a great face for the team for the world to see GO ROCKETS!!!\
PLEASE don't try to learn English by reading message boards. Most posters spell worse than people that can't speak English.
