Clutchfans Game Thread: Lakers @ Rockets 1/13/2009

This could be a statement game for Battier if he can step up and limit Kobe.

Scola vs Gasol and Yao vs Bynum will also be interesting matchups.

If we protect the paint, this is a very winnable game, especially given LA's injury situation.

And there is only one player in the league I truly wish injury upon. He plays for the Lakers and his last name rhymes with b**** (not Radman). I hope somebody puts him on his ass.

 

I hate to say it again, but if TSlack plays, we lose. The Lakers will slice us up mercilessly as they will exploit our 4 man defensive unit.

So with TMac, I give us a 15% chance ... without him, 35%.

 

Damn man, that's a harsh sig.

 

Corresponding game last year we were absolutely on fire going in of course, and Rafer dropped about 45 3's in the first half.

Key factors fur us this game will be along the same lines - we will a fast start, Rafer will need to make open shots, and Scolandry will have to all over the court hustling like mofo's.

One thing in our favor of course is this year we will have Yao to patrol the middle.

Tmac played fairly poorly in that game aswell. It wouldnt take much for him to play better than he did in that one.

With these things considered, and Odom/Farmar probably out, I like our chances in this one. If we had Artest I would say we are almost a monty, without him, still pretty confident.

 

if t-mac shows up, please don't give us the 2-15 4 point in 30 minute effort again....we have 0 chance if he does that.

 

Sorry, that's how I see it. I do like the name "Testy" for Artest, though.

 

By the way, if we lose this game, we'll have 16 losses which gives us the most of any team in the playoff hunt. In my books, that would put us in 9th place since you can make up wins, but you can't make up losses.

 

northeastfan,

You are the eternal negative Nancy.

 

beat laker!!!

 

The T-mac hate on this board are brutal, unnecessary and embarassing to be part of. I mean we get the message(DD) already. It does no good to be calling him names and such...can you at least wait until he's traded to another team so you don't end up looking like like a r****d once t-mac gets healthy again and help the team out. Its one thing to dislike a player and another to hate. As long as they're a Rocket I will continue to support T-Mac, Yao and Rafer.

With that out of the way. I hope we get the W heading into a much needed 3 day break.

 

Address:
http://sports.cctv.com/live/index.shtml

 

TMac should not play unless he's 100% physical and can play hustling defense. Let the new guys (those who played in the Utah, Celtics and Knicks games) roll. He and Ron should rest until completely cured. We need their 100% come playoff time.

 

Meh T-mac has to justle hang around with Radmanovic on the perimeter.

Rockets need to play with Heart and passion, something they lacked in that beatdown at Staples.

 

Without Artest, I would think the chances of the Rockets beating the Lakers are pretty small, with or without TMac. However, I will go out on a limb and predict a Rocket's victory. The Rockets play well against the better teams.

 

Yao is our hope!

 

bynum + gasol a tough match up...

we might see our twin tower lineup (yao and deke) on tuesday lol.

 

If they play with the same intensity as they did in Boston and to an extent in Cleveland, I'd be happy even with a loss.

 

i won't be. There is no moral victory in the playoff spot contest in the west ...

 

But Scola can beat Gasol...At FIBA court...

 

I think scola will do really good tomorrow. Yao will probably post another below avg performance coz he's gonna get double team almost everytime he touches the ball. I don't really want T-mac to plays because lakers is one of those team that brings that ego out of him. Ego+T-mac's health=5/20 for the night so i would rather have Artest to play than t-mac coz at least Artest will bring fear to every lakers on the court even tho he will probably go 5/17 or something like that. Rafer might step up big because history has shown what he can do against the lakers for some UNKNOWN reason. Look more pt for AB0 tho. My gut is telling me that he's gonna destroy the lakers defense with his quickness. The only one on the lakers team that HAVE A CHANCE to go coast to coast with him is probably Kobe and he's not gonna guard him. There you have my words, Scola and AB0!!!! It doesn't look too bright for Von tho because both Ariza and Kobe are quite good at perimeter defense. Finally, i think rox can pull out this one aswell. GO ROX!!

Yao-22pts 11rbs 3assts 3blks
scola-18pts 15rbs 2stls 2 asts
t-mac(if he plays)-17pts 6rbs 9asts 1stl 1blk (poor shooting guarantee, coz kobe is defending a limping t-mac)
Artest(if he plays)-15pts 5rbs 4asts 3stls
AB0-21pts (4-5 3's) 2rbs 5asts 1stl

GO ROX!!! kick them FAKERS OUTTA THE TOWN!