ClutchFans Game Thread: Lakers @ Rockets 3/16/2008

Plowman · Mar 15, 2008

I was watching whenit happened to Gasol and there is no way he's coming back soon.Best case scenario a week......I'll bet it's much longer though.

Even so the Lakers are NOT to be taken lightly...

We still don't know if Landry's playing or not......
And coming off a loss those guys nut it up...

Rockets 96 Lakers 93

While I don't like to see anybody get injured,it's going to be interesting to see the results of Gasol's X-rays/MRI...Again they carried him off...and speaking as one who has rolled his many times,it didn't look good as he was carried off.There very well could be long term implications.

russian88 · Mar 15, 2008

Shroopy2 · Mar 15, 2008

vcchlw said:

Be prepared and don't get cocky!
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Shroopy2 · Mar 15, 2008

monster said:

The basketball gods are smiling on me. I was just given a pair of front row tickets, just inside of the Lakers bench.

Now I'm just trying to put together a few Kobe taunt ideas, or maybe ideas for good signs.
Click to expand...

BeeBeard said:

A another
B Bryant
C hoke

A lways
B bet on
C lutch!
Click to expand...

Kobe
A
Ballhogging
Chucker
or
Aalways
Be
Chuckin

Almost
But
Cant break the streak

Kobe's
Alright
But
TraCey's better

please dont use any of those

pirc1 · Mar 15, 2008

22 in a row baby!

YugoRocketsFan · Mar 15, 2008

Daddy Tang · Mar 15, 2008

Hobe Kryin' is gonna get pwned by T-Mac.

Houston Rockets....turning HATERS into BELIEVERS!!!

realrockyboy · Mar 15, 2008

This laker is going to play like it's old slef, and without Bynum, which means....blow out by the red hot Rockets

jasonemilio · Mar 15, 2008

* I accidentally posted this on the wrong thread (knocks head)....so I'm re-post my post.....
Lol whats this? Tim Legler coming around and giving us some love?
And surprisingly, its a pretty good analysis of our streak and he doesn't immediately cut us down with the typical "oh they have a weak schedule blah blah" Although most of what he says have already been mentioned by us fans here at Clutch-dom before. Finally, some well-deserved love

article link

Matchups Key To Houston's Championship Hopes

By Tim Legler
ESPN.com
(Archive)

The Houston Rockets elicit more questions than answers these days. 21 straight wins? Take it in for a moment and try to digest it. I'll say it again with emphasis. The Houston Rockets have won 21 consecutive games? The number is hard to imagine for any team in any era, but for this particular group it is almost unfathomable. I mean, for the last nine games of the streak we are talking about Tracy McGrady and a bunch of solid role players. This isn't a team that, on paper, should be able to keep its head above water without Yao Ming, much less dominate the entire league for a six week stretch.

Is it luck? A weak schedule? A bunch of guys collectively playing over their heads? If you buy into any of those theories, you would be wrong on all accounts. The truth is that this team is doing every tangible thing on the court that equates to winning basketball. Furthermore, those skeptics that believe the Rockets will fade down the stretch and get bounced in the first round regardless of their seeding may be eating their words six weeks from now. This team can win in the postseason if they get the right matchup. In that regard, they are no different than any of the other Western Conference teams.

There is always luck associated with winning. But this Rockets team creates winning opportunities by valuing every possession. Simply put, they are the best overall defensive team in the NBA. The numbers back that up, but they don't tell the entire story. Houston ranks 4th in points allowed, 2nd in defensive field goal percentage, and 1st in overall rebounding percentage. It is the stratosphere in which Boston, Detroit, and San Antonio reside, three teams on the short list of title contenders. The Rockets are the best defensive team in the league because they contest every shot. They never give up on screens. They trap and rotate better than everyone else. They help on penetration. In short, they are relentlessly competitive. They have held opponents to fewer than 100 points 18 times during the streak.

Still not convinced the Rockets are legit? Wondering about that schedule? I will concede that they haven't faced a proportionately high number of elite teams during the streak. But they have beaten Cleveland (twice), New Orleans (twice), Dallas on the road, and the Denver Nuggets. During the streak they have only played six games against teams that have no shot at the postseason. They have also crushed the bottom feeders with a double digit point differential. There have been no letdowns. The schedule will be significantly more difficult starting Sunday with a home date with the Lakers (ABC, 3:30 ET). That will be followed by a matchup with Boston and a three game trip to New Orleans, Golden State, and Phoenix. We certainly will know a lot more about the Rockets a week and a half from now.

Next question. How are they scoring enough points with this lineup? First, they have an offensive weapon in McGrady that is as talented as any other player in the NBA and use him as the primary playmaker which allows him to score, create, or occupy defenders in order to allow their role players to be impact players. To McGrady's credit, he hasn't forced the issue or felt the need to put up huge numbers in Yao's absence. He trusts his teammates and they are coming through in a big way.

Luis Scola is suddenly pushing Kevin Durant for rookie of the year. He has averaged 12 points and seven rebounds since being inserted into the starting lineup at the beginning of the streak. Rafer Alston is having the best season of his career. Others have all chipped in with timely scoring. It doesn't matter to Rick Adelman who scores. The way they play "D" the Rockets only need to get to 90 every night. With McGrady at the helm, that hasn't been a problem.

But with that said can the Houston Rockets actually do some damage in the playoffs? The answer is yes, if they get paired up with Dallas, New Orleans, Golden State, or Phoenix.

As far as the Spurs, Lakers, and Jazz go, each of these teams has the necessary combination of talent, scoring balance, discipline, defensive impact, and coaching prowess to take care of business against the Rockets. Those teams won't beat themselves and that is a big part of what the Rockets have relied upon during the streak.

The Rockets are a serious threat in the West. They are the underdog, without a doubt. But they win because they understand what it takes to succeed. The final chapter on this team won't be written until the postseason run is completed. For now, just sit back and enjoy the show.

ESPN analyst Tim Legler is a regular contributor to the Daily Dime.
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Yao4REAL · Mar 15, 2008

jasona88 · Mar 15, 2008

wow i didnt know scola was ranked #1 on espn rookie ranking.

Felixthecat · Mar 15, 2008

I hope they are practicing free throws

tigerjon99 · Mar 15, 2008

Hi All:

Im overseas. Does anyone know if this game will be available online through channelsurfing.net or any other means?

THanks so much!

Regards, Jon

g1184 · Mar 15, 2008

tigerjon99 said:

Hi All:

Im overseas. Does anyone know if this game will be available online through channelsurfing.net or any other means?

THanks so much!

Regards, Jon
Click to expand...

guaranteed. There's a thread with links for online streaming, usually someone bumps it before games start.

Zboy · Mar 15, 2008

This is the game I have been waiting for.

The best player in the league going against the team with 22 win streak. A good test for both teams.

automorph · Mar 15, 2008

do you think JVG will get a relapse and start yelling at the rockets........

RocketJedi · Mar 15, 2008

GuerillaBlack · Mar 15, 2008

g1184 said:

guaranteed. There's a thread with links for online streaming, usually someone bumps it before games start.
Click to expand...

I don't think there will be any for this game since it is on ABC.

symbiote007 · Mar 15, 2008

the rockets are lucky to play against lakers without gasol. everything's playing in rockets favor from here on out.

BoomShakalaka · Mar 15, 2008

symbiote007 said:

the rockets are lucky to play against lakers without gasol. everything's playing in rockets favor from here on out.
Click to expand...

And the whole league is happy Yao is out for good, its part of the game, no luck involved

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