ClutchFans Game Thread: Lakers @ Rockets 4/25/2004 (Playoffs Round 1, Game 4)

it could be worse we could be the celtics

 

man, i'm tired of all the Stevie bashing. he carried the rox game 3. he didn't lose the game for us today.

i'm sick of ABC/Ref LA sackriding as well

 

How true... how true....

But that JJ to Cat exchage that led to the Kobe score was also boneheaded.

It was nice to see JVG cut the leash on the guards, though. This is a motion/pick n' roll team. Yao is not Ewing. Francis is not Ward. This team is at its best when those guards are cutting and slashing and Yao is mixing is game up high and low.

I am proud of these guys for the heart they have shown. I just wish there was a cream to cure brainlock.

 

the two things we are known about in this Nba season both showed up in force.

1) Our great defense slowed down the lakers and kept us in the game but

2) the second thing we're most renowned for the dark side of the force "turnovers" cost us the win. A fitting final stamp on this season.

 

You can make a case for both player's TO's. JJ's definitely opened the wound, but Francis' was the thrust of the knife into the team's heart.

 

You do the same thing, you won't get the same favorable treatment. The key is double-standards.

 

Looked to me like Malone was running back, then hopped into position under the basket. I mean, perfect position to undercut someone.

I dont understand why he got so pissy after boki blocked his shot. He got the foul call, what is he getting all mad about it? Gotta love Boki.

 

Just like game 1 ... How many layups did we miss today and how many offensive rebounds did we give up? Those were the killers.

On the positive guys ... This is what pretty much ALL teams go through before they can break through. I don't think we are gonna be another T'Wolves for the next few years.

That said .. this series IS NOT OVER!! Out of the first 4 games the Rox have proven in 3 games that they should've/could've won. Its not impossible that they come back from this. I STILL BELIEVE!

 

bottom line is that the lakers are DEEP. kobe is sick. malone kills the rox everytime. theres no one to blame. the rockets played a great game. you people need to stop hating and accept the fact that we cant beat the lakers in a 7 game series.

 

Good point but to be fair where would we have been without his 16 points and 20 rebounds? The guy played his heart out and made more crucial plays than he did mistakes. It just hurts right now. But we will be back next season better than ever. the Rox will only get better.

 

You have a point

 

The last call on Yao was bogus. See this is what i don't undertand NBA rules. The offensive player initial all the contact and dove into the player, and Yao gets to call for the foul. It's pathetic man! I agreed with one of the post above...if this is Shaq doing the same thing that Yao did, they would not have called it on Shaq man. Yao gets no respect whatsoever. This is a devasting loss man...Rox should have won. They should have doubled Kobe on the last play. And Rox failed to extend the lead after up by 4 points with 2 mins left. Those are the things that killed them.

 

Turnovers at critical time and missing open 3s cost us the game.

 

clutch do u still thik we should trade francis?

 

When did he lose his balance? He made a hard stop to get under Boki.

I have no doubt he did it intentionally, just like the cheap shot he took on Yao last game.

 

This game mad me so mad. I hate the way the refs call the games vs LA. The Rocks where fouled so many times driving to the basketball....with NO CALL!!!! o silly me i forgot we arent allowed to win we are playing the Lakers. That was the cheapest playoff call i have ever seen (malone getting "mugged" by Yao) IT was one of the worst calls ive ever seen. For the Rockets to get all there has to be blood for the Lakers to draw one there needs to be maybe slight contact if that. I wish there was a way we could write the leauge or someting its stupid the way they call it.

My dad refuses to watch basketball anymore because he says its no longer a sport. The refs pick who wins long before the tip(not littearly but it sure as hell seems that way) They need to call down the middle the same way for both teams.

Im so mad

 

We -can- beat the lakers in a 7 game series, that's why it's so frustrating. If kobe's shot hits iron in game 1 we win. If JJ doesn't decide to throw a pass off kobes foot (how was that not a kick-ball) in this game we win.

 

Finally Cato had a very good game.

 

Stop bashing man. We still have chance to win. After 3 games we know we can beat lakers.