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

We were 4 out of 22 behind 3 pt line. Our outside shooter need to sink it!!!

 

Bingo,

4 for 22 behind the arc says it all - and almost were wide open looks. it's a miracle we were even close. great effort & great heart when we could have folded.

D R

 

I didn't watch the game,but I followed the Yahoo's box score and learned the whole game.
I am proud of what Rockets done,I love all our players and Rockets.They are the only team that colse to Lakers at 1st roud playoffs in every game so far.Rockets deserve the love of all fans from the world.
I am confident Rockets will win next game in LA and end 1st round in 4-3 vs Lakers.

 

One of the critical moments in this game was that when the Rockets had cut the lead to 81-77, they didn't score after that for about 4 possesions and they couldn't take advantage of the Lakers when they had they're turnovers to. They eventually tied it at 81, but if they had scored on a possession more, they would've won it in regulation.

The real turning point in overtime was that, when we were up 87-83, The same player that kept us in the game (Jim Jackson) made two costly errors that cost us a basket and gave up a turnover to the Lakers for them to take the lead. Steve Francis was wide open under the basket and he did not even notice him. That would've been a six point lead and it changed the whole psychology of the game against the Rockets and instead of the Lakers being down 6, they were down 4 and they knew that one more basket would make for a one possesion game instead of it still being a 2 possesion game. So they went for the 2 and got a bouns from Karl. Now with that given them a whisk of oppurtunity and that Karl got that sixth foul on Ming to DQ him, they played more upfront from there against the Rockets and Kobe stepped up and intercepted Jim Jackson's pass. With Yao being out, it made Kobe focused on just driving it straight to the basket without even thinking that he needed to pass it and the Lakers had the lead 15 seconds later after the Rockets could've edged it to six. Francis missed another foul shot and with the game tied at 88 with Yao out, Kobe had nobody else to stopped him as he drove down the lane and converted another 3 point play. Steve Francis almost loses the ball and when he saved it, it went to Karl. Ball game. Also, we started 3-5 from 3 point land. We finished 4-22.

 

4-22 from three, that's 18% and insurmountable.

 

the fakers are better.

what can you do?

we gave them hell.

we simply dont have the talent/experience to really pull it off yet.

im so proud though. good job guys.

 

That's exactly the reason my supervisor and another colleague in my lab decided not to watch NBA anymore a long while ago. The league has its favorite teams and the refs are made sure to give them calls both in the regular season and playoffs.

Now I don't want to trade SF3. I want the team to build around Yao, with SF3 as his side kicks. We need to play Boki more next season. I love what I see from him in the PO. All we need is a Brent Barry to run point for 30 min and let SF3 run point for the rest of the time. And we definitely need to upgrade the forward positions so that JJ can be moved to 2.

 

just a fyi on Sports Radio 610 they are going to run an interview Malone did after the game and mat jackson said he had some choice words

 

Rox lost a lot of games this season, lost a lot of games last season, but none of them makes me so terrible.

It is just sick to my stomach, and I know I can't blame any of the Rox, they just played a great game. It just like you had what you want but somebody just take it away from you in the last 2 mins.

I am so dasvasted.

And BTW, how was that not a kick ball when Kobe stole the ball from JJ???

 

I can't wait for Malone to retire Championshipless.

**** him.

 

Yao had two really stupid fouls, no 3 and no 5 if my memory serves right.

I appreciate steve's efforts. but he went a little bit too far, trying to take over the team by himself.

Cat, you have a couple of good plays, but your shooting really hurts us.

Cato is doing great.

I am proud of what we have done. Still we have chance. Forget 3-1 record, treat every game as the last one. We will come back to TC.

-Littlefish

 

my thoughts too

 

Yea, it is easy to intercept a pass when you f*cking kick the ball. Watch the replay again, man. That call and the bogus 6th one called on Yao killed us.

My thoughts exactly. It will happen soon enough when the Spurs a$$rape the Fakers in the next round.

 

Neither did Shaq keep his arm straight. He was leaning backwards and had a foot in the restricted area.

 

Imagine them glorifying a 40 year-old after a 30/13 performance in the playoffs. That happens like every week.

 

Imagine them glorifying a dirty player. That's happened for 19 years.

 

This one hurt. We should have won this one. It reminded me of the game we had against them on Christmas day last year.

We came back to tie it after being down by a lot, and we did it all with out Yao like today. BUT....this one didn't end so happily.

I seriously didn't think we could lose when up by 3. Then Yao's foul which got him out of the game, and then Malone with the rb after Mo didn't move to get it. So SF fouled out.

Sad loss. This was another game we should have won. That's 2 games in this series.

 

All we gotta do is steal one in Lah-Lah and hold our home court one more time. After that, the pressure is on the Fakers since we are the underdogs and they are supposed to be here. Hell, I figured this series would go 7 games anyway. And like it was said before, I too have seen the team down 1-3 pull a couple series out. KISS OF DEATH! Lets go RoX!!!

 

I agree Steve Francis should not be traded for having bad season! Only because his game does not fit in the direction of the Team. Steve is an exceptional Player but not a decent Playmaking Point Guard.