ooooooh, You meant Rockets in 5 right. fyi: it a best of 5 series. I wish I could go to one of those games too since I live in the l.a. area too. But I dont have the $$
Hey, I applaud your optimism, and I sure as hell hope the Rockets play well. But from a realistic view, none of what you said makes sense. The Lakers struggled lately? Is that how they roared back to win the Pacific from the Queens, by struggling? If you wanted us to face a struggling team, who's struggling more, the Lakers or Kings? Shaq is the most dominating force in the NBA. Yao's running on fumes, he's gonna get steamrolled. Kobe is the most clutch player in the NBA. The Kings have "clutch" players like Chris Webber. "Dominating forces" like Peja and Bibby. Yao would've created a mismatch for them inside. NOBODY creates a mismatch inside versus Shaq. Bottom line is this: we would've had a fighting chance to WIN THE SERIES against Sacramento; now we'll be fortunate to win one game against L.A.
what's all this crap about this being a disaster that we're playing the lakers? this is awesome, guys!! not only are we in the playoffs for the first time in years, but we also get to play against the evil empire! what could be better? you know we're not going to get a cakewalk opponent. they don't make those in the western conference playoffs. so we might as well be glad we get at least three more games of yao vs. shaq.
slow down with the predictions. Imma say Lakers in 7. Heres the senerio. Rockets up by 2 with 5 seconds left. Deven George takes out the ball. Tries to get the ball to Kobe tipped by Steve and cat falling back to George for the game winning 3 and he hits it nothing but net.
Do you really have to ask? Because of players like Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. Not only are they great players, but as Kobe just showed, clutch players that are at their best when the pressure is at its highest. This is a character trait vital to all champions. Am I guaranteeing a Laker championship? No. There are plenty of reasons to doubt this team even with a healthy Malone (they have played some horrific defense down the stretch and for most of the season, Shaq has been good, maybe even great at times, but not as dominant as he once was). Kobe and Shaq are the type of players that can take their game to the next level come post season. Last year was a step back for them. Hopefully this year will not be a step forward. As for the Rockets playing the Lakers, I'm all for it. I didn't really like their chances against either the Kings or the Lakers, and this is a more intriguing match up. Hell of a first playoff experience for one Yao Ming. During the regular season, the Lakers brought out the best in the Rockets who seemed to raise their level of play whenever they faced the Lakers. Let's hope we seem the same result in the playoffs and hope that it is a factor.
Lets not forget about Rick Fox and Horace Grant. They brought much needed verteran leadership. I don't think Rush and George are going to step up. This series should be really really interesting. Go Rockets!!!
Beating the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round is a long shot. But Ralph Sampson did it with a buzzer beater in the Western Conference finals sometime in 1985, hmmm...... They should show that video clip to Yao Ming and Steve Francis to motivate them. It's highly unlikely, yes. But it aint impossible.
if we gotta get our asses kicked in the first round, it might as well be a really really hyped series with all our games being real intense. i was rooting hard for the lakers in that game (and thought now that i'm rooting for them they are choking and shaq is fouling out and they'll blow it, then the most incredible shot ever happened) just to not have to play the kings. on a side note, do the lakers ever miss a chance to break the kings' hearts? whether it's beating them in a sweep, dick bavetta, or kobe hitting 2 miracle 3's to clinch the division over them, they always find a way.
IT IS TRULY AMAZING TO ME HOW SOME ROX FANS HAVE LITTLE TO NO HEART AT ALL. EVERYTIME they play the Fakers , its always " Yao is gonna get broken in half by fat Shaq" or whatever crap. OR..... oh wait its the playoffs , so I guess " Shaq is gonna REALLY take to Yao". First of all Shaq has been gunnin for Yao since the 2002 draft. We know Yao can take Shaq so lets be a little more optimistic. I personally think it is Kobe we should be worried about. He is the one who always kills us at the end like what he did tonite against Portland.
Houston was the Midwest Div winner that season (1986). This is a 2/7 matchup. Maybe 1981 would be a better comparison although the 1st round was a 3 games back then.
