You know, there is precedence for a underachieving, inconsistent Rockets team with a dominant big man finding its b*lls in the playoffs and wreaking havoc: http://www.nba.com/rockets/history/lookingback_81finals.html "The Rockets finished the season 40-42 and had to win four of their last five games to even make the playoffs. Then, as the postseason began, they started playing a style of basketball that one NBA analyst described as grace and ballet taking a back seat to sweat and ruggedness."
IMO, this is the best matchup the Rockets can get in the playoffs in terms of fan appeal. Doesn't get any better than this for me. Rockets vs. Lakers...Isn't the NBA FANtastic?
Still can't believe that I stayed up well after 1 am this morning for this POS. Although we were swept by the drag queens in the regular season, we have a better chance against them since they are in a slump and they are less talented than the Lakers. We match up well against the Lakers than most of other teams in the league but still anyone who wants to draw a team with 2 of the top 3 clutch players (sorry KG, you have not prove yourself in the PO yet) in the league is just crazy and seriously needs some therapy. On the other hand, Rockets are going out in the 1st round anyway so playing the Lakers at least give them something to chew in the offseason and might make them more eager for next season. Finally enjoy the next 4 games because these will be the last 4 games these guys play together.
Wow, some of you guys are real party poopers. LIVE A LITTLE! I just made 4 seperate 10 dollar bets and a 20 dollar bet that the Rockets would beat the Lakers. Anyway, Game One: Game Two: Game Three: Game Four: Game Five: Game Six:
I want to see all posters say they already got their playoff tickets!!! There are no excuses since the availability is plenty....Laker fan will show up....I promise you they will be there in numbers.....they always come!!! C'mon Rocket fan...go out there and buy your tickets. We need to fill up the arena with Rockets fans and not let the freaking Lakers in!!!
Bad news is: We have to face the LA Fakers. Kinda see a lot of bad calls coming. Good news is: Karl Marone is injured and there is the possibility that he will not play with full strength(or will simply not play). Also, Gary Sayton isn't playing as well as he used to.
Anyone knows Kobe's court date? Hope it is in the same time period of the first round play off . If not, send the judge some bribe money
Game 4 = Sunday April 25th Court Dtes = Monday April 26th, Tuesday April 27th Game 5 = Wednesday April 28th. No such luck.
I LIVE IN L.A. FOLKS, HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH THE TAUNTS AND DUMB COMMENTS OF LAKER FANS!!!! I DESPISE THE LAKERS!!! I did see that double-overtime contest between the Lakers and Blazers. Kobe Bryant (Fake Jordan, the Pale Imitator, the Wolfman) will pay a hefty price for his arrogance. In the year 2000, I'd be wearing by Olajuwon jersey and strolling downt the street, I had to deal with lots of dumb remarks like "Olaju-who?" and all that. The Lakers owe us big time for '99. The Lakers and their fans must pay for their haugty arrogance. And they will. Let's start the playoffs right and smash THE LAKERS into the next century. Give Yao Ming 20-30 shots. He can take Shaq, albeit not easily, but we can get them in six, MAYBE FOUR!!!! Let's sweep THE LAKERS. I cannot stand those egotistical scalawags!!!! For Olajuwon, for Barkley, for Pippen, for Drexler, CRUSH THE LAKERS!!!! Forget about blaming the refs. Let's pound the LAKERS HARD, especially Kobe and Shaq. If they dare put in Karl Malone during his weakened condition, we should test his strength and mobility. Jim Jackson and Cuttino Mobley are terrific defenders and should take turns guarding Kobe. Yao should cover Shaq man-to-man. Remmeber, you can't stop a juggernaut, but you can certainly SLOW DOWN a juggernaut, and Shaq can be slowed down. Yao showed great defense against Shaq during the March contest held in Houston (despite the loss). ONWARD ROCKETS, TAKE THEM!!!!!
I recalled all of the 4 games between Rockets and Lakers.When Rockets played cleverly they won the game,otherwise they lost.It isn¡¯t Yao vs Shaq/Kobe vs SF,it is team play.And Lakers have enough experiences in playoffs that can help them but also hurt tem in meantime because Rockets are younger and full of energy to struggle against Lakers.
Please, everybody read what Yao said carefully in his website: "It's my belief that a would-be championship winner would not mind who the component is going to be, because its goal is to defeat each and every team that challenges it. I believe we'll be such a team some day." It is modest way of saying: we entertain the hope to win the championship. We don't mind who our opponents are, we will beat them eventually. Do you guys know why Michealle Kuan lost her Olympic golden medal again two years ago? Do you guys know why she no longer says in public that she will not stop until she get an Olympic golden medel? Chinese would rather have an invisible strength to urge themselves than loud words to carry as burden. Those burdens had tipped Michealle Kuan off her balance on ice. For Americans, you will shout and yell, "we will beat them, we will win, and we will triumph." Because you don't have the burden to prove your words true. __________________
I dunno man... it's not as lop-sided as it looks. I think Francis is better than Payton at this point in their careers. If Yao can go back to his all-star form (which I doubt - gut feeling), he and Shaq are at least a draw. Mobley has proven he can score at will against Bryant. If we play like we did before the Phoenix game, I'm thinking 4-3 Rockets.
I just finished watching Yao last big game against LA, the one we lost but where Yao had 33 points. Yao was awesome. He took it right at Shaq and hit jumpers all over the floor. He was also running around like a gazelle. His energy just got sucked away. If he plays tomorrow like he did that night, we could really keep the series close. I doubt he will though too. Nothing left in the tank.
