You know what's really silly is the thinking that Andrew Bynum could actually make a difference against Yao Ming. Without help, even. At least, that's what the story seems to be. I get the sense that the Lakers will live with their bigs playing behind Yao in the post. They've got the fouls to give and the bodies to bang. But I don't guess the Lakers paid any attention to how that worked out for Portland. If Dwight Howard's routinely getting outclassed by Yao, the Lakers can't seriously think Bynum would fare any better, do they? I know they're high on him and everything...funny how Bynum's supposed to be the big body that gives them that tough, physical inside presence... ...and he spent his time on the court shooting more jumpshots than Lamar Odom. Yao's turning a corner in how he approaches his role on offense. Not just because McGrady isn't here, but because he knows he's got an advantage every time. Especially if the Lakers refuse to double-team him. And he's much more assertive and decisive. The Laker bigs won't wear Yao out any faster than he wears them out, I bet...
Win or lose I want to see the Rockets keep smashing these guys in the mouth. They are in a dog fight and it appears they are not going to give the Rockets any respect no matter what happens. The best thing to do is just keep hammering them so that when they get beat again they will look even more ridiculous when they won't acknowledge their beating to the media. The acted like this in last year's Finals too. Even Kobe didn't have his usual competitive streak. They just kept losing but acted like they were about to turn it on any second so don't worry. We know how that worked out. They are starting to remind me of the Detroit teams of the last 5 years. According to those guys, nobody ever beat them.
Big Chief Triangle never gives the other team props until the series is over. As for Bynum, I thought his return from injury might actually work against the Lakers, as team chemistry can be a fragile thing. I hope that proves to be the case.
Missed by Trevor "I make 32% open 3" Ariza and Derek "got old since March" Fisher. Our guys had been studying the scouting report.
Nowadays, lots of people try to sound smart, by throwing out random made up statistics numbers or projection/estimation like this, only expose themselves to be fools.
By the Lakers accounts of the game it was not the Rockets that beat them but it was their own play that stop them from winning the game. I hope they continue to believe this bs. The Rockets are not the same team that they beat in the regular season. If the Rockets really play their game tomorrow it will be another W. The Rockets can not sit back and wait for the Lakers to attack them first. The Rockets should come out in attack mode and go from there.
Phil Jackson (see the vid below) was even more succinct. "The sky," he said, "is not falling." Better look again
Enough about LA. I hope our boys stay humble, stay hungry, stay focused and stay disciplined. That's all I care about. Them and what they bring to the next game... and the next and the next and the next.
Laker fans are truly delusional. I visited my brother-in-law and his family in Feburary. He looked me square in the eye and said that he would take Andrew "one knee" Bynum over Yao any day of the week. The sentiment is widespread over there. I really don't know what kind of bizzaro world that they live in, but please. Bynum might learn a thing or two by carring Yao's jock strap for a season.
I will say it just like I said it before game 1. Their over confidence will be their weakness. They expect teams to lay down and die for them. Not this time.