If Yao and TMac played somewhat average this game would have been won by the Rockets. It got out of hand because the team just quit and stopped playing defense, oh and the refs were just calling everything the Fakers way. It was crazy the calls they were getting. Ron could have fouled out Kobe and no calls. Ron reaches an arm out to Kobe on the other end and it's a foul. Unfreakin believable
Battier will be important to free up Artest to be more potent on the offensive end. And TMac needs to heal up.
It seems like Rockets feel compelled to play YAO and TMAC even when they seem to be really struggling, I dont know if its because they earn the most. Yao is clearly too slow, and in 6 years in the league, how he has not been able to build muscle and bulk up is beyond me. It just seems he will never stand out as one of the all time great centers of the game. He seems to rebound and make his moves in slow motion and he is getting knocked around by young kids. Unacceptable. Where is the strength and dominance? When Bynum got that Alleyhoop over him, he just had no lift and his reaction time was just too slow. TMAC seems to be finished. He is really a shadow of his former self. IF you are not feeling well, you need to let the coach know and dont hurt your time. Rafer got put in the game when it was over. Its an indication that the coach is probably considering his a scrub. At the the beginning, the Lakers bench players were having their own hurah before the game, they really believe they are the key to the Lakers championship run. Love the rockets, but we have to face reality. We cannot win a championship with this current cast let by YAO and TMAC
Who expected a win? Now, let's be honest how many of ya'll picked the Rockets to win tonight. I didn't either, but I didn't expect a blowout.
This was an embarassment. Rockets played just terrible (besides Brooks & Landry). I mean no heart or energy. Simply bad shooting, no offensive movement, bad defense, no rebounding etc. I understand its still early in the season (also not fully healthy) but come on, I know they are better than this. Hopefully they'll get it together down the road like before or otherwise its goin to be a long season. I'm still sticking with this team through thick & thin.
For those guys hating on Artest, the idea was for him to be a 3rd scorer and a defensive stopper... not the only scorer and a defensive stopper. He is the only one of our former Big 3 bringing it on a nightly basis. He wasn't supposed to have to take Shane's role on defense plus McGrady's and Yao's roles on offense. Theoretically, if we have even an average McGrady and an average Yao earning their paychecks, Ron would become much more effective and could use his energy where we need him on a game to game basis. Right now, he's being asked to do everything. At least he's TRYING unlike you know who and who... Right now, Artest is being forced to try to do too much. Yet, he never gives up on either end. With the state of our team right now, I am thankful to have Ron not giving up while he sees the pathetic play of McGrady and Yao. I hope he doesn't start regretting having come to this team.
Actually, after some reflection, I see this as just some blood for the rivalry. Its going to be a good one. We will find a way to beat the Lakers when it counts. We will eliminate them in the playoffs.
Embarrassing loss tonight. Hopefully this is a game they can look at and get it together. Positive from tonight's game was the 2nd unit in the first quarter. Minus a few mistakes by Brooks he played ever well. Our 1st unit looked really bad just out of sync despite that we were still in the game at halftime. Its far too early to condemn the team. T-Mac doesn't look right I would rather have him sit til he is 100% than try to play and look like he has this season despite the few good games he had. And please sign Deke back or something cause lack of size is killing us.
Guy, you compare the quickness between Yao and other quick guys, this is ridiculous. Yao is Yao, he is the highest in the league, and he is also one of the slowest. He can protect and attack the rim effectively. That is why he is a star.
tracy isn't finished. he just keeps jacking up jumpers and jumpers. the 2 times he tried to penetrate tonight, he got into the paint with ease (though he got blocked). had he kept doing that, he'll get to the line. but instead, he kept jacking up jumpers. the last 2 night, he reverted back to the jacking up jumpers type of player, which he's not ready for right now. his mentality is really stupid right now. yao just looks not right physically. he seems "weaker" to me physically. guys are pushing him around with ease, he can't get good position, box out, or grab rebounds with ferocity. ultimately, our 2 best players look REALLY bad right now.
Hey why don't we give our "Big 3" a half season break, develop the rookies, and come back strong the second half? If we could still make the playoffs.
The sad part is not how good the Lakers are... we knew they were good. The sad part is how much worse we are.
We had to make this team worse by Les not wanting to pay a few more bucks... why would a championship contender be afraid to pay Lux Tax??? I don't get it. And Kupchak is better than Morey by heaps and bounds. He doesn't trade Bynum of Kidd like how we traded Rudy Gay for Battier. Rudy Gay would have been the Rockets Bynum
I'm still uncomfortable with the lineup of alston, brooks, mcgrady, scola, and hayes. What did the Lakers do? Immediately post up Kobe on Alston. How can you seriously line up Alston on Kobe? What was Adelman thinking? Luckily Phil decided it would be a good time to rest Kobe so the Rockets only had to face two minutes of that lineup.
What is your definition of effort? You don't think Ron is trying hard enough? Did you see him force 3 fouls (2 on Kobe) on one possession right out of the gates in the 2nd half? Did you see him doing a single man full court press causing a TO that led to a Luther Head And1? He may be forcing up some bad shots but can you blame him? He thought he came to a team with two studs. The only other studs on this team right now are Brooks, Scola and Landry. Two of those guys come off the bench.
