Phil Jackson is not going to play Bynum that much opposite Yao if it allows the Rockets to matchup better. He's way too smart for that. Bynum would play, but Phil would pick his spots and probably try and get Bynum to play some minutes against Houston's undersized reserve unit where he would be a matchup nightmare and Pau would slide to center to give Yao problems guarding him out on the floor. The Lakers are deep enough with their rotation that they can just toy with different matchups and see what is/isn't working pretty easily. I can't remember the last time I have seen a team with so many good outside shooting bigs. Houston can force Phil's hand by creating foul trouble for the Lakers early on, but considering we are in the bottom quarter of teams at drawing fouls, I don't think that's very likely. Plus, as others have mentioned Kobe has officially entered the realm where he won't miss just because there is a hand in his grill. Battier did all he could in the last meeting and Bryant hit three tough long shots with Battier right up on him. That means we stand to be toast if we go into the 4th in a tight game. Bryant is just too good to let the defense shut him down. To make things worse, Houston has no "knockout punch" guy to counter like the Lakers have in Kobe. This means Houston needs to take a lead into the 4th if they want to win because going point for point in a tight game against LA is a losing battle. ...on other problem is the fact that Fisher will find a way to make big plays down the stretch if Brooks is guarding him. Brooks get's separated from his man way too easily on off the ball screens and Fisher is one of the best at taking advantage of open shots in key moments. I think we try and avoid them for as long as possible and hope they get in a tough series that wears down Kobe before Houston plays them so that the 48 minute Ron/Shane tandem is a little more effective at tiring Kobe. It would be nice if Utah could somehow climb into the 5 spot and Houston the 3 but Utah isn't playing well as of late so I doubt that's feasible.
Honestly, Bynum coming back actually HELPS the Rockets match-up with the Lakers because it gives Yao someone to guard on the defensive end. Before, when Yao was having to guard Pau, much like Boozer, the mid-range jumpshot was absolutely destroying us. Since Bynum is a conventional back-to-the-basket center, Yao's defensive shortcomings aren't being exploited quite as much. However, that still doesn't mean we have an answer to Kobe in the 4th quarter.
I wish just once Battier would just bop Kobe in the face when he does that move and then I bet it would work again.
Season and playoff games are totally different. That doesn't mean anything. We beat the Jazz in the season series and they beat us in the playoffs. It doesn't matter.
Gasol is a really bad match up for the Rockets. He's too big for Scola/Landry/Hayes and too quick for Yao. Plus, he got excellent mid range jumpers. Kobe is a nightmare for every team. And more importantly, Phil Jackson is a bad match up for Rick Adelman. I think a healthy Suns will match up pretty well against Lakers. Too bad they couldnt make it.
Not only are they undefeated against the Rockets this season but when you watch the games you get the feeling that the Lakers are just toying with Houston. You look at the score in the middle of the third and the Rockets are only down by 4 but you can't figure out why because Kobe hasn't scored much and the Rockets have looked pretty good. Then, Kobe steps up, focuses and the rest of the game it looks like LA could run the lead up to 20 if they felt like it. If Houston faces the Lakers in the playoffs they'll be done in 5 games. Sorry, but they are the best in the West and will give this team a hell of a lot more trouble than Utah.
Gasol doesn't play like a big though. His game is finesse. Landry and Hayes are physical which Pau doesn't like. They can easily take him out his game with their glue defense to big guys.
I don't think we will be able to match up against the Lakers. The Lakers are very experienced team when it comes to playoffs. They also have guys from the bench that can step-up and have a big game in any given night. Odom, Walton, Ariza, and Farmar are capable staters. I would like to see the Jazz and Lakers match-up in the 1st round...
We can hang with them for 3 and half quarter but Kobe is clutch in the last minutes. Ron will throw up bricks and Kobe school him as usual.
you guys are all trolls. what do you mean we cant beat the lakers? are you serious? goto lakersground.net go now rockets can beat any team
Why are we even the playoffs, even one doesn't think this team will beat the Jazz or Lakers or even somehow lose to the Blazers, Spurs, or Nuggets? What's point of us being the playoffs, if we are going to lose anyway, according to most people (especially on this board)? It's either we don't have closer, T-Mac, a good consistent scorer, no viable point guard, or Yao is either too soft, too slow, not clutch, or disappears in situations. If everyone is so pessimistic about the playoffs maybe we should give our spot to another team who pose a greater threat to other teams? Why should we even be in the playoffs in 1st place, why not just let the league cancel our spot and let that team we would've played get a bye or the Lakers get a first round bye. Or, somehow let Phoenix into the playoffs. What's the point of even going into the playoffs to play for a championship, if everyone has already counted the team out or given up on the season. Why doesn't the team just give up on the season? Teams struggle with better teams or teams that give them matchup problems all of the time, during the season. They even get swept, but as shocking as this sounds...sometimes doesn't translate to instant victories in the playoffs.
yep, that's the biggest problem for us (as for almost everyone else). outside of yao and deke, we have no length at all other positions (only battier is decent). and we don't have great speed, either. another problem is that the lakers usually get the favorable calls from the refs. they are a as bad match-up as utah to us, if not worse. but of course, things are always relative. they are not unbeatable for sho.
the only bright light i c is if phil jackson is dumb enough not to double team yoa since there big man is bak bynum or if they do double team yoa finds a solution and improve his act up when getting double teamed .. simply the key in the playoffs 4 us is a smarter hungrier yoa
If every game we play against LA is very close in the series, then Stern will make sure LA wins the West. We have to create a big lead in every game and win the series early in order to stand a chance. To do this LA must have a rough road to the WCF, while we have a easy route there.
Kobe + Fisher = Rockets killer!!! Even with the best defenders in Battier n Artest...Kobe has been unstoppable. Kobe is just pure greatness. Some of the shots he makes is impossible to stop. With the games i saw this season against the Lakers i say lets just hope we see them in Western Conference Finals if Rockets can get that far. All in all i hope Rockets get to West Finals n don't face the Lakers, hopefully Lakers get upset. But with Ginobli out, it seems like Lakers is 100% West Finals.
Only if our team can be as consistent and play as a team like Lakers. We'll have to wait and see if we can really match up good against the Lakers but, for now our goal is shorter than theirs getting out of the first round when they're already have they're aiming towards NBA Finals. What does that tell you??
When you play Lakers, you have to be aware of Fisher. He constantly killed team with his outside shooting. I hate when Brooks leave him open because Aaron Brooks don't really need to do anything but stay close to Fisher. Rockets don't need his inside help because he doesn't play D anyway. So every time i see Fisher open for a shot, i blame it on Brooks for being stupid.
It's true though...we do match up well with the show on paper. Remember at the start of the year...we were supposed to be the LAKER STOPPERS! I think whatever sheet of paper this was on has been ripped up, crumbled up, and thrown into the trash since then.
