This is going to be a fun game to watch, at this moment, I can't pick who's the winner, but it's going to be a interesting one, I expect this game to be very close. Rockets got two heartbreaking lost handed to them by the Lakers. Now that Tmac is finally back into his old form, it's going to be fun to watch as he takes on the world's best player, KOBE. Yao is out this time, but so is Odom and Brown for the Lakers, so both are pretty much equals out, somewhat. Clearly, Phil Jackson > JVD, but Rockets have home court advantage. Lakers are a tough team to beat, and they're capable of beating any teams in the NBA with Kobe in the lineup, and they're playing great ball lately. Rockets are the same, they're playing great balls and play great defense. Game time decision.
I actually think we'll blow em out. They're on a 2nd night of a back to back. They'll be running up and down vs. Memphis. Lamar and Kwame are out. They'll underestimate us, saying "Oh, we beat them twice already, and this time they don't have the MVP [Yao]." It's going to be a packed house, there's a lot of hype around this game. 100-87, Rox win. TMac with 33. Battier holds Kobe to 24.
It's easy to say, but hard to get it done. With Kobe in the lineup, nothing comes easy for any team. But I do think Rockets can get it done.
I shall be there. With the big win tonite and our play of late and McGrady's play of late, TC should be electric playoff type atmosphere. Can't wait to see a healthy t-mac school Kobe. T-Mac>>>>>>>>>Kobe Rockets>>>>>Fakers
you guys couldnt even wait for Clutch's game thread?? damn, this is one eagerly awaited contest just hope we all dont end up anywhere near as upset as we were the first 2 meetings. I'll hold my prediction for now, still got 48 hrs and the Lakers still have a game to get through first.
alright i had to highlight this out anyways... I think the key to this game is Battier on Kobe If Kobe has to mark Tmac and has to work hard on defence he maybe a bit worned out when the game goes into the 4th
hopefully snyder will play this guy otherwise the lakers will abuse the luke walton matchup against luther head or kobe vs luther head. and then parker vs lucas. our lack of size in the backcourt really hurts this team
I was wondering why T-Mac was taking it to the hoop so slowly in the first half, and I was wondering how he would take it to the hoop the second half but it turned out it didn't matter. He got his J rolling and didn't need to drive to the hoop because he was hitting J after J after J in the face of Chicago's D. It turns out that he said he "couldn't get going physically" in the first half and that was probably why he seemed so sluggish and didn't take it in fast to the hoop. Why have I said all that? If Kobe ends up guarding T-Mac for any part of the night T-Mac needs to do 2 things: 1. Take it hard to the hole and put the pressure on the refs to actually call a foul on Kobe ( ). Either Kobe ( ) or his teamates. He needs to make Kobe work on D and get him at least a little tired. 2. Use his length over Kobe to get quality shots that make Kobe jump. Again, this is it to tire Kobe out.
Just go with the lineup we used against the Bulls (Alston, McGrady, Battier, Howard, Mutombo). Then you have a Walton/McGrady matchup.
I think the Rockets are a better team. I don't even think it is that close. I expect a victory on Wednesday.
Kobe can make the impossible happen. Take the ball out of his hands and let Smush Parker get open shots all day. When he drives to the hoop, Mt. Mutumbo will be ready. Also, Tmac has to take Kobe to school and work on defense. Watch out for Brian Cook: that man can friggin shoot!!!
This is one of the games on my pack so I am pumped! T-Mac is supposedly going to see the "Witch doctor" today so he should be primed again. Everyone talks about how Kobe can lock down T-mac but forget how good of a defender T-mac is. I HATE the Fakers with a passion, and HATE kobe's phonie ass even more. Hope T-Mac drops 60 on his punk ass so Kobe can wine and cry and say T-mac took a bunch of bad shots that happened to go in.
i just realized that both brown and odom are injured as well. sorry, a r****ded comment, haha! dont mind me!
I would like it if at the end of the game, Kobe's head was hoisted to the top of the Toyota Center right next to the championship banners.
Why the fascination with the Lakers? Is it because they beat us twice already? Is it Kobe hate? I don't care if they sweep us during the regular season. None of it will matter in the playoffs. Those of you who remember Hakeem dismembering the Spurs in 95 should realize this. They beat us 5/6 during the season and people were talking about them "being in the Rockets heads". After we went up 2-0 (both games in San Antonio) that talk was gone. If we have both stars, we would be a verrrry tough playoff matchup for the Lakers.
Except Rox's two stars has yet won a playoffs series and Kobe has 3 championship rings. Rox's "championship" coach doesn't have a ring either and Phil Jackson has 9. And JVG is basically owned by PJ during all these years.
