I don't know about you guys, But it will be really tough to begin with for the Lakers to play in our home court all banged up and had display the weakening of the famous triangle offense against our defense. Even Foxsports think we are in very good situation to win the series and they've said that majority of the viewers prefered to watch the Rockets vs Lakers. I don't see why not. Here is the Linkwww.foxsports.com/content/view?contentId=2323984
It's not really a steal... we'd just be holding home court. But yeah... both games are necessary for us to remain competitive in the series. The Rockets are just tantalizing us because we match up better than any other team in the league with the Lakers. It's like we can win every game. If we were playing the Spurs or the Kings we'd be getting blown out and maybe there'd be less (or more?) blame going around.
The sad thing is we should've at least had one of the two previous games. It would be lovely to have a 1-1 series right now but the Rockets need to really get it in gear and win these next 4. I kept hearing the announcers for Game 2 say the Lakers would have 3 days to rest and heal up...3 days. How helpful can three days rest be when you've had an injury that has hampered you for weeks?
Not really!Medvenko is also injured and Fisher had a bad contusion on his rear end. While Malone has Ice pack on his aging ankle. But then again, i don't want any excuses from the Lakers, why they lost!
Don't really see how that article says that Fox Sports thinks we have a good chance to win the series, all it had were quotes from the Rockets, no commentary from the author. It was also written before game 1. Anyway, I think the we still have a shot, but he HAVE to win both games 3 and 4.
No chance. I think there's a 60% chance Rockets win 1 of 2. No way do they win both home games, unless Shaq and/or Kobe are out. The Rockets predictable offense makes it too easy for LA to hold us to 80 points or so. Especially if they are allowed to play physical defense. The Rockets can't ever make overaggresive defenses pay.
The Rox lose any of these home games, they're toast. It really doesn't matter how u spin it, down 0-3, that basically does it, down 1-3 going back to LA is probably just as bad. I don't know, I didn't really have high expectations for them in these playoffs, thank god, or I would've broken everything in my house. I'm just happy they finally made it back to the playoffs, wasn't that the real goal of the season anyways?
Man, we really could've used Oakley in the first 2 games. He would've taken one of those suckers out, I know it.
I sincerely hope you are right; it would really boost my spirits. It would bring back shades of "Clutch City," and scare the living begeebers out of the Lakers. If the series goes back to LA tied 2-2 the news media in LA will be in a free fall melt-down, Shaq and Kobe will be fist-fighting the the lockeroom and Payton will probably punch out Jackson on the way to their Yoga session. I'm up for it.
Something really is telling me that the league wants this series to go to all 7 games. Look for the refs to hand these next two games to the Rox.
How to win these games: 1. A constant attack on Shaq by Yao. We saw what he can do to Shaq, but it needs to be consistent. Yao should touch the ball atleast once every play, no matter in the post or top of the key. 2. Double Kobe Bryant, I hate the guy, but you have to respect his game. Kobe torched us last game, Cat needs to cut off the baseline (literally have one foot out of bounds). And we need faster help defense by Cato. 3. Move the ball, the Lakers aren't a great defensive team. With Fox, Malone, and GP, we need to keep the ball moving, make them work on the defensive end. 4. More production from EVERYONE, it seems so obvious, but its not happening. We need everyone from Yao to Weatherspoon to contribute. Steve can't be the only one that steps his game up. 5. Steve needs to drive in more. He has success all season long and most of the playoffs in slicing through the Lakers defense. This really opens up a lot of things for our offense, it keeps the Lakers D on their heels.
Yeah, I hate the Lakers and prefer not to pay them any compliments, but Kobe can effortlessly sink shots most guys would be benched for taking. I dunno how he does it. And I don't get how he can airball certain shots and then drain impossible ones with his eyes closed, but somehow he just gets the ball in the basket. On your point #1, I have an addendum. Yao should touch the ball every play - but in the flow of the offense. Sometimes he steps behind the 3 point line, accepts a pass and then swings it around. What's the point of that? Doesn't help at all. He needs to be INVOLVED every play whether posting, setting picks, setting screens, or whatever it takes. I don't care so much about getting him touches, I want to get him involved each time down the court.
Thats what I was getting at. Give Yao the opportunity to attack Shaq and he doesn't, we know he will kick it back out. But he definitely needs to be involved every offensive set.
Ideally, that would work, but Yao wouldn't be able to play more than 32 or 33 minutes in this kind of game.
