I know there are numerous post about how good we are. But I want to emphasize how good are we compared to the Lakers. Of course, there are great teams like Boston, New Orleans and others, But I feel the Lakers are the only measuring stick for us if we are going to win the championship. As far as media goes, everyone is rooting for the Lakers. It is understandable because Los Angeles is a big city and hype is bigger over there than Houston. Majority of people said the Lakers was going the championship last year and the year when they got Malone. But we know what happened. We have had threads about comparing our players from the other teams. As far the Lakers goes, I believe Gasol is the only advantage player against us. I did not include Kobe because I want to gauge Kobe with Odom/Radmanovic/Vujacic/Walton/Ariza. This is how I see it Tmac/Artest/Battier >>>> Kobe/Odom/Radmanovic/Vujacic/Walton/Ariza. Yao is getting there and he just needs time but he is definitely better than Bynum. Bynum can't score against Yao in the last game. If Deke comes back, so much the more Bynum can't score. Alston/Brooks is slightly better than Fisher/Farmar. You can even out Alston and Fisher in some aspects but Brooks has a unique talent that Farmar does not have. Gasol is competing against Scola/Landry/Hayes. Gasol has the edge but if out three headed PF each has a good game then there is no advantage for them. My analysis for the Lakers game - - Kobe can't guard Artest if he post up. Kobe had two quick fouls when guarded Artest in the post. Artest is too big - Bynum cant guard Yao. - Yao was sucky in passing the ball in the high post. I think he is predictable in the way he passes. When you see Divac or Webber, they had a flair in passing. They would palm the ball and pass deceivingly. Yao just passes straight up. I hope they recognize this. - They say we can't beat the Lakers because of our outside shooting. When Altson was hot early in the game, we were leading. Good shooting will come. Everyone in the nba can shoot even if Alston sucks that bad,he can still shoot. We will get there. - If Tmac was playing well last game, Kobe would have guarded him. But what if Artest was playing great as well, who would have guarded him. So the Lakers would have to choose between the two who Kobe would guard. Odom can't guard either one. Team defense will stop them but we have the better defense. - Rebounding killed us. Ariza,Odom and Gasol showed how small we are but i feel we can come around. We all say that when Deke comes back we won't have a problem with rebounding. Well that's true because when Deke is there, everyone is rebounding well. He has a magical effect on others. I don't know why I see it that way. That's why I see it as magical. - Battier. Not only Battier can guard Kobe but he can also guard the other wingmen especially Odom. - There were negatives but I think we can conquer them Artest said in the interview that even with the loss that he still believes in the team. I am confident of our team. We will get there in June. Thanks!
There are a lot of things you listed there that have to go right for us. Sure, it can happen in a game or two. But can we win 4 out of 7 in a playoff series? I wouldn't count on it.
This is what T-Mac has done against the Lakers the last couple years: 1/10/07: 8 pts, 4-16 from the field 3/30/07: 30 pts, 7-24 from the field 10/30/08: 30 pts, 10-20 from the field 11/14/08: 9 pts, 4-7 from the field 3/16/08: 11 pts. 4-16 from the field 11/9/08: 3 pts, 1-11 from the field average: 15.2 ppg, 31.9 FG%
Sunday night, the Rockets looked like a team that really doesn't have an answer for the Lakers. Down low, they really looked overmatched IMO. I really can't see them beating the Lakers in a 7-game series without bringing back Dekembe Mutumbo.
what you say now can not come true accurately,we have so much problems,not only in offense but defence.we will be better, the game our players are sucky,especially Tmac,and our rebounds,that tells how tiny we are.On Jan 11,we will vs Lakers at home,I'm believing that time we will do much better,we can revenge lakers
I believe in this team and Rick Aldeman. We were in similar situation last year around beginning of the season, but when January came we were unstoppable. So have faith guys!
I like the points u made. Mostly i CANT WAIT until Battier is healthy again. Hopefully he hasnt lost any of his lateral movement and defense so we can solidify our defence
Everywhere I find people saying we will be much better once Shane comes back. Do you think the reason we lay our hope on Shane is because he hasn't played for us yet, so we can leave it to imagination.
You remind me of those stock market analysts that tell you we've reached a bottom when we've got millions losing their jobs and companies going bankrupt left and right. I have to disagree when it comes to the Lakers. No way we take them in a 7 game series without adding some size.
Actually at this point, I'm pretty sure Lamar Odom wouldn't have too much trouble holding McGrady down pretty decently.
I don't think Deke would make that big a difference. If they meet in the playoffs and both teams are healthy, the Rockets will be the underdogs, deservedly so. The Lakers would probably win the series but you have to play the games. Anything could happen.
[Sarcasm On] Remember, he is a volume shooter. The reason why he only got 15.2 ppg is because he didn't shoot 30 times each game. [Sarcasm Off]
not to mention the Lakers' second unit. lol, both Fisher/Farmar can run the offense, not sure about Alston. definiely, not brook, who was great only as far as scoring. wouldn't a 6-head PF be better than a 3-head PF? Odom also plays PF, so can Mihm and Mbenga, and Ramonovic, and Arriza if needed.
I have to admit. I was pretty pissed after the game Sunday, but it is still early and the Lakers are firing on all cylinders. We have seen how the Rockets have won early, and it hasn't been pretty. The Mavs are horrible right now, so we really have zero quality wins at this point. So we are just trying to win anyway we can while we learn how to play together, and we see that won't help much against a quality team. I'm willing to say if things come together like we hope, that we will at least be competitive against them. And then, who knows after that.
