What is your general mood heading into the series?

Cautiously optimistic.

I realize they're the favorites and there's a reason for that.

But stranger things have happened...

 

I really like the choices. Great job OP. Most threads, polls rather, lack differing options. You, however, managed to put into words how I really feel at heart!

I voted #3, unfortunately

 

Cautiously Pessimistic. We'll make it competitive but I fear the Lakers are simply too good/dangerous. We absolutely MUST split the first two games.

 

Went with 2. Rockets can win but they need to take care of the ball and get on the boards to win the series. I hate all the "Rockets need to play perfect to win". The Lakers also need to play perfect to win it is not like they can take an off night with the Rockets and still win. The Jazz were not 100% and that allowed the Lakers to coast in the games.

 

the first time we see the Rockets in HD in the second round.

No NBATV cause we're playing the Lakers!

 

You should add one item.

"We have nothing to lose."

 

i feel pretty good. i just want us to play well. we need; 1) the role players to come up big, 2) yao to dominate, 3) have no extended scoring droughts, 4) kobe to have a bad series, and 5) limit our turnovers. then we'll be fine.

 

We don't need perfection to beat the Laker's, we do need to force the other guys to beat us. I use to think, let Kobe get his. However, I want to see other's have to score in the 4th Q when we double Kobe and get the ball out of his hand. No pressure in Q's 1-3. However, the 4th Qtr is when nerves get the best of you.

 

I feel like I can finally watch these games without feeling like we HAVE to win it. Like I can just relax and hope for the best instead of fearing for the worst.

I'm going to ENJOY this series. I really didn't enjoy the blazers series until the 4th quarter of Game 6 because, up until then, I was just waiting for the next bomb to drop. The last 12 years have done that to me.

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. Mentally, that is.

 

I'm happy to have seen this team make it out of the first round. I don't expect them to beat the Lakers but if it goes 6 games or more I will be happy.

 

If the Rockets get into trouble we'll all be hearing about T-Mac but I think the Rockets lack of size in the frontcourt is were they'll get hurt, ie see Memphis and like teams. Losing Deke hurts them bad in this series.

 

exactly. i hope this also works to our players advantage. virtually everyone expects the lakers to win. we have no pressure.

 

My wife asked me if I'm going to be "pissy" like I always am when the Rockets lose. I told her no, not this time, but she doesn't believe me.

 

Kobe or Paul have to get injured in order to let us have a chance to win it, but this is the sport, you never know what could be happened, just play the good games without too concerning on the results. Win or lose we already accomplished something this year.

 

who will win the battle of the flops lowry or fisher?

 

Voted Optimistic - it captured my sentiment best though I don't entirely agree with the description written. Reason for being Optimistic is that I feel that Houston has nothing to lose - the burden of the getting out of the 1st Round is finally over. I feel like the pressure is on LA to close us out and I think if we play Rockets basketball, and shut down either Gasol or Odom - I think we're good.

In my opinion, I think the LA role players are over-rated.

 

I think the Lakers will win in 5 but I hope I'm wrong. The thing that the Rockets have going for them is they are such a scrappy bunch and capable of playing damn good defense. We also have one of the top three centers in the league, which is important in the playoffs. I'm just excited about the national exposure this series should give the Rockets for a change.

These guys have been surprising me all season so who knows?

 

The feeling I have going into game 1 is just the fact that I'm very proud of this team. They went through a lot, with injuries..the T-Mac situation..the Rafer trade, and pushed the Rockets to a place they haven't been in 12 years.

That being said, as long as they play hard, I won't be upset over the outcome.

 

Fixed.

 

I won't be disappointed if we lose. Or at least as long as we win a couple of games in that process. But I think we have a legitimate chance to win and it starts tonight. We have to win 1 in LA and tonight is our best chance. If we win tonight I don't think LA can beat us at home and we will win in 6. I really believe that right now. But tonight will tell all. If we come and play strong for 3 quarters but get destroyed in the 4th I will lose some of my optimism.