Game 5 Preview: Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers 11/04/2009 7:30PM CST

by UofTOrange on Nov 4, 2009 4:29 PM CST in Game Previews Comment 10 comments

FILE - In this May 6, 2009, file photo, Houston Rockets forward Ron Artest, right, has words for Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant during Game 2 of a second-round NBA playoff series in Los Angeles. Artest is joining Bryant and the Lakers. David Bauman, Artest's agent, told The Associated Press that the forward has verbally agreed to play for the NBA champions next season. Bauman said the final details are still being worked out, but could be finished as early as Thursday night, July 2, 2009. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)

More photos » by Chris Carlson - AP

4 months ago: FILE - In this May 6, 2009, file photo, Houston Rockets forward Ron Artest, right, has words for Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant during Game 2 of a second-round NBA playoff series in Los Angeles. Artest is joining Bryant and the Lakers. David Bauman, Artest's agent, told The Associated Press that the forward has verbally agreed to play for the NBA champions next season. Bauman said the final details are still being worked out, but could be finished as early as Thursday night, July 2, 2009. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)

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The Match-ups:

Point Guard

Aaron Brooks - Aaron is having a good season, effectively everything Rockets fans were hoping he would be. Consistently getting 18+ points and 8-ish assists a game. If he can keep that up, then the sky is the limit for the Rockets. Those are bordering Chris Paul/Steve Nash numbers.

vs.

Derek Fisher - Sucks, and that's that. Sorry Laker's fans, I calls em how I sees em

Edge: Rockets

Shooting Guard

Shane Battier - Playing his role as well, or better than he ever has. And that's really saying something. The question is, do the Rockets get him to guard Bryant? Or do they allow Ariza to do it and employ the same tactic they used last time out against Brandon Roy? Either way it will be interesting to watch

vs.

KobeBryant - He's like good and stuff.

Edge: Lakers - It's Kobe Bryant, still the best player in the world

Small Forward

Trevor Ariza - Playing like a great number one fill in. He's more than I expected, and has played through his one weakness, ball handling, by being constantly on the move. Can he keep that up all season? That's to be determined, but color me impressed for now.

vs.

Ron Artest -

Edge: Rockets - Definitely the newsworthy matchup of the night. The Rockets won this battle of the off-season, and I can be a man and admit I was wrong about it for this season (I thought the Rockets would win it starting next year)

Power Forward

Luis Scola - Scola has been up and down so far this season, with the passes into the post somehow seeming less available, even without Yao. He'll adjust to the way the offense is moving though. You could see it against Utah, he was figuring out the flow. Lamar Odom isn't going to start playing any defense on him tonight, so you could see a break out game.

vs.

Lamar Odom - Odom has always been a good player, and LA fits his skill set more than any other team could. He's solid, and can do pretty much everything. I wouldn't trade Scola for him, and Lakers fans might feel similar about the opposite (that would be a mistake though)

Edge: Even - I think Scola is the better player, because he wants it more, but statistically this is a straight up draw right now

Center

Chuck Hayes - Tonight it will be up to Chuck Hayes to slow a potential seizing Andrew Bynum. Since post defense is what Hayes excels at, if the Rockets are to win, he'll have to keep Bynum down.

vs.

Andrew Bynum - Stringing together 20-10 games like he's going to finally live up to Lakers fans hype. Let it be said that no one around here didn't think he could, we all simply stated that until he did it for a season, shut up already. He's looking like he's going to do that, but let's repeat to ourselves, it's been 4 games and the one center he played (Kaman) he played to an effective stand still.

Edge: Lakers - There you go Lakers fans. No Yao, you finally win this edge

Injuries/Suspensions

Houston Rockets

OUT - None

Los Angeles Lakers

OUT - Pau Gasol

My Prediction: Triple OT win for the Lakers

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Comments

Chase

is out tonight… per Jason at Rockets.com

by Hayesfan on Nov 4, 2009 5:04 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

i think the way the rockets win this game is to keep kobe around 20 points and stay out of foul trouble. i think we got the definite edge on bench. so barring a 40 point explosion from jordan farmar……..the secondarys should keep us in the game. also aaron brooks will definitely blow by defenders just like the playoffs.

by Air Korea on Nov 4, 2009 5:24 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Laker fan, here.

I am shocked by how well Ariza has played. I never imagined him as anything other than a role player and defensive specialist, but he’s doing a fantastic job as a go-to scorer. Great job by Morey to think outside the box and see Ariza’s potential.

I also like how the Rockets are playing. Offensively, they remind me a bit of the run-and-gun suns: fast tempo, good chemistry, decisiveness. Kudos to Adelman.

I think the key to the game will be the bench. The Laker bench has been nothing short of awful, and they’re going to need to be especially effective tonight due to the long minutes the starters had to play yesterday night. I’m not confident that’ll happen.

Rockets ought to be favored tonight.

"I've hacked into your brain. You're throwing a party and no one's showing up."

by ignign*kt on Nov 4, 2009 5:25 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

lol triple OT

I would expect nothing less from these scrappy rockets!

Its so damn hot... milk was a bad choice

by Golden Ratio on Nov 4, 2009 5:57 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Laker fan here.

With Pau Gasol out, Kobe with “flu-like symptoms”, Lakers generally playing like crap, overtime game last night with Laker starters playing 45+ min. because the bench is playing so bad. I don’t see how the Lakers win tonight.

And yes I am a 2009 World Champion Fan.

by olf on Nov 4, 2009 6:01 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

FTs. Lots and lots of FT.

And Ariza getting yippy and jacktastic for you.

If the Red Nation apparatchiks start talking about a Five Year Plan, I'm out of here.

by Xiane on Nov 5, 2009 1:00 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

good break down....

orange man. specifically the center postition. ariza vs. artest is something that i will pay attention to very closely. artest is a good player and like the good things he did for us, but still believe he single handedly sabotaged our season last year when yao went out. stupid dribbling, even dumber shots, hopefully i see alot of that tonight though. will be a tough game to the end, always is when kobes on the floor, but i think shane did alot more homework than usual for this game. really pullin for brooks to just leave fish in the dust tonight, but he will still try and post up aaron, but overall agree with you. they just need to go out there and keep doin what they’ve been doin, just more consistently, and not have one of those big droughts like what we saw last year in game 7. lets go rox!

"Waiting for the return of the Mac"
"Let VY loose, give him the chance to play his heart out. for himself, for the titans...and for mcnair"
"Titans & Texans fan, dont bug me w/your petty b.s., life's confusing enough."

by kg_2005 on Nov 4, 2009 6:49 PM CST reply actions 0 recs