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Game Preview: Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers - Game 7 - NBA Playoffs - Conference Semifinals- 2:30PM CST

2009_nba_playoffs_game_7_lakers_header_medium

We've gone over the match-ups for 6 games.  Now, let's go over what the Rockets need to do to put themselves in a position to win.  I'm not saying every one of these things has to happen, but 3 out of 5 will keep the game close.

Point Guard
Brooks/Lowry vs. Fisher/Brown/Farmar -  To win this match-up Lowry and Brooks need to bring their magic to the road.  Brooks has to drive the lane and look for the open man, but not be afraid to finish.  You could say the exact same thing for Kyle Lowry, run, drive, score or pass.  One things for sure, this HAS to be one of the 3 spots the Rockets win.  A loss of an edge here will just about guarantee a blowout.  Even a close match-up will make a Rockets win iffy.  The good news is that even when they haven't played well, the Rockets have won the point guard battle.  If I could have three things they would be 1.  Smart passes 2.  Come to the ball at all times 3.  Drive the lane, repeatedly
Edge:  Rockets

Shooting Guard
Battier/Wafer/Artest vs. Bryant/Vujacic - Battier has held Kobe for 3 of the 6 games, and it has been the biggest key to Rockets victories.  That's not to say Kobe didn't score or shoot well, it's just that he worked about 30% harder to do so and it was at the expense of his teammates to some extent.  Will Kobe's teammates show up?  Hopefully not, but even if they don't, making Kobe into a one man scoring show can help the Rockets win, as long as he has to work extra hard and long for those shots.  Force him to the places he likes to shoot least and Chuck Hayes continue to defend the pick and roll well (just watch the fouls).  If Kobe shoots more than 25 times the Rockets will have a chance to win.  Von Wafer coming off the bench and adding a spark with the second unit could really come through as well.  This could be a break out of the doghouse type game.  If he goes for double digits, it's a very good sign for the Rockets.
Edge: Lakers

Small Forward
Artest/Battier vs. Ariza/Odom
- Artest on Odom has been a defensive masterpiece, it needs to continue in Game 7.  If Lamar Odom goes for more than 16 the Rockets could find themselves on the wrong end of the war.  Keeping Odom from energy plays that he needs to stay focused is important and Ron Artest is exactly the guy that can do that.  No dunks for him or Ariza, that's a good recipe for a Rockets win.  Ron needs to take care of the ball as well.  No lazy passes, not even one and no crazy jumpers.  It's time for the Ron Artest of Game 6 against Portland to show up.  No one on LA can or has guarded him, it's been on his shoulders whethere a shot went down or not.  It's time to pump up that Ron Ron magic.
Edge:  Rockets

Power Forward
Scola/Landry/Cook vs. Gasol/Odom/Powell - Luis Landry had a night in Game 6, but Game 7 needs to be the game of their lives.  It's time to show the league that you can be a star Mr. Scola.  Come out with the passion and fire that makes you who you are.  Rebounding out of this group is absolutely key.  A line that I expect from the duo is somewhere in the neighborhood of 28 and 22, if it's close to that, the Rockets will have a shot.  Gasol will score, Odom will be guarded by Artest, and Powell hasn't contributed much.  It's just important to contain all of those guys on the offensive glass.  Box out and get good position and good things will happen.
Edge: Lakers

Center
Hayes/Scola vs. Bynum/Gasol/MbegnaThis one is easy:  Stay out of foul trouble Chuck, it's just that simple.  Do what you always do, but stay away from the ticky tack calls.
Edge: Lakers 

Prediction: I'm going full homer, Rockets Win, Beat LA

0 recs  |  Comment 26 comments |

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rockets win

in spite of the lakers reputation for a killer instinct, outside of Kobe, the rest of the lakers team is pretty soft. Pau, Bynum, Fisher or Ariza are not going to take over the game. Even Kobe’s FG% is not that good, a testament to the defense of Artest/Battier. Apparently they can guard kobe.

As you said, if kobe takes > 25 shots, the rockets will win.

by vegee on May 16, 2009 11:20 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Reputation?

Hardly.

"I'm just looking forward to something great happening in the city of Houston" - Tracy McGrady

Still waiting...

by DreKeem on May 17, 2009 12:04 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I agree

That Kobe’s shots are the key to the game. When he shoots alot, the rest of the team seems to stand around. Should be a good game.

by illcowboy on May 17, 2009 8:09 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I couldn't agree with you more...

If we can get Kobe to feel like he has to do it all by himself then we can take this one. If he goes for 30+ and we can hold the other guys down, none of the TNT/ESPN/ABC announcers will know what to do.

by bigalshouseoflove on May 16, 2009 11:24 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

IMO Artest must get 20+ on atleast 40% shooting.

Artest will shoot, we all know that. If he makes his shots and is aggressive going to the hole it will give the whole team confidence and make the lakers even more scared. We have won two games w/o Yao with Artest playing poorly in both. In order to win on the road we need Artest to have a big game.

My Prediction: Rockets 103 lakers 95

Game 1 100-92 Rockets
Game 2 111-98 lakers
Game 3 108-94 lakers
Game 4 99-87 Rockets
Game 5 lakers
Game 6 95-80 Rockets

Game 7 Sunday 2:30 CST

by TexasHoosier on May 16, 2009 11:34 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Just win the 1st quarter!!!

And the Force will pick it up from there.

by airchina23 on May 16, 2009 11:39 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

go rox!!!

Your a ten, but I'm on eleven!

by JakedaSnake on May 16, 2009 11:40 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

kobe's numbers

look at kobe’s numbers:
G6 11-27
G5 10-19
G4 7-17
G3 11-28
G2 16-27
G1 14-31

I mean, how many players get to throw up 25-30 shots per game when shooting less than 50%? LBJ averaged 19.9 shots in this years playoffs (at 53% FG%).

it takes 2-3 superstars to succeed. if you don’t have them, then you better get commited to playing a team game (such as the Pistons a few years ago) and win with defense. I don’t see Lakers being that good outside of Kobe and he has about the worst match he could possibly have with Artest/Battier. Besides the laker defense is pretty poor.

by vegee on May 16, 2009 11:40 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

The Score will be Rockets 112, Lakers 82

Go Rockets, Give ball to Brook and Scola and let Battier handle Bryant.

by Wiseguyla on May 16, 2009 11:57 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

You should take all of your money

And bet the Rockets money line!

"This is not a game for boys. This is a game for men." - Phil Jackson

by Gils_Keloids on May 17, 2009 1:17 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

+900

thats some serious cash

by TitanFan2K on May 17, 2009 7:17 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

For game 7 we’re gonna need Artest to step up

by VBG on May 17, 2009 12:22 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

It's still not believable

I’m just happily living in this dream world right now

www.TheDreamShake.com Co-Founder and Writer

by UofTOrange on May 17, 2009 7:48 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

See sig for Gasol's dominance

Three things you must know:
-"Ben Gordon is a bundle of muscle and clutch. That's all he's made of. Drink BG7 energy drink, you'll grow a pair of balls on your balls."
-Pau Gasol: The defense of a seven foot ladder paired with the post presence of Manute Bol.
-Joakim Noah is better than you.

by Prevenge on May 17, 2009 1:38 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Let's go Rockets

I’m not sure if I’ve ever loved a team like this one. Obviously the early 90s teams with Dream and everyone else will be probably my favorites. Even the late 90s early 2000s teams were somewhat endearing (watched Year of the Yao today, nostalgia like crazy). This team though, is something else. They just don’t care what they’re told at all. It’s such a great group of guys. Some of them are misfits and outcasts. They’ve all heard how they’re too short, too crazy, or too unathletic to succeed in this league. Yet they just keep doing what they’re doing, and keep succeeding. I love this team. They deserve all the praise they’re finally receiving. Now let’s keep on defying expectations. Cheers Rockets, BEAT LA!

All these boundaries - Africa, Asia, Malaysia, America - are set by men. But you don't have to look at boundaries when you are looking at a man - at the character of a man. The question is: What do you stand for? Are you a follower, or are you a leader? -Hakeem Olajuwon

by SlatonShuffle on May 17, 2009 1:22 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

unfortunately

this game may not depend on anything tha Rockets do. Ariza, Odom, and tha rest of tha role players have been gettin open 3’s the entire series. When they’re hittin em (like game 5), its damn near impossible for anyone to beat em. but when they’re not fallin (like game 6), they are very beatable.

by TitanFan2K on May 17, 2009 7:21 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Then it's all over

It’s all rigged. Crawford is there to make sure Stern gets the winner he wants.

Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. If they get mad, you're a mile away AND you have their shoes.

by Caradoc on May 17, 2009 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

you forgot

Luke Walton at SF, again. But hey, at least this time you didn’t put Josh Powell at SF! :)

by tandur on May 17, 2009 11:50 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Luke Walton doesn't count ;-)

www.TheDreamShake.com Co-Founder and Writer

by UofTOrange on May 17, 2009 2:14 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Go Rockets

I am hopefully optimistic that the Rockets will win. Just make Kobe shoot a LOT to get his probably 30 points today. IF that happens then the Rockets can win, make him shoot 40 times to get his points.

by Jeremy Mauss on May 17, 2009 12:10 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Don't Blame the Refs

I wish all you Rockets fans, Spurs fans, Celtics fans, etc. would man up and just say you hate the Lakers and you hope they lose without blaming the referees.
I respect that you hate my beloved Lakers and want them to choke, but don’t make up conspiracy theories.
FYI: Part of me wants to see the Lakers lose so Phil Jackson can be exposed as the most overrated coach of all time! Doc Rivers owned him during the Finals last year. Phil sits on his butt and “lets his players figure it out” when the the game is going poorly. What a joke! Coaches are supposed to coach.

by LakersRomp on May 17, 2009 12:29 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

good luck, fellas

enjoy the game – beat LA

"its tough to play with one eye, unless you're a pirate." Delonte West
"una canasta a Pau en la cara" Rudy

by Honka Playboy on May 17, 2009 12:43 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

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