Game 18 Preview: LA Lakers at Houston Rockets
by ak2themax on Dec 1, 2010 9:01 AM CST
in Game Previews
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PrintThe Lakers are on a three game losing streak. Of course they are. The Rockets can't play a team that isn't hungry for a win. Heaven forbid we get a team that comes into Houston complacent. Nope, we gotta play hot teams (Dallas) and desperate teams needing a bounce back win (Lakers).
I know a lot of people have said it, and I don't know whether I believe it, but there is a belief that if the Rockets had stolen that opening night game in LA, they wouldn't be below .500.
Yeah, but those flaws would have been magnified eventually. The Rockets would have become "The Team to Beat" and had a target on their backs. Could these Rockets deal with that? They can't even deal with expecting to make the playoffs in the preseason.
The Rockets have a losing mentality. They are now completely fine with staying close but then blowing a game late. This cannot continue. It will tonight, though. You know it's true.
On to the matchups:
Matchups:
PG: Kyle Lowry vs. Derek Fisher:
Fish is old. Lowry has been playing well. Lowry should win this matchup, but I would be so much more confident if it was AB on the floor.
Wouldn't we all?
Advantage: Rockets
SG: Kevin Martin vs. Kobe Bryant:
27/6/5 is pretty good for anyone, except maybe LeBron James when he was a Cav.
He's pissed. He's ready. We're screwed.
And what the heck happened to Kevin Martin? He was OK against OKC (see what I did there?) but he was awful against Charlotte and Dallas. If the Rockets are going to have a chance in any game this season, he's going to have to be great.
Advantage: Lakers
SF: Shane Battier vs. Ron Artest:
Battle of the defenders. Neither will guard each other much I would assume. They didn't in the first matchup.
So they're pretty much even.
Advantage: Even
PF: Luis Scola vs. Lamar Odom:
Unlike K-Mart, who has gone into a mini-slump (for him), Scola just isn't getting the ball. Dave mentioned it too in his piece, but the Rockets need Scola and Martin to carry this team if they hope to get through this rough patch.
Odom is filling in for Pau, who is filling in for Bynum. He's averaging a double-double (15/10), and he'll probably get about 20 rebounds against us.
Unless Luis gets plenty of burn, this is even.
Advantage: Even
C: Chuck Hayes vs. Pau Gasol:
Pau has been a beast since the season started. We first saw it against the Rockets, but he's been great all year. 22/12/4/2 on 55% shooting at his secondary position? Just incredible. It's still not fair that the Lakers were able to steal him for nothing, but them's the breaks.
Chuck is the only Rocket with a hope of guarding him were it not for the height differential. OK, that's true of everybody Chuck guards. However, most centers can't turn and hit jumpers like Gasol.
Advantage: Lakers
---
Bench:
Lakers: Steve Blake, Shannon Brown, Matt Barnes, Luke Walton, Derrick Caracter, David Ebanks
Rockets: Ish Smith, Courtney Lee, Brad Miller, Jordan Hill, Jared Jeffries, Chase Budinger
Advantage: Lakers
Injuries:
Lakers: Theo Ratliff out, Andrew Bynum out
Rockets: Brooks out, Yao out
Prediction: Lakers are pissed. Who do you think will be hungrier? Hint: not us.
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We're fine with it
or it’s happening? At the end of the day, shit can happen to you but it’s not something you’re ok with. If you look historically the Rockets have been a team that lets you down in the second half and won’t go for the throat in games. It’s screwed us for years and the fact that people are still shocked just screams that they aren’t paying attention.
It has to come together eventually but health is a major factor.
I'm always right, this isn't conjecture, merely statement of fact.
pay attention
I guess I am one of those that hasn’t paid attention because this tendency to blow leads seems to be this season’s “thing”. Maybe what we are seeing is that the Rockets are just losing a lot more frequently than they did in the past. If you lose more frequently then, on average, you probably blow more leads too. But does it really have to come together eventually? Can you turn a pig ear into a silk purse? This should be the last gasp for any thoughts of ever building a team around Yao. Time to fall back and punt. This team requires too many miracles to happen - Yao return, Battier to be consistent on 3’s, Brooks to return, Hill to somehow grow up really, really fast. Time to trade Yao to a team that can really do something with him. Trade al the older guys … rebuild.
by Gulder_Roy on Dec 1, 2010 9:34 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
The team has things it needs to address
but even with “a closer” like McGrady for years, we blew our leads late and in the third quarter. Even with a full compliment of healthy players, we blew our leads in the third and fourth. Houston just does not have tenacity. Van Gundy was a great defensive coach but you can only stimy a team for so long. Adelman is a great offensive coach but his tactic is predicated on distancing yourself far enough from an opponent to endure a run from the other team.
As for your scenarios:
1.) Yao will return
2.) Battier was in a shooting slump, the sky isn’t falling, swallow an anti-depressant and strap in.
3.) Brooks is coming back
4.) Hill is showing every second he’s on the floor that he needs more time and he’ll give us everything we’re wanting, the problem is, playing time would resolve the issue, he’s not getting it, therefore it remains an issue.
5.) Trade Yao and lose a major source of revenue for this team?
If we follow your scenarios two of our players are dead and your fifth point cannot be achieved (As well, what team would take a player who cannot come back?) and if he’s just permanently crippled then Houston is going to lose quite a bit of money from shipping him out. Sacrifice your cash cow, not winning games, fickle fan base, means bye bye franchise. Slumps happen and Hill isn’t being used like he should, remedy those, get our starting PG and C back and we’ll be better off.
I'm always right, this isn't conjecture, merely statement of fact.
Blowing a game late
You don’t have to worry about the Rockets “staying close but then blowing a game late”. They won’t stay close in this one. They Lakers lost 3 in a row and they will want to make up for all three of those losses in one game against the Rockets.
i think Rox will be just fine...just hope Battier plays his A defense tonite on Kobe...
Adelman better not put Martin on Kobe cuz if he does, he should get fired. Rockets extend Lakers losing streak to 4 as they put together 48 minutes!!
by inquisitiveman on Dec 1, 2010 10:11 AM CST up reply actions
match Battier’s minutes to Kobe’s. I don’t want to see Battier on the court for a single minute when Kobe sits.
Might as well say the same for
Chuck and Gasol
GO ROCKETS, GO TEXANS, GO ASTROS (EVEN THOUGH THEY SUCK)!!!
Good point. If I see Hayes on the court without Gasol, I’ll be pissed. (Hayes was on the court a lot without Stoudemire against NYK, which I could never understand)
But Hayes probably isn’t playing 40 minutes, so Gasol will be on the court for long stretches without Chuck.
Hayes will do a good job for a short time frame...don't expect him to hold off
Gasol for entire game, but for stretches, he will be able to prevent Pau from getting rebounds.
by inquisitiveman on Dec 1, 2010 3:26 PM CST up reply actions
Hayes and Hill should share time beating up Pau
by inquisitiveman on Dec 1, 2010 3:27 PM CST up reply actions
More likely to see Brad
then Hill. There’s really no one for Hill to guard, and if he does go in it will be open season on layups.
How many Biletnikoffs does he have? NOT TWO!
We have a little unfinished biz with the Lakers after blowing the big lead, so i expect
them to finish off the Lakers tonite.
Ideally, if Memphis beat them we can too
Just gotta get Kobe to shoot 9-25, keep Odom in check (although he usually burns Scola), hustle for rebounds, block shots (Grizz had 11) and hope they turn the ball over (14 TO last night)
by Carlos_HoustonSportsFanatic on Dec 1, 2010 10:36 AM CST reply actions
I hate 2 say it but
We have turned into the anti-Jazz. We blow leads and they come back from big holes, and win. I wish we could be like the Jazz. I have to now go and sanitize my hands for five minutes for typing that. We all know we would love to be doing what they are doing though. Please don’t ban me.
GO ROCKETS, GO TEXANS, GO ASTROS (EVEN THOUGH THEY SUCK)!!!
We won't ban you
just come over here to the lobotomy clean table. Just take a nap. Everything will be just fine.
How many Biletnikoffs does he have? NOT TWO!
"I wish we could be like the Jazz."
Don’t ever say that again. You’re disgusting.
If that’s not auto-ban worthy, I don’t know what is.
by basketball is cool on Dec 1, 2010 2:41 PM CST up reply actions
I apologize
please forgive me, i beg of you
GO ROCKETS, GO TEXANS, GO ASTROS (EVEN THOUGH THEY SUCK)!!!
actually, his point made sense
in that he wants us to be clutch. The whole Jazz thing was the problem.
I guess that expands to the whole “we need a superstar thing.” I can’t remember where Batman lies on the issue, but more or less he’s getting at the point that without a closer who gets bailed out by refs, the Rockets are going to continue having problems late in games.
Correct me if I’m wrong Batman. You might have meant something else entirely.
How many Biletnikoffs does he have? NOT TWO!
Ban Hammer?
Ketchup & Mustard BABY!!!
by Start the Bench on Dec 1, 2010 4:38 PM CST up reply actions
This is definitely an L
No AB, no Yao? You gotta be kidding me. Even if Kobe goes 1-30 tonight, the Lakers will find some way to win. I hate the Lakers, I do, but they’re a team that knows how to win games. They might be on a 3-game losing streak, but they do that like, once a year? Fuck Kobe and fuck the Lakers, but there’s no way our depleted team pulls out a win tonight. And there’s no way in HELL Chuck can guard Gasol. He’s too long and wirey for Chuck. Only way we can contain Gasol is if Jordan plays him, cause he played him well. And knowing Jordan, he’ll foul out so quick he won’t have a chance to guard him.
Ok I’m done.
by basketball is cool on Dec 1, 2010 2:45 PM CST reply actions
hard to disagree
Without Bynum, the Lakers are really weak on the front line. But the Rockets don’t have any strength/depth there either, so they can’t take advantage of it.
Lakers can safely play Barnes, Artest, and Odom in the frontcourt. Or even Barnes, Walton, and Artest, with no fear of being exploited down low. Artest, Odom, and Gasol can all be competent guarding Scola, and that’s about all you need right now.
Their big men have playing a ridiculous amount of minutes. So we have a shot, IMO
by VBG on Dec 1, 2010 3:37 PM CST up reply actions
Doesn't look good, Kobe is mad and is gonna.....
wanna win tonight, especially against us, he has it in for us ever since the playoffs when we took them to 7 games!!!
Good...let him do all the scoring and don't leave Blake, Brown, or Barnes open
he can score all he wants and be pissed…don’t care.
by inquisitiveman on Dec 1, 2010 3:15 PM CST up reply actions
The key to beating the Lakers is not doubling on Kobe much at all...especially if
your team has a good perimeter defender.. let him do most of the scoring and don’t leave the other players wide open…Kobe will get tired in the 4th if you keep this plan all game…again…i hope the Rockets rarely double up on him.
Raptors prolly thought that too....
When he went off for 81 points.
Ketchup & Mustard BABY!!!
by Start the Bench on Dec 1, 2010 4:39 PM CST up reply actions
Kobe will get tired?
he’s the best-conditioned athlete in the game. He works harder than anyone else in the offseason. Why else is he always so clutch in the fourth quarter? His body is peaking (or just on the decline) while everyone else on the court has dead legs.
How many Biletnikoffs does he have? NOT TWO!
Thats not what we saw, though is it?
I’d say it’s only Kobe phenomenal conditioning that’s kept him going. He’s logged several extra seasons worth of games with post season and olympics as well. I honestly think the cracks are showing, and that’s to be expected.
As far as his clutchness, last year he was amazingly clutch in the 4th, all the other years? Not so much. You can look it up.
"Each in turn... volunteered his suggestions, his invaluable suggestions."
Twitter - xiane1
The Dreamshake
If u saw the game against the Pacers, his last second shots were short and no elevation in his legs...
He got tired at the end..
by inquisitiveman on Dec 1, 2010 8:08 PM CST up reply actions
No! He can't be tired! It's unpossible!
"Each in turn... volunteered his suggestions, his invaluable suggestions."
Twitter - xiane1
The Dreamshake
Rockets lose big
Then the scrubs bring us back in the game. Starters come back to make sure we lose. Jermaine Taylor scores 15-20, Ish gets 7 assists, Hill gets a double double and coach gets ridiculed for not keeping that line up in.
GO ROCKETS, GO TEXANS, GO ASTROS (EVEN THOUGH THEY SUCK)!!!
I think Batman summed up
this season wonderfully. Youngsters come out, produce, show they deserve floor time, then promptly get removed to the bench to fade into obscurity for the rest of the game while the starters lose it.
I'm always right, this isn't conjecture, merely statement of fact.
My vote for "player who goes GodMode on the Rockets" tonight?
Steve Blake. He tends to do that regardless of which team on which he’s playing.
Shannon Brown
has been playing out of his mind, too. And not just that stretch against us.
I’ve got Odom as the killer tonight.
How many Biletnikoffs does he have? NOT TWO!
Brown has made some sort of leap.
He’s got that 3pter and that makes him very dangerous. Sort of like a dunking Aaron Brooks.
"Each in turn... volunteered his suggestions, his invaluable suggestions."
Twitter - xiane1
The Dreamshake
It's gotta be
Sasha.
People actually respect Blake and Brown a bit right now. It’s gotta be someone with even less cred.
I know people here have this awe of Steve Blake, but he's spent most of his career getting alternately toasted and carved by opposing PGs.
Yes, he’s a pretty good ball handler, and yes, he passes ok. He doesn’t make dumb mistakes and he hits open 3s. He’s a perfect backup PG. Blake is ok. He’ll never be more than that, but he’s definitely that.
"Each in turn... volunteered his suggestions, his invaluable suggestions."
Twitter - xiane1
The Dreamshake
I am in LA at the moment and will be going to a sports bar sporting my Scola jersey
Not sure if that’s smart but I hope I can leave there a happy man.
Like i said, Kobe has no elevation in his jumpshots like last year....he doesn't seem
to have quite the hop …
He's got a lot of milage.
It’s like a car ad – great car, and the price looks good, then you see what while it’s 10 years old it has 350k miles on it. That’s Kobe. The fact that the car got there is impressive. Expecting another 350k is foolish.
"Each in turn... volunteered his suggestions, his invaluable suggestions."
Twitter - xiane1
The Dreamshake
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