[Rd2 Gm7] Houston Rockets at L.A. Lakers Game Thread

[stockmarketgod]

Well couldn't say I was expecting a win, but at least wanted it competitive. At least I suffer less pain this way. It's been a solid season, we've overachieved with all the injuries, but in the big picture, have only advanced when our goal was to win the championship. It'll be an interesting off-season for sure.

once again, in MOREY we trust

well I think our goal was to make the playoffs once Tmac went down... (if you guys remember we wernt playing to well at the time)

once we made the playoffs it was to get out of the 1st round

once we got out of the first round it was to get it to game 7, that was before Yao went down...


btw thanks for all the classy Lakers fans coming over and posting... too many of you to reply to

heh

[tisbee]

TMACFORMVP,
"Yeah we face adversity and we deal with it, but during in game action, it's very rare we get off to a poor start and ever turn that around."

The Rockets as is just don't have enough quick-scoring ability to come back from big early deficits. Yao and Scola need to establish position and get the ball,We've seen the results of trying to rely on Artest for scoring,Battier is not a scorer and Brooks is young and inconsistant. Wafer provides some quick-scoring ability but the rest of his game is pretty abysmal.

[MigrainePatrol]

We need to sign Artest for sure because it's better to have him than have nothing , but if he continues to behave and we can find someone who wants him we need to trade him.

Probably hurt in some way, but it's hard to tell because he can't jump. I think the Rockets have to resign him considering there's nothing else really available that would fit on this team but ya never know. I think if Rockets can find another guard, nor even a big guy, they get let Artest walk to make cap space.

[ShaY]

We need to sign Artest for sure because it's better to have him than have nothing , but if he continues to behave and we can find someone who wants him we need to trade him.

Probably hurt in some way, but it's hard to tell because he can't jump. I think the Rockets have to resign him considering there's nothing else really available that would fit on this team but ya never know. I think if Rockets can find another guard, nor even a big guy, they get let Artest walk to make cap space.

A dream for me would be to turn Artest into Caron Butler but that will never happen.

I think even tradin Artest for a guy like Jason Richardson would make our team better , especailly if T-Mac is T-Mac again next year , if T-Mac can't play we are better of with Artest but as soon as we get a wing who can really create , we are better off with a guy like Richardson imo.

[DEEP3CL]

Hey guys once again good series fellas, I'm glad I came here before the game and posted some thoughts. But I just want to let it be known we and I mean true knowledgeable basketball guys, knows this would've been 1000 times different without Yao going down. But like I've stated on the GB, the Rockets will be a hell'va team to deal with next year.

But I want to thank the Rocket players for playing with passion, grit and heart and never giving up, it's what living here in America is all about. If we pull this thing off, we'll have the Rockets to thank.

Right now you guys are Americas team , cause everybody else want's our head on a platter !

[stockmarketgod]

Hey guys once again good series fellas, I'm glad I came here before the game and posted some thoughts. But I just want to let it be known we and I mean true knowledgeable basketball guys, knows this would've been 1000 times different without Yao going down. But like I've stated on the GB, the Rockets will be a hell'va team to deal with next year.

But I want to thank the Rocket players for playing with passion, grit and heart and never giving up, it's what living here in America is all about. If we pull this thing off, we'll have the Rockets to thank.

Right now you guys are Americas team , cause everybody else want's our head on a platter !

lol... that will be the case until you get to the Denver game... and they start thuggin out on you guys

then people will start feeling sorry for your guys,

plus now im thinking folks want to see a Lebron vs Kobe match up... I sure would...

[MigrainePatrol]

Hey guys once again good series fellas, I'm glad I came here before the game and posted some thoughts. But I just want to let it be known we and I mean true knowledgeable basketball guys, knows this would've been 1000 times different without Yao going down. But like I've stated on the GB, the Rockets will be a hell'va team to deal with next year.

But I want to thank the Rocket players for playing with passion, grit and heart and never giving up, it's what living here in America is all about. If we pull this thing off, we'll have the Rockets to thank.

Right now you guys are Americas team , cause everybody else want's our head on a platter !

It's more about the Lakers giving fans health problems since 2004. JK. You know I hope it's this year if not.... ah...

[DEEP3CL]

lol... that will be the case until you get to the Denver game... and they start thuggin out on you guys

then people will start feeling sorry for your guys,

plus now im thinking folks want to see a Lebron vs Kobe match up... I sure would...

Then I'd know like hell something is wrong on these boards if that happens.

[Baller 24]

Hey guys once again good series fellas, I'm glad I came here before the game and posted some thoughts. But I just want to let it be known we and I mean true knowledgeable basketball guys, knows this would've been 1000 times different without Yao going down. But like I've stated on the GB, the Rockets will be a hell'va team to deal with next year.

But I want to thank the Rocket players for playing with passion, grit and heart and never giving up, it's what living here in America is all about. If we pull this thing off, we'll have the Rockets to thank.

Right now you guys are Americas team , cause everybody else want's our head on a platter !

See ya next season in the playoffs, hopefully healthy this time.

[DEEP3CL]

Hey guys once again good series fellas, I'm glad I came here before the game and posted some thoughts. But I just want to let it be known we and I mean true knowledgeable basketball guys, knows this would've been 1000 times different without Yao going down. But like I've stated on the GB, the Rockets will be a hell'va team to deal with next year.

But I want to thank the Rocket players for playing with passion, grit and heart and never giving up, it's what living here in America is all about. If we pull this thing off, we'll have the Rockets to thank.

Right now you guys are Americas team , cause everybody else want's our head on a platter !

See ya next season in the playoffs, hopefully healthy this time.

Sho nuff Baller, I know you'll still be on the GB we'll spit game there bro.

[hackle]

it's been a great season.

[Throwback24]

I'd like to shout out DunleavyJr and a resilient Rockets Squad.

[Teckon]

A great run by the resilient rockets. Thanks for the memories and the demonstration of grit, heart and determination. That's how respect were earned. Other teams will view Rockets differently from now on. Toughness will be the IDENTITY of this rocket team.

[Aaron Brooks]

we will come back stronger next year

did you guys catch scola in the 4th quarter, the side of his jersey was ripped and he had scratches

he was still hustling when the game was basically over, very encouraging to see

[Guy986]

next year

[Rendezvous]

Next Year FTW!

[moofs]

I am glad you guys got Joey and we didn't.

He is easily Sterns #1 go to guy for controlling a game.

The worst thing is according to the officiating guide.
"No referee will officiate a game in the same city within 14 days." NBA referee guide.
http://www.nba.com/media/2008-09-RefereeGuide.pdf
page 74
game 2 was 11 days ago.

Not that it matters now, or mattered then, but how in the world did that happen?

What up Rocket fans, just wanted to come in now rather than doing it after the game just in case emotions are running high or low. I don't think either side will be a in joyful mood should either lose.
I just don't think coming in after a game that's sure to be filled with emotion is the right thing to do, that's gloating in it's worst form.

I think a lot of us didn't really expect to win this series, and game 7 was deflationary enough that there's not much emotion running around, just a general glumness and appreciation of what our team was this year. Thanks for the consideration though.

Gotta give props to you guys here and to your squad also, real basketball fans knew or should have known this wasn't going to be a cake walk or waltz for either team if they wanted to advance. As I've stated here on your board earlier in the series, you guys are some of the most knowledgeable guys here when it comes to talking ball.

Yeah, the Lakers were obviously better than us, but it was annoying to keep hearing that we were just flies to be swatted when we had a decent chance in this series (initially). Congrats on the win.

But I want to thank the Rocket players for playing with passion, grit and heart and never giving up, it's what living here in America is all about. If we pull this thing off, we'll have the Rockets to thank.

Right now you guys are Americas team , cause everybody else want's our head on a platter !

Haha, nah, I think it's more that Kobe has really been rubbing people the wrong way the last several years, and this year pushed him back into the negative perception realm. That, everyone likes rooting for underdogs, and the whole public perception of Stern trying to orchestrate the league's results (whether the perception be fair or unfair, it exists - I definitely think it's possible and buy it) are all working against you right now. I still like the Lakers, they're one of the league's story-teams (every league needs one for marketing purposes), it's just that Kobe's overriding that for me and lots of others. Given this, don't be surprised when you're on the negative end of some calls vs. popular "LeBron and the powerhouse Cavs" in a changing-of-the-guard Finals. As long as Kobe's on the team, they'll still be the 2000-2004 Lakers in the average fan's eye (I know they aren't) since their rebuilding happened so quickly and features enough of the same staff.

Oh well, the Rockets took this series to 7 games when much less was expected of them. All in all a great playoff run by the Rockets and certainly more positives than negatives to come out of this series.

Yer.

Good series Rockets fans. Much respect.

Thanks man!

[tdfoss]

Scoring when it doesn't matter. Dare I say it.... Kobe esque.

huh?