WCSF: (1) Los Angeles Lakers vs (4) Houston Rockets, Part 1 | Series Tied 1-1

[lazybatman]

I've found it interesting to watch how the Morris brothers have played/behaved in their respective LA destinations. They both seem - for better or for worse - to have picked up and amplified the personality of some of their dominant personality teammates with Markief seemingly calmer interpersonally and more under control than at some previous stops now that he's playing with Lebron (and maybe AD), whereas Marcus seems to have gone full heel, taking his cues from Beverley.

Nice read bro..

[trickshot]

I mean if you want to go overboard, you do that.

I don't think the Lakers were great defensively at all this game.

Most of Houston's threes were open looks.

I thought we were outstanding for the first 12-18 minutes. Then they started to figure out the traps and picked us apart. We can get a little tighter but you can see why Phil used to hate double teaming unless there was no other option. It's a concession that you can't guard somebody straight up (which we can't in Harden's case), and good teams capitalize on that.

I think it was just our 3s falling(Morris, KCP and Green) and their WIIIIIIIDE open 3s not falling in the 1st quarter. That quarter and this game was pure luck, outside of Rondo and Lebron's 2nd half performances. Rockets would be licking their lips at the thought of us playing this defense again.

TERRIBLE COACHING TODAY!!!

Yes imo Lakers lose this series resoundingly if they continue that awful defense. It's just conceding open 3 after open 3

[lazybatman]

This is going to be a repeat of the Blazer series. I don't think Houston's going to win another game.

I don't know, I don't think so man. LA's halfcourt offense is still a bit ugly, and I expect at least one more non-horrible westbrook game.

Agreed. This game was found money.

[grindtime22]

Hilarious a team that loves to shoot choose a PG that can't shoot..

They traded away Chris Paul who is good shooter, great clutch player, high IQ player & a great team leader for Westbrook ..

False.

They traded away CP3, whom was just injured and had (at the time) the worst contract in the NBA.

No one knew CP3 would have a reprisal the way he did.

I guess no one knew if he would stay healthy or not. Other than that, there shouldn't be much that was surprising with him. He was down a little bit the year before, but still really good, and even great when he didn't share the floor with Harden.

[SmellingColors]

Perhaps not, but if you were to blame a player, it was def westbrook.

I'll agree with that. I just think blaming one player who isn't the centerpiece of their offense is too simplistic for me.

Saw a lot of fans, and sports shows, blaming Rondo after last game.

That's kinda my point. Games are more complex than 1 guy plays bad so the team loses. If it's a superstar that fails to show up? Sure. But the Rockets lost almost every team category that you measure in a game except 3pt fg's made. That's not enough even in today's NBA imo.

[Dr Aki]

I'm looking at the box score and wow, did the Lakers bench show up today and Houston's didn't

[nbhadja]

Playoff Rondo EARNED his nickname. He always has stepped up his play in the playoffs. He is no longer prime Rondo so maybe he won't always be the perfect fit for heavy minutes in every matchup, but he is a hell of a player to have off of the bench in limited minutes. Personally in the playoffs I would feel very comfortable giving him 20 mpg or more. He is just a clutch player. Remember when he had that 44-10-8-3 game on 16-24 shooting in the 2012 ECF against Miami? And that was before the NBA's stat explosion.

[Benedict_Boozer]

The rockets are hard to watch. Literally all they do is spam 3pters, it’s not even really basketball - do Houston fans really like watching that?



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[NPZ]

Who has been more exposed these playoffs, Giannis or Lebron? Both clearly fake MVPs.

It's a RS award, person. I guess you must want some Rap to win it, but that's not how it works. You know how and what they look for in an MVP and they're usually consistent, so stop the sniveling. And even by your logic, Brawn isn't down 1-3. If you're making some argument that the Lakers collapse is imminent, that's bogus as of 9/6. Yanni is closer. Lakers went 52-19 and are 1-1 in the Semis. They had 6 days of rust between series and it takes them a bit to come back from ANY layoff of 3+ days. It's happened all year. So chill.

[Dupp]

Great fourth Q by lebron. The usual suspects back into hiding u til the Lakers next loss

[JordansBulls]

The rockets are hard to watch. Literally all they do is spam 3pters, it’s not even really basketball - do Houston fans really like watching that?



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I live here, no I don't like watching that. But trading Capela what else are they going to do?

[Alkaholic]

Laker fans are delusional yes they won but they had to have a 21 point lead.
They dont have that lead this game is a blow out again

[NPZ]

The rockets are hard to watch. Literally all they do is spam 3pters, it’s not even really basketball - do Houston fans really like watching that?

Harden is detestable too. He looks like a skunk's ass w/ that beard. I think the sad part would be for any old schooler left who witnessed Olajuwon dancing around in the low post, making DRob look like some kind of devout Christian Navy cadet with a mediocre personality and mild mannered demeanor instead of a hooper.

[Tracymcgoaty]

Watch on YouTube

4:55 this is what it feels like when Rockets go on a 3 point shooting barrage.

[NPZ]

Laker fans are delusional yes they won but they had to have a 21 point lead.
They dont have that lead this game is a blow out again

You're annoyed, but lemme remind you of a truth. Score doesn't matter. You can win four games each by 1 point over a team that beats you thrice by 50 points. Hoops is a game of streaks and runs as well. Lakers could've just as soon pulled ahead when it was close in Gm 1, but it wasn't their night. Tonight wasn't HOU's. Way it goes.

[DS17]

if houston had a big like Davis or Bam... oh man.

[lazybatman]

Just a couple of seasons ago there were people who argued Westbrook was just as good as Harden.
Imagine if that were really true.

Tonight the dude just looked like a 1000 pound achor around the neck of the Rockets.
Why is he jacking up so many threes now after toning down all year?

Russ was a considerably better all around than Harden @OKC in my personal opinion. This system is made for Harden / Curry / Kyrie kinda PG, and not Russ. He's also coming back from an injury, and yet to get his groove back. He's being forced to shoot 3s by the Lakers defensive scheme.

Russ has lost his biggest weapon (athleticism) with age. Harden's changed his game a tad since his second year with CP3, where he defers possessions more, which makes their offense more dynamic. And he's now a great defender also.

[letsgorockets]

I'll congratulate Russell Westbrook on one thing. In all my years watching sports, across all of basketball and football, college and pro, through the good and bad, I've never, ever wished someone on the team I was rooting for to get injured. But here I am, so congrats Russell. Now do me a favor and tweak that hurt quad again, or sprain an ankle, whatever. I don't care, just go the hell away. And before anyone tries to shame me for wishing injury on someone, save it...I truly don't give a damn at this point. I'm too fed up with this little rat ruining my love of what was my favorite league and sport. I'm not ashamed of wishing him injured, and I refuse to even for a second consider feeling bad about it. I've gritted my teeth through the Westbrook experience for an entire season, and I don't want anymore if it.

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