I like this Rockets Team ...

[Sofa King]

This is a very mature thread. I didn't expect this from a Laker board. You have been a very professional bunch. I mean, I know there were some bad calls last game (Farmar foul, Kobe tech) but I appreciate you guys not saying that those calls costed you the game. You should have seen Portland fans last round whining about EVERY SINGLE QUESTIONABLE CALL in the series. Man, that was SO annoying.

Yeah, I'm a die hard Laker fan first, Kobe fan second, but overall a huge NBA fan regardless. I was watching the Celtics game and caught myself at one point cheering for Boston with Big Baby. WTF was I thinking?

Rockets got a great team. Its not hard to recognize that. Youre 7-6 center got injured and your back up is retiring and you're playing with a 6-6 CENTER!

Where amazing happens indeed.

[hackle]

thanks tlifeset, this post is a act of class.

[cold5]

Really classy move. You guys are really cool to do this. Not many posters on realgm pay respect to teams that beat them (at least not quite yet, the rockets haven't ). I remember how bitter some fans are about not getting calls their way (76ers fans after Howard's foul and some Bulls fan about Rondo). You guys aren't being like that at all. Thanks for the gesture.

[Erik Eleven]

I have nothing but respect for the Houston Rockets, especially Shane Battier. I'd take him over half the so-called superstars in the NBA any day of the week.

Yup, yup and yup.

[Slava]

I respect the Rockets and my respect for Adelman in particular has increased after this season and the last one. I celarly cannot see even someone like Phil Jackson or Popovic doing a better job with all the adversity he's had to face with that team.

However, I think its our poor play that has overrated the Rockets' effort and made people give them more credit than they deserve. They are making adjustments on the fly and its taking us 6 games to realize how to beat a team in which 3/5 starters are poor to average at best on offense.

[MAMBAEMD]

The Rockets play the game the right way.
They play very strong D.
They move the ball around and make the extra pass.
Their style is a classic example of teamball.
They hustle on every play.
They have great perimeter defenders.
They are quick.

Just a matchup nightmare for the Lakers in some key positions.
They have the heart of a champion if not the talent.

[KObe Bryant]

Houston is better without Yao

[Mamba Venom]

WHAT HAPPENS TO SMALL TEAMS IN THE PLAY-OFFS?

Ask the Suns

[G35]

I think we need to play with more finesse

No one responded to this...made me laugh...definitely need more Pau in the lineup..


I have to agree, these Rockets aren't all stars or overly talented players but those guys don't always win. Just playing pickup games you can tell who wants to win and who wants to look pretty. Who gets back on D, who plays smart, who plays dumb.

Man I love Chuck Hayes' defense. He's killing Pau every time and you can see on his face he's pissed if Pau scores one bucket. Lakers have to somehow put fouls on him and get him out the game.

Landry is another player type we don't have on the team. He reminds me of players like Jason Maxiell, Leon Powe, Varejao, Nocioni, Brandon Bass, Sean Marks, Birdman Anderson. These guys are bangers, put their bodies on you every time down the court and throw you off your game. Lakers do not have anyone like that. Josh Powell is a nice outside shooter and great on the pick and roll but not much else. Closest thing we have to an energy big man is Mbenga and he gets no PT.

Talent does not equal wins especially in the playoff's.......

[tlifeset]

It's a great point and one I'm ashamed of this team for ... there is nobody on this team the truly has a passion for defense and nothing else. Kobe Bryant clearly plays defense at a high level, but he will always be known for his offensive skill set. The Lakers seemingly can never find those Bruce Bowen, Raja Bell, Ben Wallace, Dennis Rodman, Chuck Hayes types ... who's only goal is to shut their opponent down defensively. I'd say that Rick Fox may have been the only player similar to that, but not quite on those guy's level (remember, at one point Rick Fox was covering Tim Duncan in the p-offs). The thing about those guys is they inspire defensive effort from anyone and it's nice to know you have a lock-up weapon you can put on anyone and can switch to any player on picks without missing a beat.

Btw ... I think that Sasha probably thinks he's that player but he's probably the worst defensive player ever to play the game.

[cold5]

WHAT HAPPENS TO SMALL TEAMS IN THE PLAY-OFFS?

Ask the Suns

They beat your team. (sorry, that was just too good to get in. No intent of trolling. )

[Sofa King]

I like this Rockets Team. Today, I would like them more if they lose.