It's Time to Start Lowry

The Rockets lost a close one tonight to the Los Angeles Lakers 102-96, even though the Lakers were playing without Lamar Odom, who was suspended for the game due to leaving the bench during an altercation on the court in a game against Portland. After a spectacular second quarter in which Houston went ahead by 14, they returned from the break and gave it all back in the third. The last quarter was give and take until the Western Conference leaders rose to the top at the end.

Let’s place blame, shall we? I blame Kobe Bryant for the Rockets’ loss. There are some great players in the NBA right now, but Kobe is the best. By the end of his career, he will go down alongside Michael Jordan as one of the best to ever play the game. On the other side of the ball, the entire Rockets team could not seem to hold onto the ball. They committed 12 more turnovers than the Lakers. Ron Artest had 6 turnovers by himself, yet still decided to make it a challenge match with Bryant in the second half, helping to take the Rockets completely out of their game plan. Aaron Brooks did his share too, at times managing to look like he had never played with this team in his life. As usual, he went back and forth between great and terrible. He made a dramatic 4-point play in the fourth quarter only to commit a bonehead turnover the next time down the court.

Let's give a little negative credit to coach Rick Adelman in this one, too. He left Artest on Bryant when Ron was decisively losing the battle. Battier consistently playes Kobe well and even with five fouls, should have been guarding Bryant down the stretch. Adelman also put Brooks back in the game during crunch time, despite Kyle Lowry showing much better control. The Lakers outscored the Rockets by 11 while Brooks was in the game, but with Lowry at the helm, Houston went up by 6. Should Lowry get his chance to start? I say he's been here long enough to get a handle on the team and the system and deserves a chance to show what he can do. Start Lowry.

On a positive note, Carl Landry had a good game and Scola and Yao each shot 7-9 from the field, though Yao had 4 turnovers and was -18 in the plusminus stat. Much of that was due to the spotty play of the point guards, not getting the ball to him in good position even when he was hitting his shots.

Let's face it. The road to the NBA finals goes through L.A. The Rockets don't know the way there yet.