A Dirty Game

That's the the only word for it. The Lakers played a dirty game. They obviously took offense at everyone in the media calling them soft, so they used every bully tactic in the book to disconcert the Rockets and salvage game 2. I hate that it worked. The Rockets played hard, but lacked composure, time after time dribbling into the Lakers collapsing defense in the lane - only to turn the ball over.

This was a game of great succes for some Rockets and great failure for others. There wasn't much in the middle. While Carl Landry was in the game, the Rockets outscored the Lakers by 11 points and by 15 when Chuck Hayes played. But those were the good stories. The five starters had an average +/- stat of -19.2. The Lakers outscored the Rockets by 29 with Yao in the game. Yao was challenged early and did not step up. About the only good thing that came out of this game was that Houston's reserves beat up on Los Angeles's reserves. Oh, yeah, and Derek Fisher was suspended for the next game. He deserved it for his outrageous intentional foul on Luis Scola. Kobe deserved the same fate for elbowing Ron Artest in the throat, but the NBA had not the courage to issue anything more than a Flagrant one foul.

I still haven't heard any more about Von Wafer being sent to the showers early for mouthing off to Rick Adelman. Coach would only say that it's a "team matter." In other words, Addleman did the right thing twice. First, he refused to be shown disrespect by a player and he refused to rake the player over the coals in the press. Let's hope Wafer's embarassment over the whole thing is enough to have taught him a lesson. Let's also keep in mind that despite his notoriety and wealth, he's still just a kid and kids shoot there mouths off, especially in pressure situations. Learn from it, Von, and move on.

It's LA's Turn

The same thing that happened in Portland will happen in LA. I thought the Rockets would take one of the first two, but I thought it would be the second one. So I'm off to an 0-1 start in this round. As with Portland, I predict the Lakers will win game 2.

Come on Rockets, prove me wrong!

I was wrong. YYYESSS!!!

The Rockets really pulled one off in Lala Land. They played extremely well on defense and were remarkably efficient on offense against a very good defensive Lakers team. An important note - even though it was a long way from a blow-out, the Rockets did not lose any of the four quarters and kept their poise and composure every time the Lakers threatened. It was such a team win that it is to pay tribute to any one player. The showed balls across the board.

It was a game that Daryl Morey would use to show why the boxscore is so misleading. The Rockets had fewer fast break points, points in the paint, rebounds, assists, steals, blocked shots and committed more turnovers than L.A. But tough, hard defense and aggressively going to the basket on offense don't show up in the box. Houston's full-speed-ahead play caused the Lakers to commit 12 more fouls than the Rockets, resulting in a 13 point Houston advantage at the foul line. The Rockets just seemed to want it more.

Now for the obvious: this was just one game. The Lakers will be heard from in this series. But for now, Houston fans can rejoice in the fact that they have wrested home court advantage from a really good team, even if they lose on Wednesday. Let's hope the Rockets' players stay hungry and don't rest on last night's laurels.

It was damn fun to watch, though, wasn't it?

The Big Stage

It's May in Hollywood and the Rockets have the national spotlight on them. Just one Houston win in the first two games will make believers out of NBA fans everywhere - including me!

But for tonight, I remain unconvinced. The Lakers will win, but the margin of victory will be less than the 15 point average in their regular season series. Kobe will score 30+ and Yao will be held under 20.

Beat LA!

Everyone in Houston believes that the Lakers feel the intense rivalry that they have had with the Rockets over the years. But the truth is that the Los Angeles Lakers have been so good for so long that every team in the league fancies themselves the Lakers' nemesis. The "Beat LA!" chant didn't start in Houston and - I fear - this year will not end here.

First, kudos to the Rockets entire team for a stellar series against a fine young Portland Trailblazers team. Rick Adelman made all the right adjustments between games and kept his team prepared and loose. Yao Ming took what the defense gave him and set up his teammates to succeed. Ron Artest, Aaron Brooks, Kyle Lowry and Von Wafer played mostly under control the whole series and subscribed to the team concept. Luis Scola held his own against rising star Lamarcus Aldridge. Shane Battier was again the glue that held everything together. Outstanding job, guys.

Now the bad news: The Los Angeles Lakers are not the Portland Trailblazers. They are not young, inexperienced or bereft of quality depth. Did I mention they also have the best player on the planet? Yes, I said it. Kobe Bryant is the best basketball player in the world. Maybe not the best ever, but the best there is now. Arguments can be made in favor of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, and truthfully, either of those players may succeed Kobe as the best someday, but not this day. He can do anything he wants anytime he wants. Even defensive greats Shane Battier and Ron Artest concede that you can't stop Bryant, only slow him down. Just keeping him below his average is a victory.

The second round series between Houston and LA will be decided by the supporting casts. Yao will get his points and Kobe will get his. All season, Rick Addleman has found ways for his non-stars to win games - except against the Lakers. LA swept Houston 4-0 this season, and by a 15 point average margin of victory. Kobe averaged 28.3 ppg (1.5 ppg above his season avg.) against the Rockets, despite the two aforementioned defensive specialists being assigned to him. About the only good news is that the Rockets led the Lakers in the second half in 3 of the 4 losses, and the Rockets have improved in closing out games as the season and the playoffs have progressed.

I will continue to predict the outcome of each game on game day (I was 5-1 vs. the Blazers!), but for the series, any sane person has to give the nod to the Lakers.

Critical Game 6

Houston has been in a second round drought for way too long, but there are life-giving rain clouds on the horizon. The Rockets' best chance to break the chains of mediocrity is at hand tonight in Toyota Center. That's not to say that they will automatically lose if they are forced to go back to Portland for a seventh game, but I'd have to say the odds would not be in their favor.

Predictions:

• The Rockets will win the game and advance to the next round.
• Yao Ming will score less than 20 points, but he will be efficient on both ends of the court and contribute significantly to the win.
• Ron Artest will not try to take over the game more than a couple of times.
• Aaron Brooks will not have many assists, but will not make many stupid plays either.
• Kyle Lowry will run the team well, but will not score many points.
• Shane Battier will hold Brandon Roy to 24 points or less on less than 45% shooting.
• Luis Scola will outscore Lamarcus Aldridge.

This blog has a problem.

It lacks hostility. I have two big problems as a blogger. (1) I love the Rockets and don't enjoy disrespecting them and (2) I recognize that there are other great players and teams in the NBA.

(1) When a player has a bad game, I say so and try to analyze what they did wrong and how to correct it. I don't find it necessary to insult a player on a personal level or spew invectives about him. So many blogs feel they have to hate someone to be entertaining. The only thing I hate in sports is a lack of effort. If an athlete is giving everything he has and still comes up short, I'll say he came up short and maybe even that he doesn't have what it takes to be in the league, but I won't abuse him personally. After all, we can't all be Michael Jordan. In fact, I quote Michael Jordan: "I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

(2) Not every Rockets loss is their own fault. It is an easy trap to fall into to say that so-and-so blew the game last night, but the fact is that sometimes the other team just plays really well. Sometimes the opposing coaching staff does their homework and puts together a really good game plan. A true fan appreciates quality play even when it comes from the other team. I do and when I see it, I say so. Sometimes when the Rockets lose, instead of tongue-lashing the home team, I compliment the victors. That seems to be an unpopular stance these days.

I've been around long enough to remember a time when civility was expected in everyday life. You didn't insult someone for fear that you might get punched in the nose - at least. But more importantly, it was a societal norm. Nowadays, Judge Judy calls people names from the bench and every sitcom is based on antagonism. Truthfully, though, I don't remember if it has always been thus in sports. I always loved my sports heroes and they could do no wrong, but I don't know if it was common to blast the 1927 Yankees when they lost the occassional game. In NYC, probably.

The general consensus is that we pay our athletes ridiculous amounts of money, so they should suffer the slings and arrows that come with their outrageous fortunes. We see them as the legitimate recipients of the enmity and helplessness we feel when the boss chews us out or the cop gives us a speeding ticket. But athletes are basically just entertainers, no more or less than a singer or dancer. If we are honest with ourselves, sometimes a great dancer will trip on the scenery and a singer will miss a note. Nobody is perfect and as long as they are trying, I'll admire the excellent performance - regardless of which team provided it - and cut the losers some slack.

By the way, I predict the Rockets will lose tonight's game in Portland. The Blazers are young and hungry.

Tonight's Game

Let's pretend that anybody gives a rat's ass whether or not I can correctly predict the result of tonight's game. For the record: the Rockets will win game four. I won't bother to explain my reasoning because my predictions are sometimes little more than gut hunches. That's the case here. I just think they'll win.