Lakers/Rockets Thread!

[andyfox]

With all due respect to the Rockets fans here, they're really not much competition. We'll see what happens when the Lakers get to San Antonio.

[Clarkmeister]

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We'll see what happens when the Lakers get to San Antonio.

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Be careful what you wish for. San Antonio in 5.

[andyfox]

They sure look good now, don't they?

Just saw Van Gundy: he was asked if Kobe shoots too much. With a straight face, he said yes, it's the root of all evil: Kobe ought to pass the ball, rather than shoot. Then, he got serious and said he doesn't understand what's written about Kobe, because it's so different from what he sees, which is an unbelievably great basketball player.

Gotta like Van Gundy, but he's trying to make chicken salad outa chicken shiit with the Rockets. He's done well to get them to this point.

[Ulysses]

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With all due respect to the Rockets fans here, they're really not much competition. We'll see what happens when the Lakers get to San Antonio.

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Yes, the Rockets suck. But we still have another Texas team to kick some Laker ass. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[adios]

Lakers 'D' is consistent and they have more players than the Rockets. Regarding Francis, he's a two guard and could be a very good one IMO. He's really not a point guard. Too early to tell about how good Yao will be. He's young and it's only his 2nd year in the league.

A digression. I understand why the NBA coaches emphasize defense so much. Look at the Kings-Mavs series, the Kings shot 53% from the field and in today's NBA you just can't let that happen. Therefore I'm quite sure that NBA coaches spend much more time on defense than offense. It's also true that players can hone their offensive skills in the offseason. But my word I'm astonished how many easy jump shots NBA players miss today. Although I'll admit Kobe made some spectacular shots in game 2, for the most part I think the NBA is not nearly as entertaining as it used to be and mostly because players offensive fundamentals have declined.

[Aceshigh7]

I think the Rocket's prospects down the road look very good. Certainly more positive than the Lakers. Kobe will probably be gone and Shaq, Karl, and Gary will prob be around only 1 more season, maybe 2 for Shaq.

I think this Rocket team just needs to stay together and develop chemistry. Similar to the team in the early 90's. They made the playoffs a couple of years and went out in the 2nd round. They kept the team together, and centered their offense around Hakeem, and became the most dominate team in the NBA. During those two championship years, no one else was even close. The Spur's with their MVP, the Magic with Shaq and Penny, even if we had faced Jordan and the Bulls we would have taken them down. The Rockets had the best teamwork I've ever seen during those years.

[SossMan]

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During those two championship years, no one else was even close.

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They were a 6 seed one of those years, so I'm not sure how you can say "no one else was even close". They did dominate the playoffs, though.

I am a huge Lakers fan, but I agree that they have a limited window to continue to win. How can I be upset, though...we already have 3 titles, a decent shot at a fourth this year....I can't get greedy, I know that the good years don't last forever, Shaq will eventually decline, Karl will be gone if they win this year, GP wants to get paid, and Kobe wants to show the world that he could average 40 pts a night if he was "featured".

I don't mind, though....I live for the now.

[andyfox]

Now that was an impressive game by Stevie Franchise.

Is there a bigger jerk in the world than Gary Payton?

[banditbdl]

Nice win and indeed a hella game out of Francis. As much as I've ripped the Rockets chances I really would love to see them win the next game at home and make this thing interesting. God knows we need at least one interesting series in the 1st round. Also, as a T-wolves fan anything that puts more miles on the legs of the Lakers and Spurs is fine by me. I feel for the Rockets fan as I still believe the Rockets are in much the same situation as the T-wolves have been in all these years, nice team, a lot to like, but ultimately just not quite enough talent to handle the big boys out West. If they were in the East they'd give any team out there a run for their money.

[andyfox]

I think we're all underselling Indiana. 61-21 and a dynamite record against the west. And one would think they'll have an easier road to hoe than whoever survives in the west. Of course, that could be a disadvantage too.