<div align="center"> <font color="red">The Houston Rockets (32-40)</font> vs. <font color="purple">The Los Angeles Lakers (39-35)</font> Sunday, April 2nd, 2006 STAPLES Center 9:30 AM Pacific; ABC </div> [div=50%] <font size="3">Projected Starters</font> <div align="center"><font color="red"> <font size="1">(R. Alston, K. Bogans, R. Bowen, J. Howard, Y. Ming)</font></font></div> <font size="1">Leading Scorer: Tracy McGrady - 24.4 Leading Rebounder: Yao Ming - 10.2 RPG Assist Man: Rager Alston - 6.6 The Bench Man: Luther Head (8.3 PPG, 2.5 APG, 3.2 RPG)</font> <font size="3">Backcourt</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/rafer_alston.jpg[/imgl]<font color="red">Rafer Alston</font> PPG: 11.7, RPG: 4.1, APG: 6.6 The former And 1 superstar is having a good season with the Rockets. He's quick. Smush Parker struggles with quick guys. If Rafer can utilize his speed to best Parker, he should be able to get some easy buckets. Also needed out of Rafer is playmaking. He's getting 6.6 APG, he needs more than that, tonight.</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/keith_bogans.jpg[/imgl]<font color="red">Keith Bogans</font> PPG: 8.8, RPG: 3.5, APG: 1.7 Keith is no T-mac, but he can be respectable. Unfortunately for Keith, he has Kobe Bryant in this one. This should be an easy matchup for Kobe. If Kieth can have a good offensive night and an above par defensive night, he might be able to get in Bryant's head, if not, it could be a long night for Bogans.</font> <font size="3">Frontcourt</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/ryan_bowen.jpg[/imgl]<font color="red">Ryan Bowen</font> PPG: 1.3, RPG: 1.4, APG: .4 Ryan Bowen is no good. He will have no effect on this game. He just needs to do the little things that he does to help his team win. He has the unlucky assignment of Lamar Odom on him in this game, so Lamar should have close to a career game with the Lakers.</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/juwan_howard.jpg[/imgl]<font color="red">Juwan Howard</font> PPG: 11.2, RPG: 6.8, APG: 1.5 Even though Brian Cook is the starting PF for the Lakers, expect to see a lot of Ronny Turiaf on him. If the Lakers don't do that, Howard could have a 25, 13, and 3 game. Brian Cok will make Howard look like Elton Brand. Howard is very capable of scoring from 15 ft out, so Cook has to be on him. He can't let Cook float out to the perimeter, because everyone knows Cook can stroke it from out there.</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/yao_ming.jpg[/imgl]<font color="red">Yao Ming</font> PPG: 22.2, RPG: 10.2, APG: 1.4 Yao has finally turned the corner this year and is puting up a monster 22 and 10. In this one though, he might struggle. Kwame Brown, yes I'm going to say it, is one of the most underrated defenders in the league when it comes to post defense. Brown has made every big name PF or C struggle, Ming will be no exception. </font> [/div] <font size="3">Projected Starters</font> <div align="center"><font color="purple"> <font size="1">(S. Parker, K. Bryant, L. Odom, B. Cook, K. Brown) </font></font></div> <font size="1">Leading Scorer: Kobe Bryant - 34.6 PPG Leading Rebounder: Lamar Odom - 9.1 RPG Assist Man: Lamar Odom - 5.5 APG The Bench Man: Devean George (6.6 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.0 APG)</font> <font size="3">Backcourt</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/smush_parker.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Smush Parker</font> PPG: 11.5, RPG: 3.3, APG: 3.6 Smush Parker struggles with quicker guard and Rafer Alston is that. The equalizer that Smush possesses though is his size. If Smuch can take it strong to Alston, especially in the post, he can have a huge impact on how this game turns out. Also, with Rafer, Parker can't gamble on defense a lot. He needs to stay home unless he's 100% that he has got a steal.</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/kobe_bryant.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Kobe Bryant</font> PPG: 34.6, RPG: 5.3, APG: 4.6 After Kobe's monster tear throughout most of the season, it looks as if as he's finally slowing down. But even a slowed down Kobe is the best player in the league. He should have no problems in this game with Keith Bogans, expcet a huge 45, 6, and 6 from Kobe. I'd like to see him go to the post and drive a lot.</font> <font size="3">Frontcourt</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/lamar_odom.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Lamar Odom</font> PPG: 14.7, RPG: 9.1, APG: 5.5 Ryan Bowen? Lamar has to be salivating for this matchup. He can completely cominate this game, if he wants to. He can easily put up 20, 10, and 10 in this one. Lamar should be able to get his shot on the perimeter, post, or drive against Bowen like it's nobody's business.</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/brian_cook.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Brian Cook</font> PPG: 8.2, RPG: 3.4, APG: 0.9 Ugh, this could be a nightmare game for the Cookie monster. Sure, Cook can stroke it from anywhere on the court, but we need him to actually try and play some defense. If Cook isn't effective in the first quarter, I think we should put Turiaf in there for most of the game, becuase he can have a defensive post presence against Howard. If Jackson does't do that, and Cook gets burned on defense, Cook needs to have his shot falling all night long to minimalize his lack of effect on defense.</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/kwame_brown.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Kwame Brown</font> PPG: 6.7, RPG: 6.2, APG: 1.0 The new and improved Kwame Brown has been a monster for us lately. He's been scoring, rebounding and defending and this is one game where he can't disappear. Over the last 5 games, Kwame has put up 15 and 10. Right now, all we need from his is 12 and 10. Next year is when we can expect 15 and 10 out of him. Back to the game, Kwame is going to have a big presence in this game, he can't shy away from Ming. We need him to once again play solid post D on the other teams best post player.</font> <font size="3">Lakers Keys to the Game</font><ul>[*]<font color="purple">Defense</font> - Kwame knows that he can become our defensive anchor, and he needs to show it in this game. The other player that needs to show some defense is Smush. He gambles to much, and we need him to stay at home against Rafer.[*]<font color="purple">Come Out Strong in the 2nd Half</font> - The Lakers have a tendacy to come out like a C rate team in the 3rd quarter, and it has cost them a lot of games this year. They need to come out and look to kill.[*]<font color="purple">Be Aggressive</font> - If the Lakers don't want to face the Suns in the first round of the playoffs, they need to be aggressive in every game from here on out. If they can snatch the 6th seed, their chances of a second round appearance greatly increase.[/list]<font size="3">Prediction</font> I really don't see the Lakers losing this game, they're riding a very good winning session, not a streak San Antonio broke it. The Lakers should take this, easily. Lakers: 98, Rockets: 91..
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">In this one though, he might struggle. Kwame Brown, yes I'm going to say it, is one of the most underrated defenders in the league when it comes to post defense. Brown has made every big name PF or C struggle, Ming will be no exception.</div>I have to disagree with you on that. No one has been able to stop Yao one-on-one post All-Star Break. Yao dropped 27 first half points on DeSagna Diop and Erick Dampier a few weeks ago. One one one, you can't stop him no matter how good the defender is. Even if Brown does a great job of sealing Yao off, Alston is smart enough to drive and draw Brown over to block his shot. The way you can succeed against Yao is by constantly fronting him and doubling him when he goes into the lane. Pushing him as far away from the basket would help, but the main thing is to make him get rid of the ball right away, and force him to fade into the baseline instead of going strong into the center. After Dallas started doubling Yao in the second half of the aforementioned game, Yao was held to just 9 second half points and struggled from the field. There's just no one on the Rockets who can stop Kobe. I'd have to take the Lakers in this one although Houston is on a bit of a roll.
If Brown can stop Duncan, I think he can stop Yao. That's just my opinion. Honestly, I haven't seen much of Yao this year, it should be a great matchup though.
I don't know about Kwame on Mr. Ming. He will undoubtedly need help.....it should be a good game nonetheless
Kwame vs Yao Ming Therez noway the Kwame can stop Yao Ming. Lakers need to double and triple team him and see if anyone from the rockets can make a shot... its gonna be a close game But Lakers gonna win... Kobe is just too good
Kwame Against Jamaal Magloire Magloire: 2-6 shooting (33%), 5 Points, 3 rebounds. Magloire Averages: 9.8 PPG, 9.8 RPG Magloire is a very respectable center who, at the time, put up 10 and 10 a game on .48% shooting. To be held to 5 and 3 is great defense. Kwame Against Kevin Garnett Garnett: 4-14 shooting (29%), 16 Points, 14 rebounds. Garnett Averages: 21.8 PPG on .53% shooting and 12.5 RPG Sure, Garnett had 16 and 14, but he shot 29% from the field. He was quoted as saying that Brown played one hell of a defensive game. Kwame Brown Against Tim Duncan Duncan: 5-12 Shooting (42%), 12 points, 4 rebounds. Duncan Averages: 18.8 PPG on 49% shooting, and 11.1 RPG He held a 2 time MVP and a 3 time Finals MVP to a well below par outing. Against 3 very respectable big men, 2 being better than Yao and being top 3 PF/C's in the league, Kwame held them all below average. They all had poor outings. Kwame's been doing this for awhile, and he's finally getting recognized for it.
Yao Against Jeff Foster/Scot Pollard 38 points, 14-21 shooting (67%), 10 rebounds. Foster and Pollard are considered to be two of the better defensive centers in the league. They had nine combined fouls. Add David Harrison and the trio had 14 fouls in total. Yao against Adonal Foyle 22 points, 8-19 shooting (43%), 21 rebounds Not too good a shooting night, but the Rockets won. Foyle is a similar defender to Kwame Brown. Both are physical and use their strength to stay with the opponent. Yao against Nazr Mohammed/Rasho Nesterovic 25 points, 9-19 shooting (48%), 10 rebounds Houston lost this one, but the duo of Nazr and Rasho combined for 8 fouls while forcing Yao to just one turnover. The bottomline is it's hard to see Yao scoring less than 20 points tomorrow if he faces single coverage. He's scored under 20 only once in the past 18 games and that game was one where he was doubled right from the start against Dallas. I guess we'll see who's right tomorrow.
Kwame doesn't have to stop Yao, he just needs to force Yao to work for his points. Yao will be a tough matchup because of his ability to step back and shoot the ball from the perimeter. However, the Lakers will live with Yao beating them from the outside, they just don't want him getting easy baskets around the hoop. The key will be if Kwame can hold position and force Yao a couple of feet away from where he normally likes to score. The main advantage in this game is Lamar Odom. The Rockets don't have anyone to match up with him. Neither Bowen, Howard or Swift will be able to guard Odom around the perimeter, and Howard is too, slow to deal with Odom in the post. As long as the Lakers show up for this game on the defensive end, they should be able to control the game and get another much needed win down the stretch.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Foster and Pollard are considered to be two of the better defensive centers in the league. They had nine combined fouls. Add David Harrison and the trio had 14 fouls in total.</div> No way you believe what you just said.....I mean I agree with the other two but Pollard and Foster 2 of the better defensive centers? No way, Pollard is meant as to just put a body on the floor and annoy people. He averages like 4 fouls a game! He is garbage! Foster is a bit different but still shouldn't be named better defensive centers in the league! Harrison is also a rookie so I wouldn't count him into the mix of defending a 7'6 All Star.......
Hope that Kwame plays his normal good defense and shut out Yao. With Yao shut down and T-Mac injured, we would whip the Rockets. Go Lakers!!!!
We also have Turiaf to energize off the Bench. Ronny will be humping Yao's leg all night so I look for him to get frustrated. Oh- and can we PLEASE play Jim Jackson? seriously, I have not seen that guy play yet...
I can't really see the Lakers losing this. We shouldn't go out there and take this game lightly, we should work for the victory. This hasn't happened against poorer teams and we slacked allowing them victory. I think all we need is a good game from two of our players and the rest with medicore games to pick up the victory. Kwame should keep Yao working hard all night so it will be interesting to see a Rockets team without T-Mac and a worn out Yao. Lakers win this one 103-94.
Lakers are down by 1 at the half. Kwame needs to get active on the glass, he doesn't have a single rebound yet. The Rockets offensive rebounding is keeping them in the game.
Damn Kwame just picked up his 3rd foul! Kobe Bryant is on fire in this game he has 28 already and on pace for yet another 40 point game. Lakers lead by 7! Edit: Make it 30 for Kobe now, 11 in the 3rd period.
watching this, Kobe is absolutely on fire! The crowd is just into this game just like Kobe's 81 point performance.
Looking at the box score, we're killing it in the 3rd quarter, 25-12 to in the 3rd quarter so far. Kobe is shooting 16-22!
man lakers up 18 in the end of the 3rd quarter. Kobe already has 41... He might be heading out to the bench early.
Lakers got the win, but Kwame was ineffective against Yao. Yao was able to take control from the start and didn't look back. Brown did contest some shots but I guess I was right. :mrgreen: Too bad I was right about Kobe too...
