2009 NBA Playoffs - Page 3 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Frequitude · 05-04-2009, 11:49 PM

Houston will beat the Lakers in 6.

Shane Battier for the win.

JohnnyFlame · 05-05-2009, 08:20 AM

That was one heck of a game by the Rockets. Yao does his bit and Artest as well along with Battier. But it's all these super fast young guys that are their edge. They play such fly around, get a hand in the guy's face defense. It's fun to watch them work. I kinda doubt they can keep the Lakers down but they are the team I'm hoping for as I always like to hope for the underdog. Plus they have had so little playoff success they are like the Flames of the NBA.

malcolmk14 · 05-05-2009, 09:14 AM

The huge matchup advantages that Houston needs to exploit offensively against the Lakers are at Center and Point Guard. The Lakers just don't have an answer for Aaron Brooks; At this point the best solution might be to have Kobe guard him. If they can continue to take advantage of these matchups, and neutralize Kobe 50% of the time with Battier and Artest, then they will have a chance to make this a long series.

Cavaliers should sweep the Hawks, those teams are just on different levels. At most, that series goes 5.

No idea who wins Boston vs Orlando. Don't really care. Whoever does is going to have their hands full with the Cavaliers anyway.

Denver should take care of Dallas quite easily. Just not a great matchup at all for Dallas, and they will be outcoached by George Karl.

Expecting a Lakers/Cavaliers Final but would not be surprised to see Nuggets/Cavaliers. I don't think anyone's beating LeBron this year.

StrayBullet · 05-05-2009, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frequitude

Houston will beat the Lakers in 6.

Shane Battier for the win.

That was Game 1. Let's be serious and relax on these "Houston will win the series." statements.

Frequitude · 05-05-2009, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StrayBullet

That was Game 1. Let's be serious and relax on these "Houston will win the series." statements.

No, I really think this. I'm disappointed that I forgot to put $ on it before the series started. Shane Battier will keep Kobe in check every game but probably 1. You've gotta spot Kobe at least one dominating performance.

mykalberta · 05-06-2009, 09:08 AM

Great Nuggets/Mavs game.

Nuggets seem to have an endless supply of good bench players. Nuggets/Lakers should be one heck of a series.

malcolmk14 · 05-06-2009, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StrayBullet

That was Game 1. Let's be serious and relax on these "Houston will win the series." statements.

They're not really that farfetched. I was saying in February that if anyone could upset the Lakers, the Rockets have the best chance. Fast point guards and two guys that can share duty on Kobe and do it somewhat effectively, as well as Yao in the post.

I could see a Rockets/Nuggets Western Final, and I would've said the same thing before Game 1.

In the East, I'm hoping for Cleveland/Boston cause it's an easier matchup for the Cavs, but I'm fine with them playing either Boston or Orlando since I don't see either as a real threat.

mykalberta · 05-06-2009, 09:23 AM

The Lakers have the problem of one of the best players in the league who they want to play beneath his level most of the time. And yet they expect him to just turn it on when the other players cannot produce.

While Kobe seems like a brat, I do feel for the guy as he is being asked to be an everything to everyone in Lake town.

JohnnyFlame · 05-06-2009, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykalberta

The Lakers have the problem of one of the best players in the league who they want to play beneath his level most of the time. And yet they expect him to just turn it on when the other players cannot produce.

While Kobe seems like a brat, I do feel for the guy as he is being asked to be an everything to everyone in Lake town.

Only because it works. When he had a sad supporting cast it was give the ball to Kobe and everybody else watch. They won zilch. But now yeah he needs to keep the other guys interested and he is willing(credit to him) because they are good players. In fact he is very likely deadlier than ever because just removing him from the equation is guarantee that you beat the Lakers. Not when Gasol and Odom etc. can easily put up a lot of points.

Houston stands a chance because they have such a comittment to defense. No way they are going to outscore them.

I don't feel for Kobe at all. He has been asked to be a team player and they are rolling because of it. Scoring 50 a game and losing wouldn't have been much fun for the guy methinks. A couple of shots in a row at winning the whole shebang I'm sure is making him very happy indeed.

StrayBullet · 05-06-2009, 04:40 PM

The Rockets played really well on Monday and the Lakers were awful. I really don't think the Rockets showed me anything considering they only won by 8 with the Lakers playing that bad. Houston was near perfect from the free throw line and Aaron Brooks chipped in with 19 points. To think that Brooks is going to consistently score that much for this entire series is not realistic. The entire Lakers squad shot poorly from the field, especially from the arc. They were brutal and looked lethargic. Perhaps the one week layoff does that to a team.
Obviously, tonight is a must-win for The Lake Show and I think they will win in dominating fashion.

HereComeTheHawks · 05-07-2009, 01:02 AM

The Rockets might have a chance in this series. At the very least, I see it going 6 or 7 games. The Lakers will not have it easy.

malcolmk14 · 05-07-2009, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StrayBullet

The Rockets played really well on Monday and the Lakers were awful. I really don't think the Rockets showed me anything considering they only won by 8 with the Lakers playing that bad. Houston was near perfect from the free throw line and Aaron Brooks chipped in with 19 points. To think that Brooks is going to consistently score that much for this entire series is not realistic. The entire Lakers squad shot poorly from the field, especially from the arc. They were brutal and looked lethargic. Perhaps the one week layoff does that to a team.
Obviously, tonight is a must-win for The Lake Show and I think they will win in dominating fashion.

Why can't Aaron Brooks be effective in this series? He's shown possession after possession that he can be a weapon. The Lakers don't have anyone to defend his speed, so he can be really effective when he attacks the lane. Help defense coming over isn't as readily available either, with Yao in the post (who has a mismatch on everyone).

If the Lakers want to win this series they're going to have to neutralize Brooks' speed on the point. Or hope Houston doesn't figure out how effective he is.

moon · 05-07-2009, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StrayBullet

Aaron Brooks chipped in with 19 points. To think that Brooks is going to consistently score that much for this entire series is not realistic.

Playing against Fisher, Brown and Farmar you or I could get 19 a night, not sure why a guy like Brooks won't be able to perform like that all series long.

mykalberta · 05-07-2009, 10:14 AM

Lake show with the win last night.

40 by Kobe, I dont think any other Laker had over 20. The only games IMO that the Lakers win this series is when Kobe is that dominant. If he gets 20/10 I dont think the Lakers win.

Also, Rockets with some bad breaks with Yao getting into early foul trouble and Artest getting thrown out.

no_joke · 05-07-2009, 11:36 AM

I just checked the schedules for TSN, TSN2, Sportsnet, and The Score. Looks LA @ Houston Game 3 will not be televised in Canada.

Atlanta/Cleveland will be on TSN2.

Knut · 05-07-2009, 11:56 AM

http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articl...e_Heart/621865

Artest talking about how one of his friends during a pickup game got a table leg through the heart.

mykalberta · 05-07-2009, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by no_joke

I just checked the schedules for TSN, TSN2, Sportsnet, and The Score. Looks LA @ Houston Game 3 will not be televised in Canada.

Atlanta/Cleveland will be on TSN2.

What about Raptors TV? they have been showing the games as well?

Are you shure the score isnt going to do a double header? 2.4 horus between games, should be enough.

Never mind, the Score cannot show the NBA cause of SmackDown

I love the Score except for Horse Racing and Wrestling.

StrayBullet · 05-07-2009, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

Why can't Aaron Brooks be effective in this series? He's shown possession after possession that he can be a weapon. The Lakers don't have anyone to defend his speed, so he can be really effective when he attacks the lane. Help defense coming over isn't as readily available either, with Yao in the post (who has a mismatch on everyone).

If the Lakers want to win this series they're going to have to neutralize Brooks' speed on the point. Or hope Houston doesn't figure out how effective he is.

Quote:

Originally Posted by moon

Playing against Fisher, Brown and Farmar you or I could get 19 a night, not sure why a guy like Brooks won't be able to perform like that all series long.

Possession after possession, Aaron Brooks has shown me that he is a shoot first, shoot second point guard on a team with Yao and Ron Artest. In spite of his speed, the Lakers don't need "help defense" on a guy like him - What for? Last night showed that when the Lakers are playing well and when Kobe is playing well, a team like Houston cannot play at that level. Brooks played almost the entire game and his speed racked up; 5-for-15 shooting, taking ill-advised long jumpers, an effective 2 assists and 13 points. Last nights game shows me that possession after possession, Aaron Brooks is not going to be Rick Adelman's answer to beating the Lakers. I actually like Houston. I like Yao. I like Tracy (Even thought he's not playing) and I respect Battier and Artest. I'm not really interested in being against a team I like, but I know that realistically, the Rockets are not on the same level as the Lakers.

The physical game is how Houston will beat LA. Just like how they did in Game 1 and exactly what Boston did last season in the NBA Final. The only problem is, LA fought back last night and Houston got flustered. Battier got schooled all game and unfortunately for Artest, he was ejected.
Yao is going to be the consistent factor for Houston, after that it's a crapshoot for offensive contribution. The Lakers however, understand that while Kobe will get his shots and usually will be on fire, Pau, Lamar and Ariza need to get involved. Who is going to stop all of them on Houston? I also see that the half-court game is what has worked for Houston against LA and they've done a good job in scoring that way. The run-and-gun that the Lakers like to play is not going to fair well for the Rockets.

I wanna be like Miikka · 05-07-2009, 07:46 PM

Games 3 will tell a lot about the Lakers series. Houston capitalized on a sluggish Lakers squad. If the Rockets can win game 3 then I think they have a very legit shot at winning this series. If the Lakers explode and win by 10-15+ points then I think they run away with this as they hit their stride.

no_joke · 05-07-2009, 08:44 PM

Oh right, forgot about Raptors TV. They don't have that on basic :P

Houston can be an extremely frustrating team to watch. (Almost as much as another team that wears red). They are a talented bunch, well coached, and have a solid defensive system. However, on the other side of the court, they take many ill-advised perimeter shots per game and often times dribble out the shot clock to single digits then scramble to heave a low-percentage jumper. Sometimes talent or dumb luck bails them out and the process continues.