***LAKERS -at- ROCKETS 5/8 Game 3 Thread***

[no_more_mr_nice_guy]

Yeah, thought we'd get more whistles. I didn't expect the refs to let this one go so much. To be honest though, the Rockets toned down the rough stuff quite a bit. This game was much cleaner than the previous two.

Besides, the MAMBA don't give a d (@) mn anymore. Free throws, no free throws, Bynum playin like a girl or Bynum mannin up, machine/Fish/Farmar makin 3's or not makin 3's...

None of it matters to MAMBA. He is possessed, he truly refuses to lose.

[Lakers For Life]

Kenny "The Jet" Smith eating some crow tonight from licking Rockets behind.

[PopcornMachine]

Anyone happy with what Bynum did do tonight?

Just a thought. Not much fun, all that looking at the bright side stuff.
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I'm with COCO!

[City_Dawg]

[Brandon98]

If he had the spacing he probably would have.

[Kobe2Clark]

The fact is that we are best when Kobe is being aggressive offensively. It's the same for every other non-PG star, their teams are best when they are getting touches early and often. And he still made passes to wide open guys when the Rockets were sending 2/3 guys at him lol
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"My thirst for domination is fed only by the game. I refuse to get distracted by outside forces." - Kobe Bryant

[kqiu2210]

I tend to give Bynum the benefit of the doubt. I don't think he has the strength in that knee yet, nor the confidence in that knee required for him to accelerate and push off that knee. Hence he's not using his legs to get position, or playing effectively with his back to the basket. I think he'll come through though.

[revgen]

1) In case you didn't notice, we're trying to kill Yao Ming on pick and rolls. That means that there isn't going to be too many post ups.

2) Also, even Pau didn't post up much. Most of Pau's game against Yao was a face up game geared to bring him out where the air is thin.

3) We're trying to make Yao work his butt off on D. That means fast breaks, P&R's, and face up game from Pau and LO. Bynum was basically setting picks all day and setting some pretty good ones too. Usually he's not too aggressive with them.
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[mhan00]

i loved his game tonight. forwent his offense to concentrate more on defense and the boards, which is exactly what we need from him.

[fadeaway8]

Give him time, he just needs to play hard and focus on rebounding and altering shots, the offensive improvements will come.
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[AllorNothing]

I think Kobe was clanking in the 3rd quarter. It was his defense that lead the way in the 3rd.

[Kobe2Clark]

His hot starts in the last 2 games really energized the team though...
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"My thirst for domination is fed only by the game. I refuse to get distracted by outside forces." - Kobe Bryant

[XTC]

Kobe was 1-10 in the 3rd, before everything was forgiven with that amazing shot. Everyone did get involved with a decent all around effort or tonight, some people would have been throwing the team under the team bus.

[Bballguru5000]

[matrixskillz]

his early aggression in the first quarter allowed his teammates to get open looks later in the game. assists don't tell the whole story.
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We only celebrate championships.

"I GOT WHEATIES!"

[koolmo23]

Drew need more playing time and long as he play good defense and rebound Phil will give him more playing time. then his offense will be back .

[cbear]

I agree with your take when you say Bynum doesn't even try.

I don't know what's wrong with him. A couple times, YAO MING beat him down the court. One time Yao was loping past Drew and Drew didn't even make an attempt to speed up.

Sometimes, it really looks like he doesn't care, or he's scared or.....I don't know, but something is not right.

[kobester]

Or maybe he's been taking jumpers all season long thus he's rusty at finishing around the rim

[10scott10]

He is going to get his confidence back by playing smart and being active like he was tonight.

ealier this post-season, he just tried to post up and nothing else and that really messed him up. he is going back to basics of defense and lsip screens and that is helping him more than posting up would.

[KingKobe20]

Great Win!!!

JORDAN FARMAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gotta come out on Sunday ready to do the same thing but BETTER!!!!!!!


LAKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!
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"Tryin' to get that Kobe number, One Over Jordan"
-Kanye

aka ILLWiLL20

R.I.P PHIL

[RCS926]

I'm impressed by the poise with which the Lakers played with. They were pretty much in control of the entire game for the entire 2nd half. If they play with the same discipline and composure on Sunday, then they'll be flying home to LA with the chance to close this series out...

[Dr. Laker]

Thanks.
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On Lakersground, a concern troll is someone who is a fan of another team, but pretends to be a Lakers fan with "concerns".

[DancingBarry]

[Hammett]

This series has made me a fan of Yao Ming. The big guy is all heart. It's a shame he has become injury prone.

[dukdukgoos]

This series is FAR from over. This is not the time to get cocky, we haven't done anything yet.