| 14 May 2009
(You won't be coming back!)
There we go.I'm sure Tuesday's win settles the pulse of the somewhat panicky fan a bit.
The simple reality of being a fan of this group of LA Lakers is that every now and then, they need a gut-check. Call it what you will, but that's precisely what game 4 of this series was.
Houston were on the ropes.
They'd just been beaten in game 3, surrendering the advantage they'd stolen with a surprise win in game 1. It was announced that Yao was done for the playoffs with a foot injury. Every man and his dog were declaring that the series was over, and bring on the Nuggets. Only... we forgot two things.
1. Houston obviously didn't get the "roll over and play dead" memo...
2. LA, you have to PLAY to get the 'W'.
Thus, we had the debacle that we experienced in game 4. As discussed in What? Me worry?, this is not a new thing for LA.
"There are people who are carrying on like this is something new. It's not. If you'd cared to look, LA have been doing this (losing to teams they have no godly reason to lose to) all season long. It's hellishly frustrating to support a team that's this talented... and capable of taking things for granted at such an insanely stupid level."
Thing was, and as I mentioned, the loss in game 3 didn't bother me. Game 3 was more about LA losing than Houston winning. Don't get me wrong: the Rockets played some amazing basketball - nearly every player on the injury-ridden roster played beyond what they're normally capable of... but LA helped immensely by being LAzy, LAx & LAckadaisical.
So... game 5.Houston came out firing, and for the first 5 minutes looked like they were going to trade blows with LA. But two things were happening that I liked right from the start: LA were attacking the paint, and Houston were hitting their jumpshots.
LA attack like that, and with their height advantage there are easy points for the offing, and fouls to be garnered on Houston a-plenty.
Houston shooting j's? Sooner or later, you don't hit jumpshots at 60%.
And that's precisely what happened.
The Lakers head to Houston's Toyota Center now, and should put away the valiant Rockets in their own building. LA have to play to their strengths - use the massive height advantage and be tenacious on defense, aggressive at the ball. The starters are well-rested, and focused on putting this series to bed.
The good news for Laker-nation is that the 'other' LA is here. The Lakers have finally remembered all that they can be. LA took game 5, and will take game 6 in convincing fashion (I'm going with double digits).
And the 118-78 victory over the Rockets is a harbinger of things to come. The LA that appeared uncertain against Utah and (at times) Houston are done, gone. The LA that accumulated 65 wins on the way to becoming #1 in the West is back. The LA that swept both Cleveland and Boston in the regular season.
We're back baby!
