| 2009 NBA Playoffs: LA Lakers vs Houston Rockets Game 1 |
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| Written by Scott Burgess | |||||||
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Monday, 04 May 2009
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 The LA Lakers beat the Houston Rockets in all four regular season meetings and now they’ll face the Lakers in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs tonight, May 4. NBA oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com have the Lakers as -8.5 point home favs over the Rockets with the over/under set at 193.5 points. Be sure to get your 2009 NBA Playoffs LA Lakers vs Houston Rockets Prediction in now at Sportsbook.comThe Rockets needed six games to get past the Portland Trail Blazers. Their top producers during this series were Luis Scola averaging 16.5 ppg, Yao Ming averaged 15.8 ppg 10.7 rpg and had eight blocks, Ron Artest averaged 15.7 ppg and Aaron Brooks averaged 15.3 ppg. It will be up to Ron Artest and Shane Battier to guard Kobe Bryant. During March 11ths 96-102 home loss Artest and Kobe shoved and jawed their way throughout the game. "It wasn't much of a battle," Bryant said after scoring 37 points that night. "I kicked his (butt) tonight." But Artest feels they weren’t the same team then, than they are now. "I can see us playing better. The first time we played them T-Mac was hurt," Artest said, referring to Tracy McGrady. "One time we played them at home I didn't play. The next time we played them in L.A. we just got rid of Rafer Alston, so we had a new team. The last time we played them in L.A., that was a good game. We finally had our team, but they still got us in the fourth quarter." The Lakers beat the Utah Jazz in five games, losing one on the road. Their top scorers were Kobe Bryant averaging 27.4 ppg, he had 28 assists and 12 steals, Pau Gasol averaged 18.4 ppg, Lamar Odom averaged 17.8 ppg with 11 rpg and Trevor Ariza averaged 12 ppg. During their four games, regular season, sweep of the Rockets Kobe averaged 28.3 ppg and he dominated them in the fourth quarters. "They really took it to us in the fourth quarter," Coach Rick Adelman said. "We were in every game at the end of three and the fourth quarter they dominated. They really turned it up a notch. Usually in all four games Kobe really got aggressive. So it's pretty constant. "You have to make him work for everything. You're not going to stop him, you're not going to shut him down, but you've got to make him work. That's the advantage we have, throw both guys (Battier and Artest) at him and maybe we can wear him down a little bit.” .On a bad note the Lakers had three second-half letdowns against the Jazz, including blowing a 13-point third-quarter lead in Game 3 and losing by two points. Even in the clincher, with a number of subs in, they let the Jazz shave a 22-point lead down to six before winning 107-96. Andrew Bynum should see more court time to defend against Yao Ming, he played just 15 minutes per games in the Utah series as he tried to regain form following a long absence because of a knee injury. His performances were subpar. Recent Trends to Consider:
2009 NBA Playoffs LA Lakers vs Houston Rockets When: Mon, May 4, 2009 10:30 PM ET Line: Sportsbook.com Pick: Lakers -8.5 Point-Spreads.com 2009 NBA Playoffs LA Lakers vs Houston Rockets The Bottom Line: Kobe is money in the fourth quarter and the Lakers have more depth on their bench. Go Lakers! Be sure to get your 2009 NBA Playoffs LA Lakers vs Houston Rockets Prediction in now at Sportsbook.com and receive a 10% sign-up bonus on your initial deposit                        |
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 04 May 2009 ) | |||||||