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Lakers/Rockets Series at 3-2 Tuesday Night Game 5 at Staples Center LA Wins by 40

Kobe on Jupiter
LA Wins by 40 Game 5 to take a 3-2 series advantage in the Western Conference Semi-Finals. This Win for LA was the win needed from the last game at Houston. I didn't expect this kind of Ass kicking by the Lakers, but that is what happened Tuesday Night and for Lakers fans it is all smiles.
Houston takes the early 1st Quarter lead going up 11-4. For the Lakers, the slow starts in games continue. Andrew Bynum came out Game 5 strong scoring the first 6 points for LA making the score 11-6. Right back comes Game 4's star Brooks scoring a hoop, and Houston came out to play early takes the 13-6 lead.
Kobe Bryant scores his first hoop at 8:17. The score jumps from 13-8 to 15-11. R Artest for the Rockets scores 7 points early in the contest. After the time out, S Battier scores his first three pointer giving Houston an 18-12 lead. Derek Fischer for Two converts gives the Lakers a boost score now at 18-14. You could feel after Kobe makes his first hoop, that the Lakers were starting to get more confident on the offensive end in front of their home fans. The Lakers take the momentum with Kobe scoring drives through the lane score at 18-16 with 5:30. Lakers play good defense and Ariza gets the steal and goes all the way for LA scores on a dunk from the fast break to tie the game at 18-18 at 5:16.
Kobe scores his 8th point on a lay up on a drive from the left side gives LA a 20-18 lead. Scola ties the game at 20-20 at 3:30. Kobe comes right back to score on a baby jump shot about 8 ft gives the Lakers a 22-20 for his 10th point. Kobe scores again off a steal and has 12 early points gives LA a four point lead at 24-20. Lamar Odom adds to the Lakers lead with a 3 pointer at 1:28 and the Lakers are quietly and quickly up by seven 27-20. Scola scores again, and the Rockets players toughness kept at it early to bring the score at 27-22 for his 4th point at 1:01. Gasol comes back to score 29-22. Lakers take a 10 point lead with Ariza scoring again, and his production was big Game 5 for the Lakers to be successful in transition.
It was a bad outside shooting quarter for the Rockets, and after Brooks scores on two free throws to bring the score at 32-24. With 5 seconds left in the quarter, Lakers Jordan Farmar scores on the buzzer beater on a long range 2 ft beyond the arch shot from the left side three pointer. "Exciting Ending to that first quarter for LA". It was the UCLA alumni one/two punch for the Lakers as both Ariza and Farmar continue to play big in this very competitive league.
In the first part of the 1st Quarter, Houston played good, and in the second part of the 1st quarter, LA played strong. The Lakers take a 35-24 lead going into the 2nd quarter with 11 first quarter fast break points. Ariza for LA at 6 points. Gasol scores next on the spot up play for his 7th point to bring the score at 37-24. Lakers fans were thinking to themselves: "What kind of game is this going to be?" Game 5 all Lakers, and Gasol scores again a quick 4 points to give LA a 39-24 advantage. LA goes on a 7-0 run. Lamar scores 2 Free throws next and at 10:28 in the 2nd quarter, the Lakers scoring was at 41 points.
LA played good defense early and Sasha capitalizes on Lakers D as LA now at 43.
Its 10:07 in the 2nd quarter with all momentum going to LA, Wafer for Houston scores his 5th point. The Mr.T hair cut, but that was a big hoop for his team 45-31. The teams are now going back and forth versus each other on scoring hoops as Lamar scores next for LA makes the score 47-31 at 7:59. LA always keeping that cushion from this juncture of the basketball game here on out the contest. Gasol scores next for his 11th point brings the score at 49-33 with a drive hard to the basket as he holds the ball up high. LA S Brown makes a three pointer and LA all over Houston 52-33. Lakers up by 19 points at the 6:25 mark in the 2nd. With Kobe going 1/2 at the free throw line, the Lakers go up by 20 points 53-33. Brown scores again and the score now at 55-33. A 22 point game, and Rockets Hayes scores next to bring the score back to twenty 55-35.
In the last 4 minutes of the 2nd, the Lakers step up the Defense and were all over Rockets players which gives LA 15 fast break points early. Kobe scores his 15th point score at 57-35. At 3:17, Bynums 2 free throws gives the Lakers a 59-35. Battier misses the 3's and he was not able to make the 3's in the Staples Center Arena as he was in Houston Game 4. In the 2nd, Houston at 38% FG's, and the Lakers in the high 50s at 57%.
Walton makes a nice pass to Kobe on the in bounce play underneath to score. Kobe scores again giving LA a 9-0 run score at 64-35. Score at 64-37 under a minute, Lakers good Defense was key for them to have the large lead. Winner of the Chris Rock lookalike contest goes to A Brooks for Houston as he makes two free throws late, and at half time the Lakers lead 64-39 going into the locker room. LA outscores Houston 29-15 in the 2nd.
The Lakers Kobe Bryant came out of the half time locker room ready to put up more points scores his 22nd now at 9-15 FG's to give the Lakers a 72-45 lead. Next it was Bynum, then it was Gasol for LA scoring and at 8:02 the Lakers have a 30 point lead 77-47. "This game is now in the refrigerator" (ref C Hearn LA Broadcaster Lakers)
Kobe makes a jumper for his 26th point, and the Lakers are up 31 at 82-51. The score getting lopsided, and the Rockets players had to continue to play the game with the score ran up. For Lakers players, it was about coming back strong from Game 5 and playing superior basketball.
P Gasol at 14 points/11 rebounds, and Bynum has 14 points. Bynum had more production in the first 5 minutes of this game then he did all Game 4. I love watching P Gasol score points, and appreciate his game and what he adds to the Lakers dimension and Gasol scores with the left hand next gives the Lakers an 85-52 lead. This was a royal ass kicking. Battier scores next for his 5th point. Farmar scores on another 3 and its 88-54. 90-54 as Lamar makes 2 FT's.
With more Lakers D, Ariza gets the ball from the steal by Farmar and goes all the way on the reverse play for his 13th point. Lakers up 94-54 winning by 40 points.
Doug Collins TNT Color Broadcaster makes the call next to end the 3rd Quarter: "What a sensational play by Ariza". I have to admit listening and watching the TNT Broadcast play by play and color was a lot better for me to listen to than the prior broadcast game 4. The 3rd Quarter, the Lakers out score the Rockets 30-15.
It was the 4th Quarter, and the Rockets still have to play being down 40. Its gotta hurt their fans watching the rest of the game, and it did feel good as a Lakers fan to continue to watch Game 5 with one quarter to go. Can the Lakers keep the lead up to erase last games criticism by certain sports figures?
Houston was at 3/23 from 3 point FG's. Gasol at 13 rebounds and 16 points continues to dazzle play out there. I loved it. "It's Garbage Time" (ref C Hearn) at 9:38. Collins talks a bit about Bill Walton on the TNT Broadcast, his Celtics came back to win against Orlando.
The Broadcast gives recognition to Coach Chuck Daly. Daly coached the Detroit Pistons in the 80s, and there were good series Detroit/LA played against one another. Daly goes 638-437 in 14 seasons in the NBA. Daly died Saturday at age 78 from pancreatic cancer. Daly coached the 1992 USA Olympic Team when the US got the Gold Medal, and that will always be considered the best team ever put together.
ref http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Daly I liked the TNT Broadcast all around during the game Tuesday Night at Staples Hou/LA Game 5.
At 8:59, the score at 99-61. Even with last defeat in Houston, the Rockets didn't score a 100 on LA.
Sasha takes an outside shot at the 3 point land and air balls it to the left, and the whole United States saw it: "Somebody left the door open on that play" 7:59 in the 4th.
Scola scores for Houston for his 12th point brings the score at 99-67. At 7:29, Houston scores again going on an 8-0 run brings the score 99-69 to thirty points. J Powell for LA scores on the dunk for his 4th point in 9 minutes in 3 shots, and its 101-69. The crowd going wild. Berry scores a 3 for Houston now brings the score at 101-72. LA comes back now at 103-72.
The last 5:42, Walton scores his first hoop from the field now 105-72. The scores goes to 107-74, then 109-74 with Brown scoring again. S Brown played a good game, and the team needs that production every game. The scores goes 111-76, 113-76, 115-76, 116-76, 118-76 (LA +42), and the final score 118-78. The Lakers win by 40 Game 5 to take the 3-2 Series Lead. This was the worst playoff loss for the Rockets in their history. All 12 Lakers players score. The Lakers Kicked their Ass. Lamar Odom gets the Post Game Interview. Lamar gives the most hideous interview of all the Lakers, his reply from last game: "We Just went out there".
Both teams score 24 points in the 4th. LA Wins by 40 points 118-78. Game 6 in Houston Thursday 5/14/09.
LA Leading scorers: K Bryant 26, Gasol 16, Bynum 14, Ariza 13, Farmar 12, Powell 10, Brown 7, Odom 10, Fischer 2, Walton 4. Lakers go 42-82 .512 FG's ref the Newspaper Orange County Register for stats. There were 2 lead changes, and 3 times this game was tied. Lakers go 6-13 3 point FG's at 46%.
also: http://www.nba.com/games/20090512/HOULAL/boxscore.html
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This was a game where I really missed the Lakers Announcers, and why didn't KCAL 9 broadcast Game 3? In My opinion, Bynum's play hurt the Lakers and was the difference why the Lakers were not successful Mothers Day Game 4. http://www.fannation.com/blogs/post/386738-lakersrockets-game-4 edited