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Kobe on Jupiter
http://www.fannation.com/blogs/post/386738-lakersrockets-game-4

Los Angeles at Houston Thursday Night turns out to be a Spectacular Game for the Houston Rockets as Houston defeats Los Angeles 95-80. For the Rockets to come back from that 40 point defeat at Los Angeles now return the favor win by 15 and regardless of the amount of points a team wins by, a game is a game. Now it comes down to One Game, that is Sunday at Staples Center with both the Lakers and Rockets winning 3 games a piece.
This Post's references are all from the KLAC Radio Broadcast with Spiro Didas and Michael Thompson (former Lakers player used to back up Abdul Jabbar and was a part of Lakers success under Coach Riley) as the play by play and color broadcasters for the Los Angeles Lakers in their road forum/purple uniforms.
http://www.570klac.com/main.html I was only able to listen to the game on the radio, and these posts notes are from that broadcast audio.
This game was mostly all Rockets with Houston taking the 6-0 lead then building that lead to 17-1. The Rockets jumped all over the Lakers early in the first quarter. The quickness of the guards got the crowd into this game after those hoops. The score at 21-5 after Gasol scores 2. The Lakers were already down big in this quarter and Spiro Didas couldn't have said it better: "A Nightmare 1st Quarter for the Lakers". "This is the exact same start to this game as last Sunday". Lakers go down by 12 points to end the first quarter with Houston outscoring LA 27-15.
The game was still early, and there were three quarters to go, and it seemed that the Lakers would be able to come back from this deficit somehow. It starts with Lakers Defense, and it was important for the Lakers to contain the Rockets outside shooters, and the penetration with Yao out of the line up. The Lakers have the size advantage. Kobe Bryant scores on a 19ft. jump shot to bring the score at 27-17 with Kobe at 3-9 FG's.
The Lakers trailed as many as 18 points. The game's turning point for both teams comes after Shannon Brown makes 2 FT's to bring the score 27-19. Houston makes a Three, the combo passing of Battier/Lowry quickly gave the Rockets an 11 point lead at 30-19. At 10:41 Kobe misses for the Lakers, and Scola gets his 8th rebound early. It was back to back 3's for Houston making the score 33-19. Kobe shooting was at 3-11 FG's. LA get a hoop from Farmar with the side step penetration for his 8th point, and Farmar has been big in the playoffs this series to bring the score at 33-21. Lakers down 14 at 7:43 in the 2nd. Houston's players continue to make their Field Goals in the 2nd going on another spurt score from 37-25 to 39-25 to 42-29 to 44-29 at 3:09. Kobe scores next for LA driving through two defenders to bring the score 44-31. With 2:41 in the 2nd LA Field Goal Percentage was at 29%. There was some late action in that quarter with Kobe getting a block shot, and Scola's Production on the defensive boards, that was good back and forth basketball between LA/Houston with Houston at a Must Win Situation. The Rockets go up from 46-31 to 47-33, and the big hoop by Brooks on the 3 before halftime which that stunned the Lakers. The Lakers are down at Halftime 52-36. Houston FG's at 51%, LA at 31% the first two quarters Game 6 at Houston. The Rockets outscored the Lakers 25-21 in the 2nd Quarter.
The Lakers gained some momentum to start the 3rd quarter going on a 7-0 run. The Lakers go on a 9-0 run with Kobe scoring his 14th point on 2 FT's at 23 minutes making the score 52-45. The Lakers were right back in it, and you can feel the tension on the other side. How would Houston respond? Well this was where the Rockets Players had to really perform out there to force that Game 7 because at this juncture of the game, LA had Houston where they wanted them, and it was up to the defense.
The Players of the game for Houston go to Scola and Brooks. Scola gets his 9th rebound at 8:50 in the 3rd, and then on the other end scores to end that 9-0 run to bring the score at 54-45. That was a big turnaround in my opinion. The Lakers T Ariza makes a pass to Kobe and Kobe spinning in the air beyond the 3 point arch converts the three pointer, and LA is drawing closer with the score at 54-48. The Lakers were down by 16 points at the half, and are now within 6 points at 8:00, so the Lakers had there opportunities in this game to really turn things around. Scola was at 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Artest and Gasol jump ball it and the Lakers control the tap. After the 7:56 mark, it was all Lakers where the Lakers go on a 14-2 continue that prior run to bring the score from 54-50 to 54-52. Ariza makes a steal on Battier and passes up to Gasol for the floater. The Lakers fans now getting antsy. Kobe makes 2 FT's to go 6-6 FT's and 7-18 FG's and 20 points. Keeping up with all these stats, and I don't see how LA let this game get away. The Rockets played well under a lot of pressure including the onslaught of that 14-2 Lakers run with a combination of offense/defense/ and hoops by LA. The big sing came next after the booing of some crowd participators in Houston when Landry scores the hoop, is fouled, and makes the three point play to bring the score to 57-52. The Lakers having the opportunity to tie after the Gasol rebound the other end, and on Defense gives up the three point play at 5:29.
Kobe:"Pull Up from the Right Post: Good" score at 57-54. Battier comes back to score now at 59-54. These teams were fighting every position. Then the Rockets A Brooks makes another 3 pointer this time from the right corner and that one hurt as the score jumps up Rockets plus eight 62-54 at 4:17. LA calls timeout after that play. That 16-2 Lakers run now the Rockets answered back. Spiro Didas:"The margin of error is so small". M Thompson:"this is a game of runs". LA played good defense at times forcing Houston to 11 turnovers.
The score jumps from 62-54 to 62-56, and the Lakers down 6. Scola comes back and makes a bank shot for his 22nd point to bring the score at 64-56. Houston would not let up on the offensive end Thursday Night, and this might have been there all around best game as a team against the Lakers this series. Kobe scores next where he rises and brings it down makes the score at 64-58. Its 66-58 at 2:38. Odom misses the shot next, and Gasol keeps it alive and Odom gets the score on that 2nd chance opportunity its 66-60. Houston scores again next to keep that cushion now at 68-60. The Lakers come right back with J Farmar scoring a three pointer for his third 3 and with :70, its 68-63. Artest comes back to score to bring the score back to 70-63. Gasol spins away and floats it in at :50 to bring the score within five at 70-65. Brooks comes back and challenges Gasol and scores on the lay up next at :30, the score at 72-65. That was a big hoop. The Lakers/Rockets series, this quarter, the two teams players were challenging each other on the offensive end for hoops. Rockets get all the momentum breaks Game 6 as Scola scores on a 17 ft. jump shot good before the end of the 3rd Quarter. S Didas:"Everyone rises to their feet" and with the score 74-65, the Lakers were down 9 points. The Lakers outscored the Rockets 29-22 in the 3rd Quarter.
The Lakers got within 2 points, but the Rockets never paniced says M Thompson color broadcaster and former player for the Lakers now on the KLAC 570AM broadcast.
When the game is on the line is when you need to have all your key players out there on the floor. Coach Jackson chose to sit Kobe Bryant out to begin the 4th Quarter down by 9 points. Lakers close within seven with Gasol scoring with the left hand on Landry (not Tom Landry) 74-67. Landry comes back at 10:40 and the score now goes to 76-67. At 10:32 Sasha comes out of the game, and inserted into the game is S Brown for LA. Lakers get a break on the next possession as Walton rebounds a Farmar misses, Gasol misses on the 2nd attempt, but on the third and fourth attempt, Lamar gets a slam dunk on the rebound Lakers down by seven 76-69 at 9:30 in the 4th.
Kobe is still on the bench up till the 6:56 minute mark, so that was 5:04 minutes he on the bench. Kobe and Artest get a bit tangled, as Kobe straight arms him, but no harm no foul, some contact as Artest's face ran into Kobe's motion (total Lakers analysis, the play was not that bad, and Artest smiled about it). It is 79-71, and Houston's Landry gets a stuff jam and is fouled catching Gasol out of position on that play. Landry misses the FT. At 6:51 and the score 81-71, Kobe misses the pull up. Landry starts to play strong down the stretch getting fouled and making 1/2 FT's to bring the score at 82-71.
Odom pulls up from 22 ft., and scores, its now 82-73. Lakers need the D. 4:56, the score at 82-73. There is a time out on the floor. (there is Rocky Music in the intermission I noticed http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJmr5CKY73M)
Landry hurt LA with those drives, dunks, and points from the FT's. Landry comes back on the step back jumper is good. M Thompson said that the play look liked Otis Thorpe 84-73. Kobe comes back to score his 29th point to bring the score at 84-75 with 4:20. Spiro Didas on the Lakers: "incapable of coming up with the stops defensively". Time Out Lakers down 9 at 84-75. Brooks scores next for Houston on a shot he makes stepping back to bring the score at 86-75. Kobe misses the 3 on the Lakers end. Game 7? I thought to myself. Brooks scores again an 18 ft. jumper and that kid sure does play with a lot of heart, and its 88-75. At 2:59, you can hear the "Beat LA" chants in the crowd at Houston. "Its been Houston's Night.
89-75. Kobe scores next for LA on a running shot to make the score 89-77 at 2:20. Lamar Odom fouls out with 8 points, 14 rebounds in 28 minutes. Brooks makes 2 FT's at 2:09 91-77. Bynum has sat out all the 4th quarter. Kobe misses the 3 pointer next at 1:55 its 91-77. Kobe makes 1/2 FT's for his 32nd point on 11-27 FG's. Brooks has 29 points. Didas: "The Lakers are going to have nightmares of this arena all summer long". "Incredibly surprising series in so many facets", "Who would have thought Houston would display the grit playing to win, 1 game anything can happen. "Everybody is shocked that there will be a Game 7?". With the score going from 91-78 to 93-78 to 93-80 at :32, and the final score Houston Defeats LA Game 6 95-80. What a Spectacular Game for Houston.
Lakers leading scorers: Kobe Bryant scores 32, Gasol 14, Farmar 13 on 30-84 35.7% FG's, 5-23 21.7% 3 point FG's. For the Rockets team leaders are Brooks 24 points, Scola 24 points, 12 rebounds, Landry 15, Artest 14. Plus and Minus for Houston: +19 Landry, +19 Artest, +12 Brooks, +8 Battier. For the Lakers plus/minus: -15 Gasol, -13 Bryant, -13 Walton, -8 Walton, -9 Ariza. There were no lead changes, and zero times this game was tied. Houston led all the way. ref http://www.nba.com/games/20090514/LALHOU/boxscore.html
For the Lakers, it all comes down to 1 game. The last game 7 for LA was in 2006. Game 7 at Staples Center Sunday Houston 3/LA 3.
The Winner will advance to play Denver for the Western Conference Finals. It's Nervous Time for Lakers Fans.
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http://www.fannation.com/blogs/post/388918-los-angeles-at-houston-game-6-west-semifinals-now-tied-at-3

Lakers win Game 7 Big 89-70 versus the Rockets to advance to play the Nuggets for the Western Conference Finals. Thank You for reading, and Andrew B, it's about time Yo giving the performance us Lakers fans expect every playoff game. http://www.nba.com/games/20090517/HOULAL/boxscore.html