The Rockets knew coming into Monday's game against the Lakers that if they were going to have a chance, they needed to force the Lakers into a physical, grind-it-out style of game. As it happens, all that physical play almost worked against them: Shane Battier required four stitches after a bloody gash over his left eye opened in the first quarter, and Yao Ming saw his season flash before his eyes after knocking knees late in the fourth, eventually needing assistance off the court. Yao headed in the direction of the locker room but never quite made it, instead winning an argument with a team trainer in the tunnel to come back out and finish the game. In a way, that was a microcosm for the entire night: the Rockets took L.A.'s best hit, were stunned to the point that everyone watching wondered whether they'd survive but then rallied with a strong finish. In the end, the Rockets won 100-92, negating L.A.'s formidable home court advantage.
Rockets Lead 1-0 | Next Game: Wednesday @ Los Angeles, 10:30 PM ET
Kobe Bryant struggled for much of the night, entering halftime with just eight points on 4-12 shooting. He eventually salvaged his night with 32 points but needed 31 shots and went 1-7 from beyond the arc. If he's looking for an excuse, he can take his pick: he entered the game with a week's worth of rust, a sore throat that forced him to miss practice and a two-headed defensive monster of Shane Battier and Ron Artest hassling him at every turn.
Battier and Artest aren't going anywhere, of course, but those other excuses likely won't exist come Wednesday. Not only that, but the last time Bryant suffered through an off night he bounced back with 38 points on 66% shooting the next game, so Houston should probably brace itself for an outburst.
If the Lakers are going to slow down Yao, though, they'll need more out of Andrew Bynum, who was limited to just 15 minutes due to foul trouble. Without Bynum around to slow him down, Yao scored 28 points (9-17 shooting) with 10 boards.
There's at least a small danger that Yao's knee may prove to be more seriously injury than initially thought (swelling usually occurs after a player cools down), but given Yao's jovial disposition in post-game interviews on the court and in the press conference room, he certainly didn't appear to be hiding much pain. Assuming he dodged a bullet and remains at full strength, there's no reason to think he won't continue being an immovable force in the paint -- at least until the Lakers are able to keep their 7-foot, 285-pound center on the floor for any length of time.
It's far too early to count the Lakers out -- it's not like many people were expecting a sweep, and in the big picture, losing the first game of the series isn't necessarily worse than losing the second or third -- but the way Houston forced L.A. to play their style of game is a sign that this series may be a lot closer than many anticipated.
Latest NBA Playoff Photos
BOSTON - MAY 04: Dwight Howard #12 of the Orlando Magic drives past Glen Davis #11 of the Boston Celtics in Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at TD Banknorth Garden on May 4, 2009 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Magic defeated the Celtics 95-90. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dwight Howard;Glen Davis
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BOSTON - MAY 04: Hedo Turkoglu #15 of the Orlando Magic tries to get by Kendrick Perkins #43, Paul Pierce #34 and Brian Scalabrine #44 of the Boston Celtics in Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at TD Banknorth Garden on May 4, 2009 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Magic defeated the Celtics 95-90. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** HedoTurkoglu;Kendrick Perkins;Paul Pierce;Brian Scalabrine
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BOSTON - MAY 04: Paul Pierce #34 of the Boston Celtics is surrounded by Dwight Howard #12, Mickael Pietrus #20 and Anthony Johnson #8 of the Orlando Magic in Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at TD Banknorth Garden on May 4, 2009 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Magic defeated the Celtics 95-90. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Paul Pierce;Dwight Howard;Mickael Pietrus;Anthony Johnson
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BOSTON - MAY 04: Anthony Johnson #8 of the Orlando Magic celebrates his three-point shot against the Boston Celtics in Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at TD Banknorth Garden on May 4, 2009 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Magic defeated the Celtics 95-90. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Anthony Johnson
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BOSTON - MAY 04: Rashard Lewis #9 of the Orlando Magic and Paul Pierce #34 of the Boston Celtics collide in Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at TD Banknorth Garden on May 4, 2009 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Magic defeated the Celtics 95-90. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rashard Lewis;Paul Pierce
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BOSTON - MAY 04: Head coach Stan Van Gundy of the Orlando Magic talks with Rafer Alston #1 during a time out against the Boston Celtics in Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at TD Banknorth Garden on May 4, 2009 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Magic defeated the Celtics 95-90. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Stan Van Gundy;Rafer Alston
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BOSTON - MAY 04: Rafer Alston #1 of the Orlando Magic celebrates during a time out in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics in Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at TD Banknorth Garden on May 4, 2009 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Magic defeated the Celtics 95-90. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rafer Alston
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BOSTON - MAY 04: Head coach Stan Van Gundy of the Orlando Magic reacts after a foul call against his team in the second half against the Boston Celtics in Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at TD Banknorth Garden on May 4, 2009 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Magic defeated the Celtics 95-90. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Stan Van Gundy
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BOSTON - MAY 04: Head coach Doc Rivers of the Boston Celtics reacts to a foul called against his team in the second half against the Orlando Magic in Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at TD Banknorth Garden on May 4, 2009 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Magic defeated the Celtics 95-90. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Doc Rivers
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BOSTON - MAY 04: Head coach Doc Rivers of the Boston Celtics reacts to a foul called against his team in the second half against the Orlando Magic in Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at TD Banknorth Garden on May 4, 2009 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Magic defeated the Celtics 95-90. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Doc Rivers
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-05-2009 @ 2:53AM
mcjesus666 said...
I'm not trying to sound like a broken record; but the lakers are not playing like a team that is the favorate to get out of the west. They take games off, play horrible defense, and don't run the offense. They've gotten by all year by either outscoring other teams or waiting for kobe to bail them out. Not to detract from the rockets, who played well, but with kobe taking every shot you'd think the other four on the court could muster a little D. As a laker fan, I hope they get out of the west, but as of now, their almost-blown-leads in every game thus far prove they have to play a lot harder if they expect to beat denver, the cavs, hell, even houston. Also, thank god Yao didn't get seriously hurt; we'd have to hear all the kobe haters claim tonya harding!!!
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5-05-2009 @ 7:05AM
mrxtw63 said...
Lakers suck Rockets will kick there assess gooooo Rockets goo,never doubt the heart of a champion
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5-05-2009 @ 7:49AM
shepardtrent said...
LoL...Thank God they didn't give the MVP to Kobe after that performance. Battier and Artest own Kobe.
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5-05-2009 @ 9:04AM
obamaizadope said...
You'd think Phil would know by now every team needs a Kurt Rambis, or Dennis Rodman. When Kobe is off, they lose. Nobody else displays leadership..
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5-05-2009 @ 10:52AM
cabinetec said...
Anyone who knows anything about what a weeks layoff can do to a teams MO can understand why the Lakers played like they did in game one. They played horribly but yet were in the game till the end. Look out Houston if the Lakers can play bad and stay close you may be in trouble
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5-05-2009 @ 11:27AM
JB said...
LEBRON!!!!!!!!!!
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5-05-2009 @ 11:30AM
cjwhite02 said...
I guess if you a call a leader someone who shoots every time he touches the ball and doesn't try and get his teammates involved, then Kobe's the greatest leader of all times. He needs to get over himself and learn teamwork. He'd be a great bowler. That way he wouldn't have to share the spotlight with anybody else.
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5-06-2009 @ 8:31PM
alfredf02 said...
kobe is a scrub
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