The undermanned Rockets were able to battle their way into a Game 7 with the heavily-favored Lakers, and this turn of events left much of the NBA world doubting L.A.'s championship aspirations.On Sunday, however, there was absolutely no doubt who would be advancing to the Western Conference Finals. Behind huge games from Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum (and a not-so-great one from Kobe Bryant), the Lakers finally completed their expected elimination of the Rockets.
For a playoff series that went all the way to a deciding Game 7, the last three contests sure were predictable. The home team got off to the red-hot, runaway start, while the visitors never really challenged and ended up falling in blowout losses.
Sunday at Staples Center was no exception.
The Lakers opened the game on an 8-0 run, thanks to some early Rockets' turnovers and six quick points from Trevor Ariza. The kick-out, open looks that fell for the Rockets in Houston wouldn't go down in Los Angeles, and the Rockets didn't get their first field goal of the game until over seven minutes had gone by -- and it came on a layup from Chuck Hayes, of all people.
The previously ice-cold Derek Fisher made back-to-back jumpers to push the Lakers' early lead to 17-4, and L.A. finished the first quarter up by 10. Houston wasn't able to get closer than nine the rest of the way, and only did so for a short time early in the second quarter. The Rockets spent the rest of the game attempting to keep the lead under 20, and tried not to get embarrassed like they did in their 40-point loss back in Game 5.
They largely succeeded: the Lakers led by as many as 31 in the fourth quarter.
Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum both had monster Game 7s, and considering that they've been playing against guys that are no taller than 6'9", it was about time. Gasol owned the boards, and finished with 21 points, 18 rebounds, and three blocked shots. Bynum played just 22 minutes, but hit six of his seven shot attempts and grabbed six rebounds of his own, and blocked a couple of shots as well.
Perhaps more importantly, Gasol and Bynum held Luis Scola and Carl Landry to a combined 6-for-22 shooting, and just 15 total points. With Ron Artest throwing up airballs, and the Lakers' team defense forcing Aaron Brooks into a 4-of-13 shooting game with five turnovers, it's a wonder this game didn't end up as lopsided as Houston's last trip to Los Angeles did.
Kobe Bryant struggled through a 4-of-12 afternoon shooting, and finished with just 14 points. But despite his largely poor shot selection, Bryant managed to get involved in other ways, and finished with seven rebounds, five assists, three steals, and two blocked shots.
Now that the Lakers finally managed to send this scrappy Rockets team on their summer vacation, there's a good question that came up during our live blog: Does the way this series turned out say more about the Lakers or the Rockets?
To me, it says more about the heart, desire, and determination of the guys on the Rockets than it does about the Lakers. Houston's players should rightfully be praised for giving the Lakers all they could handle once Yao Ming went down after Game 3.
Time will tell if this Rockets team exposed some fatal flaw in these Lakers, or if L.A. as currently constructed is good enough or focused enough to win a championship. But for now, and until or unless the Lakers get ousted before reaching their ultimate goal, the only meaning that can legitimately be attached to this series isn't all that interesting -- its result means a matchup with the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals, and little else.
Latest NBA Playoff Photos
Injured Houston Rockets center Yao Ming looks up at the score in the 4th quarter during Game 7 of their NBA Western Conference semi-final basketball playoff game against the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles, May 17, 2009. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)
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LOS ANGELES - MAY 17: Actor Russell Brand looks on during Game Seven of the Western Conference Semifinals between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 17, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Russell Brand
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LOS ANGELES - MAY 17: Fans cheer during Game Seven of the Western Conference Semifinals between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 17, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES - MAY 17: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers reaches for the ball against Ron Artest #96 of the Houston Rockets in Game Seven of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 17, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kobe Bryant;Ron Artest
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LOS ANGELES - MAY 17: Luis Scola #4 of the Houston Rockets avoids contact from Andrew Bynum #17 of the Los Angeles Lakers while attempting a shot in Game Seven of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 17, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Luis Scola;Andrew Bynum
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LOS ANGELES - MAY 17: Ron Artest #96 of the Houston Rockets wrestles the ball away from Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Seven of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 17, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ron Artest;Kobe Bryant
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Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol reacts to a teammate's shot against the Houston Rockets during Game 7 of their NBA Western Conference semi-final basketball playoff game in Los Angeles, May 17, 2009. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant celebrates a basket against the Houston Rockets during Game 7 of their NBA Western Conference semi-final basketball playoff game in Los Angeles, May 17, 2009. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)
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LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 17: Sasha Vujacic #18 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball in front of Kyle Lowry #7 of the Houston Rockets in the fourth quarter of Game Seven of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 17, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sasha Vujacic;Kyle Lowry
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LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 17: (R-L) Sasha Vujacic #18 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts in front of Von Wafer #13 of the Houston Rockets in the fourth quarter of Game Seven of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 17, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sasha Vujacic;Von Wafer
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-17-2009 @ 7:57PM
youss said...
ITS OVER.......... NANANANA NANANA HEY HEY HEY GOOD BYE I WAS crackeing up when they said that
Reply
5-17-2009 @ 8:07PM
nickstoli said...
Kobe's 5 assist? Is that a career high?
Reply
5-17-2009 @ 8:16PM
Martin said...
No, his five assists were slightly below his season average. Not bad for a shooting guard.