Special Game Preview: Rockets vs Lakers

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Tuesday 7:30 Lakers Standard time.

Television: TNT

‘Make no mistake, this is it’

This has been the ‘Mother’ of all off seasons. We’ve been analyzing, debating, arguing, wearing out the trade machines, and for some of us, even ‘plotting,’ to storm the Staples Center. And why? Like you need ME to tell you. Because of two simple statements. The first, ‘Do it and do it now!’ The rallying cry for all Lakers Nation Fans. Those words got we bloggers excited, didn’t they? ‘Cmon, Mitch! Do it!’ That was followed by the hard one, the two words that hurt to the core. ‘Trade me.’ It’s been tough, I must admit. But now, ‘this is it,’ its time for the Lakers Season, our season to begin.

So, where will you be tonight? Just as the Kenny Logins song chimes, “This is it, make no mistake where you are….. the waiting is over” There’s no mistake, even with all the turmoil, with all the talking going on between us, we are all still a family of Lakers Fans first.

Its also my hope, that wherever you will be, you will be watching the Lakers. And of course, enjoying yourself, (this time, get out the beer, popcorn and candy) because Lakers Basketball for the 60th year in a row, is on the air!

Let’s get this party started. Yeah baby!

And now on to the game preview.

Houston Rockets - New look, with a new coach Rick Adelman. Bet you can’t wait to see the new player Stevie Francis? If you want to see Stevie, you will have to look down the bench. And why? Because you won’t see much of him in the game.

“He’s not the player that he once was, because he’s slowed down, he’s aged,” said Tracy McGrady…And how is Francis handling the lack of playing time?

“I definitely didn’t come here not to play at all,” Francis said.

Fatty’s Take: Aren’t you glad we didn’t sign the Franchise?

How is Adelman’s new motion and slashing offense coming along?

“It’s going to take some time,” McGrady said. “At times, we showed how great we can be as far as running it fluidly. At other times, we can be pretty bad, out of sync. The timing isn’t there. It is going to come.”

In the mean time, the new Rockets will look like the old Rockets. They are planning on low posting Yao and setting high screens for Tracy McGrady, with good ol fashioned screen and rolls to the basket.

Lakers - Coach Jackson said this will be a very good team. His goal is to crack the top four in the West. And how? By using combinations of players, that work well together.

Fatty’s Take: PJ’s Famous Combos. Sounds good doesn’t it, yummy? We will need to ‘Super Size’ those combos, if we plan on beating the Rockets.

Key Match Ups of the Game:

Yao Ming vs The Lakers ‘Super Sized’ Center Combo of Kwame, Bynum, and Mihm

If we put Farmar on Kwame’s shoulders, I feel we can give Yao trouble on his shots. But knowing PJ, he will make Yao work hard on both ends. Yao tires easily and may get into foul trouble with our new aggressive Andrew Bynum. How would you handle Yao?

Fatty’s Take: Good test for our new Jedi apprentice, Young ‘Skyhooker’ Bynum.

Tracy McGrady vs Kobe

This is why we watch the game. Phil says Kobe is not giving his all in the preseason. Kobe says, be patient, wait till the regular season.

Fatty’s Take: Kobe’s competitive endorphins will kick in, and kick Kobe into high gear. This is going to be good. My recommendation? Don’t blink, you might miss something.

Scola vs Ronny’s back up

It looks like Battier and Ronny to start. But who guards Scola when Ronny sits? Cookie, Vladimir you say? That’s why I said, Who guards Scola when Ronny sits?

Fatty’s Take: This is one game where the Lakers will really, really, really miss Lamar Odom.

From Bill Walton’s book of Amazing and Fun Lakers Facts:

Did you know that the Lakers and the Brady Bunch both stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian village?

Lakers Inspirational Game Song: Kenny Loggins’ ‘This is it’

Lakers Cheer for tonights Game:

The Rockets say…

‘Houston, we have a problem.’

Its a new season…

And the Lakers will clobber ‘em.

Game Prediction:

Lakers will put the Rockets in their pockets and take home a win.

New Fan Feature: Lakers Game Predictions (Houston game for practice, real contest starts Friday against Phoenix).

Pick the following and record your choices in the comment section on this thread. (copy and paste)

1. Game Winner: Houston

2. Lakers High Scorer: Kobe 45 pts

3. Lakers Top Rebounder: Kobe, Kwame 8

4. Lakers Assists Leader: Kobe, Walton 4

5. Bonus: Point Margin of Victory  Houston by 2

6. Trivia Challenge: Last Laker to have more than 20 rebounds in a game? Chris Mihm 12/22/05  21 rebounds

Sample or example of what Fatty needs:

1. Game Winner: Lakers

2. High Scorer: Kwame

3. Top Rebounder: Fisher

4. Assist Leader: Cookie

5. Bonus: 50 pts

6. Trivia Challange: Smush

Related Posts  -
TLN’s Game Preview: Lakers vs. Rockets
TLN’s Post-Game Thoughts: Lakers vs. Rockets
TLN’s Game Preview: Lakers vs. Rockets
Lakers Game Predictions Contest: A new feature on Fatty’s Game Preview
Fatty’s Game Preview: Lakers vs. Timberwolves

46 Responses to “Special Game Preview: Rockets vs Lakers”


  1. Gravatar Icon 1 The Nugget

    Sorry for the crappy images, hZm is out of town so I had to do images just for today. Thank God! lol

    The contest thread won’t be open ’til Friday when we battle the much hated Suns. Let us know what you think of the idea.

    Good luck.

    Let the season begin!!! HOOYA!!!!

  2. Gravatar Icon 2 The Nugget

    1. Game Winner: Houston :-( Fatty:C’mon Nugget, Shame on you, not Houston!!lol

    2. Lakers High Scorer: Kobe Bryant - DUUUH!!!

    3. Lakers Top Rebounder: Bynomite!

    4. Lakers Assists Leader: Walton

    5. Bonus: Point Margin of Victory - Lakers lose by 11

    6. Trivia Challenge: Last Laker to have more than 20 rebounds in a game? Odom. Yah, I know am dead wrong. :P

  3. Gravatar Icon 3 Chosen One

    1. Game Winner: Rockets

    2. Lakers High Scorer: Ronny Turiaf

    3. Lakers Top Rebounder: Andrew Bynum

    4. Lakers Assists Leader: Jordan Farmar

    5. Bonus: Point Margin of Victory - Lakers lose by 18

    6. -no idea-

  4. Gravatar Icon 4 lalakerfan

    1. Game Winner: Lakers

    2. Lakers High Scorer: Kobe Bryant

    3. Lakers Top Rebounder: Kwame Brown

    4. Lakers Assists Leader: Kobe Bryant

    5. Bonus: Point Margin of Victory - Lakers win by 5

    6. Trivia Challenge: Last Laker to have more than 20 rebounds in a game? Elden Campell?

  5. Gravatar Icon 5 joninjapan

    1. lakers
    q kobe
    3.bynum
    4. walton
    5. 10 points. . give or take 5 haha
    6. either LO or Shaq

  6. Gravatar Icon 6 PHANTOM

    1. Game Winner: Lakers

    2. Lakers High Scorer: cook

    3. Lakers Top Rebounder:sasha

    4. Lakers Assists Leader: smoosh

    5. Bonus: Point Margin of Victory - Lakers win by 50

    6. Trivia Challenge: Last Laker to have more than 20 rebounds in a game? wilt

  7. Gravatar Icon 7 joninjapan

    joninjapan on October 30, 2007 at 12:32 am said:

    1. lakers
    q kobe
    3.bynum
    4. walton
    5. 10 points. . give or take 5 haha
    6. either LO or Shaq

    ok 5. we win by 7

    and 6. i’m gonna go with shaq

  8. Gravatar Icon 8 laker4life23

    1. Game Winner: Lakers

    2. Lakers High Scorer: Kobe Bryant

    3. Lakers Top Rebounder: Bynum

    4. Lakers Assists Leader: Walton

    5. Bonus: Point Margin of Victory - Lakers win by 6

    6. Trivia Challenge: Last Laker to have more than 20 rebounds in a game? Shaq

  9. Gravatar Icon 9 hZm

    1. Game Winner: Rockets

    2. Lakers High Scorer: Ronny Turiaf

    3. Lakers Top Rebounder: Andrew Bynum

    4. Lakers Assists Leader: Jordan Farmar

    5. Bonus: Point Margin of Victory 11

    6. Trivia Challenge: Last Laker to have more than 20 rebounds in a game? Shaq

  10. Gravatar Icon 10 hZm

    Oh, and thats assuming Kobe doesn’t play tomorrow.

  11. Gravatar Icon 11 jack

    1. Game Winner: lakers

    2. Lakers High Scorer: kobe

    3. Lakers Top Rebounder: kwane

    4. Lakers Assists Leader: luke

    5. Bonus: Point Margin of Victory: lakers by 15

    6. Trivia Challenge: shaq (28 @ New Jersey 11/20/93)

  12. Gravatar Icon 12 KLMonster

    1. Game Winner: LAKERS

    2. Lakers High Scorer: KB24

    3. Lakers Top Rebounder: BYNUM

    4. Lakers Assists Leader: D-FISH

    5. Bonus: Point Margin of Victory - 6

    6. SHAQ

  13. Gravatar Icon 13 DBricks

    1. Game Winner: LAKERS

    2. Lakers High Scorer: Kobe

    3. Lakers Top Rebounder: Mihm

    4. Lakers Assists Leader: Luuuukeee

    5. Bonus: Point Margin of Victory - 7

    6. Shaq

  14. Gravatar Icon 14 osm0nd

    1. Game Winner: Houston :(
    2. Lakers High Scorer: Kobe Bryant

    3. Lakers Top Rebounder: Ronny Turiaf

    4. Lakers Assists Leader: Luke Walton

    5. Bonus: Point Margin of Victory 3

    6. Shaq

  15. Gravatar Icon 15 kgmvp

    well all i can say is
    LET`S GO LAKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    LET`S TRADE KOBE!!!!!!!!!!!!! hahahah
    guys imagine that a halftime arenas comes and wears a laker uniform. hahahahah
    GO LAKERS!!!!!!!

  16. Gravatar Icon 16 lakerfan81

    Winner: Houston (no one can guard yao)
    High Scorer: Kobe, he wil play with a chip on his shoulder
    Top Rebounder: Bynum
    Assist leader: Farmar
    Point Margin: 6

    Shaq (The Lakers havent had anyone that can rebound since he left so unless it was before thst than obviously it was Shaq).

  17. Gravatar Icon 17 PB509

    Winner: Los Angeles Lakers

    2. Lakers High Scorer: Jelly Bean Bryant Jr.

    3. Lakers Top Rebounder: Ronny Turiaf

    4. Lakers Assists Leader: Bill Walton Jr.

    5. Bonus: Point Margin of Victory: Close game, Kobe Bryant knocks in game winner

    6. Trivia Challenge: Most definnitely Mr. Oneal the Diesel

  18. Gravatar Icon 18 kobefan2408

    1. Game Winner: rockets

    2. Lakers High Scorer:kobe

    3. Lakers Top Rebounder:kwame

    4. Lakers Assists Leader:kobe

    5. Bonus: 15

    6. Trivia Challenge: shaq

  19. Gravatar Icon 19 mplakers

    1) Game Winner: Lakers

    2. Lakers High Scorer:Kobe

    3. Lakers Top Rebounder:Turiaf

    4. Lakers Assists Leader:Kobe

    5. Bonus: 5

    6. Trivia Challenge: shaq

  20. Gravatar Icon 20 kgmvp

    Game Winner: Rockets
    1. Lakers high scorer: Kobe( if he plays)
    2. Lakers top rebounder: Bynum
    3. Lakers Assists Leader: Derek Fisher
    4. Bonus: Lose by 5-10
    6. Shaq

  21. Gravatar Icon 21 foxxy

    LAKERS GOT THIS ONE!!!!!!

  22. Gravatar Icon 22 Roscoe

    1. Game Winner: Lakers

    2. Lakers High Scorer: Kobe Bryant

    3. Lakers Top Rebounder: Bynum

    4. Lakers Assists Leader: Walton

    5. Bonus: Point Margin of Victory - Lakers win by 2

  23. Gravatar Icon 23 Brillus

    Game Winner: Lakers
    1. Lakers high scorer: Kobe(if he plays)
    2. Lakers top rebounder: Bynum
    3. Lakers Assists Leader: Walton
    4. Bonus: Win by 15
    6. Odom

  24. Gravatar Icon 24 TonyStarks79

    1. Game Winner: Lakers

    2. Lakers High Scorer: Kobe

    3. Lakers Top Rebounder: Bynum

    4. Lakers Assists Leader: Fisher

    5. Bonus: Lakers win by 6

    6. Trivia Challenge: Shaq.. I remember the Milwaukee game back in 03/04 26 rebounds..damn!!!

  25. Gravatar Icon 25 darkice18

    1. Game Winner: Lakers

    2. Lakers High Scorer: Kobe “injured wrist” Bryant

    3. Lakers Top Rebounder: Andrew Bynum

    4. Lakers Assists Leader: Luke Walton

    5. Bonus: Lakers win at the buzzer thnx to KOBE!

    6. Trivia Challenge: Shaq…right?

  26. Gravatar Icon 26 Ankit

    1. Game Winner:Lakers

    2. Lakers High Scorer:Kobe

    3. Lakers Top Rebounder:Bynum

    4. Lakers Assists Leader:Fisher

    5. Bonus: Point Margin of Victory 6

    6. Trivia Challenge: Last Laker to have more than 20 rebounds in a game? Shaq

  27. Gravatar Icon 27 LAnative4life

    1. Game Winner:Lakers no doubt

    2. Lakers High Scorer: Mr. Kobe Bryant

    3. Lakers Top Rebounder: Baby dinosaur “bynum”

    4. Lakers Assists Leader:Luuuuke

    5. Bonus: Point Margin of Victory 7 pts

    6. Trivia Challenge: Last Laker to have more than 20 rebounds in a game? Shaq back when he was the man

  28. Gravatar Icon 28 pureownage

    1. Game Winner: Lakers

    2. Lakers High Scorer: Kobe Bryant

    3. Lakers Top Rebounder: Ronny Turiaf

    4. Lakers Assists Leader: Luke Walton

    5. Bonus: Point Margin of Victory: 8 points

    6. Trivia Challenge: Last Laker to have more than 20 rebounds in a game? Shaquille O’neal

  29. Gravatar Icon 29 DeepFrost

    1. Game Winner: Laker

    2. Lakers High Scorer: Kobe Bryant

    3. Lakers Top Rebounder: Andrew Bynum

    4. Lakers Assists Leader: Luke Walton

    5. Bonus: Point Margin of Victory - 5

    6. Trivia Challenge: Last Laker to have more than 20 rebounds in a game? Shaquille O’Neal

  30. Gravatar Icon 30 pr0mega

    1. Game Winner: Lakers

    2. Lakers High Scorer: Kobe Bryant

    3. Lakers Top Rebounder: Andrew Bynum

    4. Lakers Assists Leader: Derek Fisher

    5. Bonus: Point Margin of Victory: 6

    6. Trivia Challenge: Last Laker to have more than 20 rebounds in a game? Chris Mihm

  31. Gravatar Icon 31 steve

    1..game winner..lakers

    2..lakers high scorer…kobe

    3..lakers top rebounder..ronnie

    4..lakers assist leader..luke

    5..bonus..point margin of victory..7

    6..trivia..shaq

  32. Gravatar Icon 32 ab4sure

    1. Winner-Lakers
    2. Scorer-kobe
    3. rebounder-bynum
    4. assist-kobe
    5. margin of victory-24..lol
    6. LO

  33. Gravatar Icon 33 HiYo2o

    1. Game Winner: Lakers

    2. Lakers High Scorer: Kobe Bryant

    3. Lakers Top Rebounder: Andrew Bynum

    4. Lakers Assists Leader: Luke Walton

    5. Bonus: Point Margin of Victory: 6

    6. Trivia Challenge: Last Laker to have more than 20 rebounds in a game? Shaquille O’Neal

  34. Gravatar Icon 34 Kaninboi

    1. Game Winner: Lakers

    2. Lakers High Scorer: Kobe Bryant

    3. Lakers Top Rebounder: Andrew Bynum

    4. Lakers Assists Leader: Luke Walton

    5. Bonus: Point Margin of Victory: 10

    6. Trivia Challenge: Last Laker to have more than 20 rebounds in a game? Shaq

  35. Gravatar Icon 35 kb24mvp

    1-lakers
    2-kobe
    3-bynum
    4-walton
    5-lakers by 7
    6-shaq

    im going!!!GO LAKERS

  36. Gravatar Icon 36 Fan of the Mamba

    1. Game Winner: Lakers

    2. Lakers High Scorer:Kobe

    3. Lakers Top Rebounder:Bynum

    4. Lakers Assists Leader:Walton

    5. Bonus: Point Margin of Victory - 5 points

    6. Trivia Challenge: Last Laker to have more than 20 rebounds in a game? Shaq

  37. Gravatar Icon 37 prothought1

    1. Houston
    2. Kobe- ready to go tonite!!!!!
    3. Bynum
    4. Lose a nail-biter- lack of pick-@-roll Defense
    5. Magic

  38. Gravatar Icon 38 laker_27

    1. Game Winner: Lakers

    2. Lakers High Scorer: Kobe

    3. Lakers Top Rebounder: Kwanme

    4. Lakers Assists Leader: Kobe

    5. Bonus: Lakers by 9

    6. Trivia Challenge: Last Laker to have more than 20 rebounds in a game? Shaq

  39. Gravatar Icon 39 nyla

    1. Game Winner: Houston (I hope I’m wrong)

    2. Lakers High Scorer: Kobe

    3. Lakers Top Rebounder: Bynun

    4. Lakers Assists Leader: Walton

    5. Bonus: Point Margin of Victory: 12

    6. Trivia Challenge: Last Laker to have more than 20 rebounds in a game? Shaq

    We need a “Laker Turnover Leader” lol

  40. Gravatar Icon 40 drew

    1. Game Winner: Lakers
    2. Lakers High Scorer: Kobe
    3. Lakers Top Rebounder: Kwame
    4. Lakers Assist Leader: Farmar
    5. Bonus: Margin of victory 13
    6. Trivia Challenge: Shaq (Odom came close with 19)

  41. Gravatar Icon 41 ryan

    1. Game Winner: lakers

    2. Lakers High Scorer: kobe

    3. Lakers Top Rebounder:andrew bynum

    4. Lakers Assists Leader:jordan farmar

    5. Bonus: Point Margin of Victory 4

    6. Trivia Challenge: Last Laker to have more than 20 rebounds in a game? andrew bynum

  42. Gravatar Icon 42 Ben Payne

    1. Game Winner: Lakers!!

    2. Lakers High Scorer: Kobe Bryant

    3. Lakers Top Rebounder: Ronny Turiaf

    4. Lakers Assists Leader:Kobe Bryant

    5. Bonus: 7 pts.

    6. Trivia Challenge: Shaquille O’neal

  43. Gravatar Icon 43 Lonestar 848

    1. Rockets
    2. Kobe
    3. Ronny
    4. Kobe
    5. 11 points
    6. Shaq

  44. Gravatar Icon 44 fatty

    Posting is closed!

    Check back tomorrow for game results.

    Enjoy the game! Go Lakers!

  45. Gravatar Icon 45 Jrich

    cook sucks

  46. Gravatar Icon 46 Shaq786

    trade cook, odom, kwame, mo and 2 first rounders… for JO and jeff foster


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