Congratulations to the Houston Rockets for winning their 22nd game in a row. No matter how biased you are, you can’t deny what the organization is doing is quite an accomplishment. However, for us Lakers fans, we need to keep perspective!
There is a few things I hate to see in reactions…
1. Stop Blaming The Referees: Statistically speaking, the average NBA/Laker fan are more afraid of the Zebra animal than any other animal out there. Yes it’s an easy out, but don’t forget Alston’s career performance today. That being said, once you get past our atrocious on-ball defense today, you can’t help but wonder how the Lakers were a marble ball in a pinball machine today getting bounced around and not getting calls; yet at the end of the day, you have to play through it.
2. No Bynum, Gasol, Ariza: I said it after Gasol went down but going 1-3 in this trip would be a successful trip considering they are still without their emerging and defense-shifting center Andrew Bynum who was involved with six points in their last meeting. Secondly Trevor Ariza who is considered the best perimeter defender behind Kobe Bryant and lastly, Gasol, who suffered the sprain two nights ago and left the Lakers with limited post-presence.
When you lose two “legit” 7 footers to injury and you’re playing some of the top teams in the West, it’s very difficult to overcome the challenges which present themselves, especially when the Lakers have struggled when they get away from their inside-out game. These three players returning, hopefully healthy, before and into the playoffs will shift the power of the entire west back in our hands once again. Be patient.
3. Respect the streak: I’d hate to repeat myself, but give the Rockets credit. No Yao, no problem. Looks like Apollo 13 still remains the only time where Houston had a problem seemingly. This 22 game win streak is pretty damn impressive once again considering the insanity of tightness of the Western conference.
The Rockets went from 10th place to 1st place. Congratulations to them… while it is impressive the Rockets, and McGrady, will have to prove they are better than 1st round slaughter. When this streak ends, and I believe it will by the end of the week, how will they respond?I guess my point of this little piece was not to get frustrated over this loss. It sucks, it hurts, it’s upsetting… but don’t forget: We are the only team in the West who has had battled around the #1 spot without a full team.
As I mentioned before, when this team gets healthy, the Lakers will re-establish themselves as the best team in the Western conference… playoffs will be a formidable challenge, but assuming we are healthy, they’ll be saying it and saying it loud and clear…
“Houston, we have a problem.”
LD2k is one of the TLN co-founders, you can contact him at LD2k@theLakersNation.com.
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