and 
game 3
Kickoff : 9:30pm Eastern Time
The Playoff action at Desipio.com continues with the LA Lakers travelling to Houston to take on Yao Ming, Steve Francis and Jeff Van Gundy. The Rockets, who it must be remembered missed the playoffs last season, have a mentally tough squad who have shown over the first 2 games they can hang with LA, if not actually beat them. Coming home and looking at Hakeem Olajuwon’s banners instead of Jerry West’s, Magic Johnson’s and Shaquille O’Neal’s may help them find the spark they need to avoid going down 3-0 in this series.
It’s a few minutes away from tip-off at the Summitt, or wherever the Rockets play these days.
Interesting to read all the press coming into this game – it’s all been centered around the role of Steve Francis, and the limitations of him being able to run the type of game Van Gundy proscribes.
Sure, it’s easy to criticise, especially from the paper-shop, and every player knows positive stories rarely come after losses. But even so, it’s not right that Francis is getting called out across the country for a season in which he has sublimated his naturally flamboyant game for the betterment of his ballclub; plus, he’s been giving his all in the 2 losses in LA.
Francis has at times suffered from poor decision-making issues in the first 2 games of this series, but what people seem to forget is that he’s playing against Gary Payton, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. It’s a first round match-up for his inexperienced 7th seeded team against a bunch of players – not to mention a coach – that are among the best of our generation. And Francis has been busting his hump; scoring, shooting, passing, rebounding, balancing the offense and playing defense against the mighty Los Angeles Lakers at home. He put up a triple-double in game 2, let’s not forget.
If Kobe’s airball in game 1 doesn’t drop into Shaq’s hands, Houston takes a 1-0 series lead and all of a sudden everyone’s talking about how impressive Francis has been quarter-backing the Rockets this season. It’s a fine line; that’s what sport’s all about.
For Houston to win tonight, it doesn’t come down to Francis. He’s a rock. And so is Yao. Houston need improved production out of Kelvin Cato, Cat Mobley and their bench. They need to defend the Lakers’ 3-point shot, and they need to contain either Shaq or Kobe; no-one can do both.
Update from Boston, ouch.
Ind 99
Bos 77
The Celts were in this game even as late as the 3rd quarter, but too many turnovers and just an overall lack of class hurt them.
In the game 3’s so far this postseason, New York almost won at home, and Memphis almost won at home. Coming into this one, Boston were, at minimum, expecting the same. But Paul Pierce’s 9 points on 4-17 shooting isn’t going to get it done.
worst home loss in Playoff history.
108-85 Final.
Lakers coming in here with the knowledge that they’re 2-0 up and Shaq hasn’t yet dominated. That’s a bad sign for the home Houston fans.
Unless of course they’ve come here to see Shaq go off.
when’s tip-off?
A foul on Shaq already – hope he didn’t think the officiating was tough at home…
Cato misses both.
Delay of game call on Houston, there you go.
Shaq looks focussed.
Mobley at the line.
Now Shaq with the 3-point play.
Cato can’t guard him. And JVG can’t risk matching Yao up with him for 48 minutes.
Lakers 11-10.
13-10, I lied.
Early sighting of Boston Snackbar tonight, makes a 3.
Look for JVG to utilise his bench more here.
Francis nice.
Another offensive foul – Lakers TO.
Time-out or turnover?
both, right?
Rockets playing with good enthusiasm, attacking.
Mobley with a bucket.
Importance of offensive rebounding being shown again here.
Malone 4-straight points.
Snackbar at the line. Mo Taylor also in for the Rockets.
I’d be starting him over Cato.
26-23 Houston
Whoo, big 3 to end the Quarter.
Houston 29-23 after 1.
Very nice quarter by the Rockets, but this game will slow down as it wears on.
Both teams shooting better than 50% – that won’t last.
Have I scored yet?
In the game or the series, Rick?
Rockets cold to start the 2nd.
KRush with the 3.
Kobe playing with 2 fouls.
Taylor at the line – both.
and Francis hits, thanks to the offensive rebound.
Houston 34
Lakers 28
9:11 2nd
Shaq has 11 points, 3 boards, 2 assists.
and only the 1 foul.
Yao 6 points on 3-3, 1 block, 1 foul.
Fisher for 2.
And Jim Jackson answers back – he’s brought his A-game this series.
And Francis with the foul.
Pay attention on the Response play, guys.
After a made basket, we’re immediately giving up a foul, or a field goal. Manifest.
Uh, thanks Phil.
Francis at the line, 2-2.
Houston have to make their FT’s. Hurt Memphis yesterday, and hurt Boston today in the 3rd as they tried to keep it close.
Houston up 5, points count on the goal-tend call.
Hey, fat-bastard.
Mobley scores, 10 points.
Francis has 13.
43-36.
Rockets playing with confidence at home.
What was Scream A Smith saying before the game; inside-out, not outside-in?
Am I still in the league?
If I am, you can too.
Medvedenko man, sup?
Kobe and Taylor trading FTs.
Fox misses again.
Mobley, is he a rich-man’s Hedo Turkoglu?
Francis taking a breather, Lakers try and make a move with him on the pine.
It’s 46-39.
Whos a bigger cancer me of Stevie Francis?
My scoring average is a full 1-and-half points better at home than on the road.
16.5 on 44% shooting
15.0 on 41% shooting
Lakers yet to block a shot.
Greg Anthony I’m going to kick your ass, being the suck up analyst who adds nothing thats my job
Have half-a-dozen steals.
Lakers near the bottom of the pack in Blocks this season.
Had 10 total in the first 2 games.
Francis back in.
Another turnover – the downside of Houston’s deliberately assertive play, 7 TO’s.
Shaq picks up his 2nd.
Taylor misses at the line again.
That’s Shaq’s 3rd.
Francis at the line, he won’t miss.
Rockets up 10, 2 mins to go in the half.
make it 11.
Who’s your Daddy.
Did Tom Tolbert just say that setting picks was his favorite thing about playing basketball? They did remove his brains with his hair.
Luke Walton in for Shaq, DNP in game 2.
Francis carrying this team.
Rebounds.
Lakers down 13.
Brian Cook has excellent seats for the playoffs.
I’d give Steve Francis $100 if he’d take the microphone and beat Jim Gray to a pulp with it.
The Lakers are playing terrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrribly. Just terrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrribly.
Oh, that would have hurt – Jim Jackson misses at the buzzer.
Huge ovation for the Rockets.
This game is theirs to lose.
At Halftime;
HOU 56 on 19 FGs, 12 assists
LAL 43 on 19 FGs, 12 assists
Houston 12-16 at the line, Lakers 4-7.
Houston 6-10 from 3, Lakers 1-3.
Alright Matt, let’s have that Emmy award winning halftime show of yours. Do you have any dancing bears or singing dogs or anything?
That’d be cool if you did.
Tom Tolbert wasn’t lying.
Lakers just getting our-hussled by the Rockets.
Number of obnoxious Jim Gray questions — six
Number of Tom Tolbert self-deprecating jokes — nine
Number of times George Karl made a painfully obvious observation — 11
Number of corrected hairlips on the play-by-play crew — one (Karl)
Is it just me or are they giving Zach Randolf his Most Improved Player award at a bowling alley?
Will the Rox cool off, that’s the question. 56% shooting, ouch.
Is Iverson there?
Oh, and Emmy’s out shopping – she’ll drop by later.
I’d like to thank my teammates and my coach and…well, damn, moonlight bowling is starting! I’m outta here.
Hey, Kareem, shut the f@#$ up, you bald old bastard. Give me my trophy and stop hogging the TV time.
How to make the most of your own Half-time show;
1. Take a leak.
2. Watch 11 consecutive commercials.
3. Get more beer and/or nuts.
4. Flick Channels
5. Take pre-emptive leak, hope yoiur bladder will last the entire 3rd quarter.
Who is the Celtics coach? Is it Jimmie Rodgers again?
Shouldn’t Kevin Duckworth be handing out the MIP trophy?
Kareem should do the Playoff MVP.
Ah, that would be Jimmy.
The captain has turned on the Drink Heavily sign. I’m taking half-time’s advice and I’m going to go get a beer. Anybody want anything while I’m up?
Little Jimmie Dickens?
Couldn’t be any worse, though.
I’ve just re-read my earlier comment re Luke Walton, he didn’t get a DNP in game 1, sorry. Scoreless in 4 mins.
I’ll be home soon.
The fact you omitted my son’s playoff debut Mister Turvey is terrrrrrrrrrrrrible…terrrrrrrrrrrrrrrible…terrrrrrrible!
George Karl the coach actually makes George Karl the TV anal-yst look good.
And who did Tolbert have sex with to get this gig, anyway?
He scored as many points as Rick Fox in 16 mins less court time, that’s impressive…
OK, you’re Phil Jackson and your team’s not playing well and you’re in the locker room and you’re trying to motivate them. Now what motivates great players? Championships? Prestige? Chubby hotel employees who will drop their pants and straddle hotel chairs? You ask yourself that.
Ahem, that should be ‘fewer’.
Tom Tobert in a pink teddy?
Yesssssssssssssss!
Was the alleged victim allegedly wearing pants, or a skirt?
If this was the 2001 or 2002 Lakers, they’d come back and win this game.
We’ll get to see if they’re for real right here.
I can describe Michael Jackson’s penis! It’s got a head and a shaft and some balls and maybe some hair, probably a pressed perm. And I’ve never even seen the damn thing!
"come-back"
ahaha, get it?
get it?
ahahahaa
You should have heard my half-time speech yesterday.
It was surreal.
duh
In another sport, I just soiled myself on the mound in Miller Park.
Final. Brewers 2, Cardinals 1
Craig Counsell just f@@@ed us again.
Both teams with their starters.
I can see the defensive intensity-o-meter has been lifted considerably.
Francis for another 3.
This Yao fellow is rather tall. Is he of unknown ethnic origin?
Francis 2, Cato 2, Jackson 2, Yao 1.
Shaq 3, Kobe 2, Walton Jnr 2.
Jim Gray just quoted Jeff Van Gundy as saying that as a competitor, Kobe has "already exceeded" Michael Jordan.
Jeff Van Gundy needs to beaten to death with a rubber hose.
nope, he’s ours.
Miss me now, bitches?
I can’t believe he would say that?!?
Kobe needs to draw another or 2 foul on Francis…
Who do I work for now? NBA TV? It just not the playoffs without my hideous visage on the TV causing furry household pets to shriek in horror!
Laker come-back has started
Get Falk on the line. I’ve got one more comeback left in me.
F@#$ing Van Gundy…
Shaq with the slam, margin’s down to 10.
I’m just glad I got this NBA gig. Now I don’t have host day two of the NFL Draft any more. Phew.
Payton struggling here.
I’m glad I’ve missed the NFL draft this year…
For chrissakes, Jim Gray is interviewing Al Michaels? Why doesn’t ABC just hire Conan’s Masturbating Bear. It’d accomplish the same thing.
Oh, and Al, here’s a fashion tip. One more button on the dress shirt. Please.
Jiminy Christmas, now Gray’s interviewing Doc Rivers.
ESPN has no pride. None.
15 points, about 20 more to come, baby.
I should have killed Jim Gray when I had the chance.
There we go, Francis drawing fouls.
Keeps on doing that, Houston in good shape.
Gotta love NBA officiating. Shaq has three fouls so now he can do whatever he wants to Yao, because the refs don’t want to give him his fourth.
The Rockets are pulling a Steve Kline right now.
Jiminy?
Cuttino Mobley can play for me any time.
Boom baby.
Francis 6 assists, 7 rebounds.
Rockets up 11.
Guess who’s taken the most shopts in this game?
Give up?
me!
Goodness, our son’s are homely.
what’s a ‘shopt’?
A combination of Shots per Playing Time?
Don’t worry Cuttino. I’ll get mine.
Do we even have a bench?
Karl Malone makes a sixteen footer from the wing.
Tirico: "How many times in his life has he made that shot?"
Andy at home: "Never when it counted."
Slava Medvedenko isn’t in uniform? Why did the Lakers even bother showing up.
Next, you’ll tell me that Tyronn Lue doesn’t play for them anymore.
Lakers missing 3’s, they don’t need to take them. A tonne of time left.
If the Rockets win this series, do I get any MVP votes?
Does Kelvin Cato still hang out with the Green Lantern?
Which Muppet is Mitch Kupchak?
Lakers down 9, Shaq misses both.
Malone asserting himself, even at less than 100% he’s a monster.
Cato has been no factor at all in this series.
Jim Jackson won’t let them lose!
or me?
Houston have 4 players in double-figures.
72-60, 1:15 left in the 3rd.
That’s more points they scored in all of game 1.
Kobe just watched Kelvin Cato limp up the floor and instead of going into Shaq, he hoists a three.
Kobe’s a dick.
Lakers have only 4 turnovers. Houston 10.
I’m suing the crap out of LeBron and that sprite commercial with the doll.
Derek Fisher, what’s he doing on the court?
I’m suing too – what he’s doing with his hand up the doll’s butt is my move!
We will prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Kobe Bryant did sexually assault Katie Faber. Exhibit A, this clip from the Rockets-Lakers game three in which he eschews an easy basket for Shaq in order to brick a three point attempt. The defendent is selfish and stupid. Just the kind of guy who would take the "backdoor" on an unsuspecting hotel worker/groupie.
End of 3, Houston up 12.
74-62.
If the Rockets make 10 FGs this quarter, they win.
Heh, heh, heh.
(Because that’s all Stu Lantz ever says.)
When’s game 4?
Who’s the honky in the game for the Rockets right now?
Didn’t I just tell you guys we don’t need 3’s!!!
Game four is Sunday on ABC! Let me interview Al and Doc again!
That’s Shaq’s 2nd FT.
From 9 attempts.
No Lakers apart from Kobe and Shaq have been to the line tonight?
Luke Walton just got worked by Mo Taylor. Hee hee.
For 3!
Shut-up, Phil.
Ah, the honky is the world famous Bostjon Nachbar.
My cat makes the Bostjon Nachbar sound when he gets a hairball.
Nach-bar!
Oooh, we like floor cam!
Mo Taylor 10 points.
That’s 2 FGs. 8 to go.
I’m the best Kareem on the Lakers!
Right now, anyway.
Yao has 3.
Tirico: "Phil Jackson says, how in the world was not over the back on Yao."
He’s 7’5, that’s how.
Yao with the put-back, and the foul on Shaq.
Houston 80
Lakers 71
9:18 to go, up 11?
That’s 4 field goals.
Shaq baq at the line.
Hello, 4 fouls.
83-73, Houston.
Shaq has 18 and 9, Kobe 15. Will come back onto the floor after this TO.
Francis 19, 7 and 7. Cat 17, Yao 14 and 8.
The decaying corpse of Mark Jackson is not only in the game, but shooting? Make it stop.
Mark Jackson…bad.
Shaq at the line again, 1 of 2.
Lakers down 8, 8½ to go.
Kobe to Shaq, but Houston make another basket, playing with no fear.
Why don’t I start?
Mark Jackson a factor in this one.
Shaq, and one. But Houston keep on scoring.
86-78, Shaq’s FT to come.
Francis back in.
5-14 at the line tonight.
Hey big, I’m 5-6!
You know you’re old when you used to watch Mark Jackson play when you were in high school.
He’s still got game, though.
He’ll be another of JVG’s assistant coaches next season, though…
8 points is a 3 possession game.
Score, get a stop, score and get fouled, get a stop, make a 3.
That’s your 8 points.
we miss Slava.
Shaq off the feed from Kobe. Margin’s down to 6.
And Yao with the jam to stop the momentum.
That’s it. I’m calling it. Game over.
Ahh, Phil, that’s actually 5 posessions.
Mo Taylor out, Kobe at the line.
under 2 mins to go.
Kobe scores, but again the Lakers leak a basket straight away – Yao with 18 point.
Ohhh, big call. Double technical on Steve Francis after the Yao bucket.
92-86. Lakers ball after the timeout.
Is the injured official Nipsy Russell?
Everyone asleep?
It’s not over yet, crew.
Kelvin Cato may have just won the game for Houston.
Karl Malone is a dirty bastard.
Game re-set, that’s what they say, right?
1:51 to play.
Lakers down 6, with the ball.
Yao Ming 4 fouls, Shaq 4 fouls.
KRush misses, that’s no good. Good D by the Rockets.
Did Tolbert just say "most buffest athletes?"
… and for years everyone thought Stockton was the dirty one???
Why doesn’t Riley put Rambis in at the end?
Drive home safely.
Just ask Brian Grant.
Francis, that’ll ice the game.
Missed it but it won’t matter.
am I making an appearance?
Francis with the 3-point play, Shaq picks up his 5th.
97-86.
That’s their 11th field goal this quarter, not good enough D by the Lakers.
Hello, someone called for Kurt?
Does anybody really think that it won’t end 4-1 Lakers, though?
Cook, you need those cool glasses, then you’re all set.
I want to see Piatkowski get some game time.
…98, 99…
Jim Gray just got punk’d by Jeff Van Gundy.
It’s a start.
No bench production at all from the Lakers, being without Medvedenko hurt them, but let’s face it…
In Houston’s last 4 regular season wins, they scored 100 or more points each time.
OK, this one is going to 5 games, at least.
Houston 102
Francis 27, 9 and 7.
Mobley 21, 5 and 5 and 5 TOs.
Jim Jackson 11 and 10 boards.
Yao Ming 18 and 10, 9-13 FGs.
Mo Taylor 16 points on 6-10.
Lakers 91
Shaq 25 and 11, 5-14 FTs.
Kobe 21, 7 and 6, 0-3 3’s.
Malone 18 and 11.
GP 7 and 7, 3-12 shooting.
Rick Fox 0 points in 21 minutes.
That’s it, Houston’s first playoff win of the Jeff Van Gundy era.
Night all.
Missed the game while at work, but Francis’ last shot?
Goot LAWD!
Please let this thing go seven.
Yao got a haircut and a shave.
The Divine intellect indeed knows infinitely more propositions (than we can ever know). But with regard to those few which the human intellect does understand, I believe that its knowledge equals the Divine in objective certainty. by online poker