The Lakers show the Rockets who's the best in the West

November 10, 1:12 AMHouston Rockets ExaminerDavid Hartnett

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AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

When you think about it, the result between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers had already been pre-determined.

Considering on Sunday both the Texans were blown out and the Dynamo’s season ended, it only seemed fitting that the Lakers would hand the Rockets their third loss of the season.

So as the clock read “0:00”, and the lights on the scoreboard at the Staples Center showed “Lakers 111, Rockets 82,” you were left with a sick feeling in the stomach. You question, how a game that had prepared its viewer to see the Lakers receive their first loss could metamorphose into such an embarrassment for the Rockets.

The Lakers are firmly established in the top tier of the Western Conference. They sit alone with that distinction. Therefore, while the Rockets aspire to fit into that distinction as one of the conference’s best, they found themselves in a position to do so Sunday night. To be the best, you have to beat the best, and for a while, the Rockets were beating the best.

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

Everything the Rockets did early on had prepared them to wrestle away the mantle from the Lakers as the West’s best. By the end of the first quarter, the Rockets held onto a 12-point lead, 28-16. Things were looking good. Rafer Alston was actually hitting open shoots, Ron Artest was annoying Kobe Bryant, and the Lakers were giving up more turnovers than Sage Rosenfels. Aided by an 18-2 run in the midst of the first quarter, the Rockets were firmly entrenched to embarrass the Lakers on their home court.

Then the Rockets saw how good these Lakers really are. A 12-point lead for the Rockets at the end of the first quarter had turned into a two-point deficit by halftime. Following the break, the Lakers gradually increased their lead, and eventually ballooned it up to seven points to enter the fourth quarter. When the Lakers began the final period with a 14-4 run, all knew the game was over. The Lakers simply manhandled the Rockets. They soundly beat the Rockets in all aspects of the game, and demonstrated how great the divide between these two squads really is.

However, one thing became apparent during the midst of the Lakers comeback. What makes the Lakers the best team in the West, and quite possibly in the NBA isn’t because they have Kobe, or that they are coached by Phil Jackson. It’s because they have a player like Trevor Ariza who can go up and get an offensive rebound, and deflate an opposing team’s defense. What sparked the Lakers’ comeback can directly attribute to the play of both Ariza and Pau Gasol. As both acquired missed shots by their own teammates, and then limiting the Rockets to one shot through much of the first three quarters, it severely limited their chance to control the game.

While Kobe didn’t have an outstanding game, 23 points (10-of-17), he showed why the Lakers are the class of the West — he doesn’t need to score 38 for the Lakers to comfortably win. When on a night the Rockets severely needed a strong offensive output by Tracy McGrady.  Who instead disappointed with three points on 1-of-11 shooting, it showed how the Rockets will need T-Mac to be competent as a basketball player if any success is to be achieved.

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

Yao had a relatively quiet night. With 12 points and eight rebounds, he had problems scoring due to Andrew Bynum’s “defense”. For the enigma that is Ron Artest, he continues to perplex as he his largely ineffective from anywhere other than behind the 3-point line. Forcing four turnovers and harassing Kobe was a nice sight, but making only two shoots is not.

The lone bright spot for the Rockets was Aaron Brooks. The second-year pro keeps impressing. Finishing with a team-leading 20 points, Brooks continues to provide a spark off the bench along with Carl Landry.

As alluded to earlier, Andrew Bynum did a fairly good job of limiting Yao in the paint. Though for those who attended, viewed on television or listened on the radio, let’s address the elephant in the room — the officiating wasn’t very good. Yes, the officials were wrong when they gave Chuck Hayes two blocking fouls. Yes, the officials were wrong when they missed Kobe’s goaltending violation on T-Mac’s layup. Moreover, yes, the officials blew many calls letting Bynum get away with blatant fouls in the paint on Yao. For whose defensive actions mimic  those more appropriate to be seen in a streetball game, rather than something accustom in the NBA.

However, the truth is the officials didn’t cause the Rockets to lose the game. They lost because all of a sudden T-Mac can’t make a jump shot. They lost because they were unable to get a rebound after a solid defensive possession. The referees may not have been at the top of their game Sunday night, but it was the least of the problems the Rockets faced. For this defeat, there is no one for the Rockets to blame but themselves.

Therefore in a night, and in a game that could have demonstrated how close the Rockets are to being an elite team in the league, they disappointed.

Alas, everything's not lost. Seventy-five games to go; let's see how things go from here.

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Player of the Game:

Pau Gasol, 20 points, 15 rebounds

He seemed to score with relative ease, as he used his clear height advantage to grab key rebounds. He performance epitomized the dominance inside the Lakers held over the Rockets for the vast majority of the game.

Goat of the Game:

Tracy McGrady, 3 points (1-of-11), 4 assists

For those keeping track, in the two-game Los Angeles road trip, McGrady shot a combined 1-of-16 for five points.