Lakers vs Rockets Game 6 Diary

This is a running diary of me watching the game, emotion after emotion!

12:00 left in the 1st 0-0 - OK, lets get this going! We look ready, I'm feeling it tonight. But boy am I nervous about this one. I DO NOT want to go back to LA. We have to win the 1st Quarter! Why does Van Gundy get to call games for the Rockets. He coached this team 3 years ago!!! He has very serious ties to the Rockets organization and shouldn't be calling the game. It pains him to say something positive about the Lakers.

9:23 left in the 1st 1-6 - Bynum looks like he has cement on his feet, not good! Ariza is being aggressive, I like it. This start reminds me too much of game 4 (pounding beer).

7:30 left in the 1st 1-13 - Please FOR THE LOVE OF GOD go inside to Pau Gasol! This is unreal how this is the exact start to Game 4. Kobe, stop taking contested 20 footers when we have 2 7 footers and their tallest guy is at 6'9. I am about to toss this computer out the window. UGH!!

6:20 left in the 1st 3-17 - WE MADE A BASKET!!! I love watching us give up lay ups and open shots (2nd beer has been cracked).

4:50 left in the 1st 3-19 - Pau Gasol looks like me guarding Scola out there, and Kobe continues to take AWFUL shots. Go to the basket and move the ball!

1:59 left in the 1st 9-23 - I am so speechless at this point. Pau is a completely different player defensively. For some reason Fisher continues to shoot 3's as his percentage is plummeting below 20% now. We are not moving the ball or cutting or anything. Phil please pull everyone out of the game and put players in that want to win this thing. At least if we lose lets lose trying and wanting this.

End of 1st 15-27 - Thank God for Farmar keeping us in this game with 2 huge 3's. I honestly can't believe Pau tonight, Scola is kicking his butt all the way back to LA right now. We need to come out of the 2nd quarter on fire. WAKE UP!!!! WAKE UP!!!!

9:26 left in the 2nd 21-33 - Kobe is shooting us out of this game. Kobe please move the ball and stop letting Battier face guard you all night. Battier gets away with murder guarding Kobe. I know he's a great defender, but seriously he gets away with way too much. Farmar came to play, is anyone else going to join him. Love pushing the tempo, Jordan! Lets get a defensive stop please.

8:28 left in the 2nd 21-33 - Scola just flopped so hard, wow!

4:59 left in the 2nd 27-42 - We have to cut this to single digits by half time. Kobe needs to be great and make every one else on the floor great. Penetrate and kick please, Fish, make a 3 this quarter.

4:30 left in the 2nd 27-42 - Battier really needs to cut that out. It is such a dangerous play. That's how Lamar got hurt in Game 4. Battier slides underneath the player while in mid-air to draw a charge. It is so dangerous and it is cheating. Bad bad call on Kobe there.

3:19 left in the 2nd 29-42 - Please pull Fisher, please pull Fisher, please pull Fisher. What is Phil thinking right now? Can it get any worse?

2:19 left in the 2nd 31-46 - How is that a technical foul!!!! What has this league come too! Kobe gave him a love tap on his chest. I am shocked right now. I am so speechless. This is game 6 of the 2nd round and refs are calling that crap. This is a serious serious issue. Artest is such a cheat too and I just lost a lot of respect for him after that play. I didn't expect that from Artest. Thank you Kobe for calling him out on it.

Halftime 36-52 - I honestly can't believe how bad Pau played. He made Luis Scola look like 1st team All-NBA. Fisher needs to not play period in the 2nd half. He is really struggling out there. Please stop half-ass doubling, Pau. Play your man straight up. Ariza does not need help on Ron Artest. We shot 31% from the field and that is just so bad. We need to come out with some passion and fire. Pau needs to get it going and Kobe needs to take Battier and create for everyone.

9:16 left in the 3rd 43-52 - Yes! that is how we come out of the half. We needed that 7-0 run badly. Nice rotations and we finally have our hands up and active. It is so important for us to get our hands on passes. Kobe, keep attacking at all costs. Good things always happen when you do that Mr. Bryant.

5:58 left in the 3rd 52-54 - WOW what a change. Is this a different team? We are playing so well on defense. We are rotating, rebounding and getting amazing ball pressure. Kobe is penetrating and Bynum is looking like a different person. We need to continue the pressure. I love it! The Lakers have to continue to apply the pressure. And Battier continues to get away with murder.

4:17 left in the 3rd 54-62 - The Rockets just got a little momentum back. Big three by Brooks. I still cannot understand how Fisher is in this game. He is killing us on offense with missed wide open 3's and Brooks is killing him on defense. Somehow Fisher consistently loses Brooks and Phil is blowing it by leaving him in. We have to close this quarter out strong!

.54 left in the 3rd 65-70 - We cannot get a stop right now. Lets d-up!!!

End of 3rd 65-74 - We really let it get away there at the end of the quarter. The Rockets started making ridiculous shots. Those shots hopefully wont fall in the 4th. Overall it was a great quarter and cut it to single digits. This is a game of runs and we have one more big run left in us (hopefully).

9:14 left in the 4th 69-76 - Odom has played inspiring defense all game. He has been our most consistent defender all game. If we could just hit an open jumper that would certainly help cut into this lead. Emotions are running at an all-season high right now for me. The texts are coming in by the dozen and my wonderful girlfriend is giving me massages. Its time to man up and finish this game!

6:24 left in the 4th 71-81 - Artest hits a ridiculous 3 and Landry makes a big play even though he did use his off arm. We are letting this game slip away. The nerves are creeping really high right now. Must find a way.

5:00 left in the 4th 73-82 - Look I am not one to complain about officiating, but they have missed several crucial, crucial calls. Aaron Brooks blatantly kicked that ball. I have no idea how you miss that. This crew has been horrendous. I know Bennett Salvatore isn't reffing this game, but it sure feels like it.

2:59 left in the 4th 75-90 - I didn't realize Battier could slap hands with Kobe when he shoots. No wonder he is so good at guarding him. Man, this Houston team was just relentless tonight. The game is over unfortunately. I really do not know how we only have 75 points right now.

Final Score 80-95 - I have to give a lot of credit to the Rockets. I am sick and tired of everyone jumping all over our backs because we are having trouble with this team. The Rockets are a legitimate team that play with a ton of heart and have talented players all over. This was by no means going to be a cake walk. None the less I am still very disappointed in the Lakers as a whole. The Lakers now fall to 1-6 in our last 7 vs the Rockets when Yao does not play. Collectively as a team we have to regroup...AGAIN (not sure if I can take much more if this).