Lakers bounce back with win in physical Game 2

[Caligirl]

To all you Rocket fans, I don't think no one is saying D Fisher should not get suspended, but you are making a big deal out of Kobe/Artest situation, Artest got back what he has been dishing out, now he is crying like a beotch. Rockets fan I know you are excited, but they forgot to tell you things have chaged in the 2nd round of the finals in the last 12 years (that's how long it's been right?)

Relax and enjoy,May the best team win...Laker, no Rockets, naw Lakers in 7 (it will go 7)

[MnM Mom]

It's about time the Lakers push back. Other teams take advantage of the fact that the Lakers are a more finesse, less physical team. Last night was east coast-style basketball, and the Lakers showed that they can and will push back to win. The replays show it all: Scola trash talking with Odom and Walton; and Artest was elbowing Kobe under the net before Kobe retaliated. Fisher was wrong in clocking Scola and I won't be surprised if he's suspended. I don't think Artest should have been ejected, but I'm not clear on what the rule is, but I do know that Artest wasn't listening to the referee. Keep in mind that earlier in the game, another Rockets player was ejected by his own coach for trash talk. The Rockets lose control when the Lakers speed up the game and run circles around them, which was clearly the case last night.

[Alfredo]

Dirty and physical are two different things. What the Lakers did was dirty and planned. You guys can't beat the Rockets straight up, so you guys try to get under our skin. Fisher will be suspended. Kobe is a great player but he has two sides. One side is great and the other side punk. You guys have to play dirty because that soft play does not work against us. Next game will be called close and that's against Rockets, which is exactly what they want. They don't like physical and know they can't beat us that way. Punks and Dirty team

[MnM Mom]

Alfredo, it's funny you say the Lakers are dirty... Wasn't it Artest who climbed into the stands a couple years ago to beat up a fan? I recall he was having a tough time finding a team who would take him after all of his crazy antics. He's a talented player, but loses control.
It's my understanding that since Houston is a much more physical team, it's "acceptable" for them to play rough. But, when the Lakers respond to that type of play, it's called dirty... It sounds like a double standard.

[Alfredo]

MnM Mom wrote:

Alfredo, it's funny you say the Lakers are dirty... Wasn't it Artest who climbed into the stands a couple years ago to beat up a fan? I recall he was having a tough time finding a team who would take him after all of his crazy antics. He's a talented player, but loses control.
It's my understanding that since Houston is a much more physical team, it's "acceptable" for them to play rough. But, when the Lakers respond to that type of play, it's called dirty... It sounds like a double standard.

Yes what Fisher did is dirty, and Kobe elbow to the neck was dirty. Artest went into the stance how many year ago. What has Artest done this series that is considered dirty. And worst is that it was a planned. The Faker don't play physical they play fitness. So they come out playing dirty so now in game 3 it will be called closed which is advantage Fakers. See you guys in Houston.

[Jeebs]

Wow, Ron Artest gets booted from the game for confronting him, but Kobe doesn't get anything for throwing an elbow? Well, that's Joey Crawford's officiating for ya. Anybody remember him tossing Duncan out of a game for no apparent reason or the numerous no-calls in the series match up between the Spurs and Lakers last year? Anyone know who was reffing in that game by any chance? I think his name was Joey Crawford. I think Kobe might be letting him go down on him for not making all the calls that should be made. Looks like Kobe cheating again.

[teinelaker]

THESE IS ALL ENTERTAINMENT......Y'ALL TAKE THESE GAMES TOO SERIOUSLY........I MISSED THE 1,2,3RD QUARTERS... BUT I SO LOVED THE HIGHLITES... anyhow, the Lakers were awesome and Fisher.. WOW, it takes something really harsh to turn him into a feisty guy... ARTEST, HE thinkS he's all that with yur comments about "don't you know who you are messing with"... good thing yur not playing football, theyll break your arms, legs, face.... OH I can't WAIT ..3RD GAME.. LAKERS ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!!

[A-NON-A-MOUSE]

I wish I wasnt homeless so I could have afforded to be @ that game..Watching it in HD just didnt seem the same-although it looked really nice-in person is way better..

HOMELESS HUNGRY AND NEED LAKERS TIX..

[Alfredo]

Kobe is a great player but he's arrogant and a punk. And all you Fakers fans have known this for years. Kobe swings an elbow and when Artest gets in his face, he puts his hands up like he doesn't know why Artest was in his face. Punk. I tell you this if the Rockets lose, Kobe better not be on the court when those last seconds are coming off the clock.

[Jeebs]

teinelaker wrote:

THESE IS ALL ENTERTAINMENT......Y'ALL TAKE THESE GAMES TOO SERIOUSLY........I MISSED THE 1,2,3RD QUARTERS... BUT I SO LOVED THE HIGHLITES... anyhow, the Lakers were awesome and Fisher.. WOW, it takes something really harsh to turn him into a feisty guy... ARTEST, HE thinkS he's all that with yur comments about "don't you know who you are messing with"... good thing yur not playing football, theyll break your arms, legs, face.... OH I can't WAIT ..3RD GAME.. LAKERS ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!!

That's because Ron Artest is a bad motherf**ker. I don't care too much for his attitude, but I do like the way that he plays. He would be a great fit in Detroit even with his history there because of the brawl at The Palace back in 05'.

[GLAD IT AINT MY MONEY]

Alfredo wrote:

Kobe is a great player but he's arrogant and a punk. And all you Fakers fans have known this for years. Kobe swings an elbow and when Artest gets in his face, he puts his hands up like he doesn't know why Artest was in his face. Punk. I tell you this if the Rockets lose, Kobe better not be on the court when those last seconds are coming off the clock.

LMAO - What are YOU going to do??? Go Lakers!

[Alfredo]

Everybody rap the next line:
Yea you can't do it without me, Yea, you can't do it without me. Kobe tell me how my a$$ taste. EVERYBODY, KOBE tell me how my a$$ taste. Come to Houston, we are waiting.

[Real Deal Holyfield]

No wonder the Lakers did not get Artest as rumored 2 years ago he is not afraid of Kobe. Kobe is scared of him.

[David Puddy]

unfortunately Fisher will probably be suspended...Kobe won't.....the atmosphere in Houston 2morow will be insane

[H-TOWN son]

The Lakers are a bunch of punks, with Fisher elbowing Scola and Kobe giving Ron an elbow in the throat. That my friend is called BUSH league. The Lakers are trying to be tough but end up looking pathetic. Sasha punching people in the chest before the game. PLEASE who are you kidding. Bring that stuff to Houston and see what happens. the lakers are soft like sharmen t.p. with now heart. houston in 6

[Clutch_city]

CTran wrote:

If you watch that entire play and you see Artest pushed Kobe neck from behind first and Kobe just matched a physical play with one of his own. RA can dish it out but he cannot take it; instead he ran to the ref and cried foul. WHat a jerk!!!

The NBA rulebook states that a player must be ejected for "an elbow foul which makes contact above shoulder level." By the standard that's been set in these playoffs, Bryant should be suspended. Orlando's Dwight Howard was when he elbowed Philadelphia's Samuel Dalembert in the head. Superstar or not, the head and neck have been deemed off-limits for elbows.(The lightest tap of the playoffs, Rafer Alston's slap upside Eddie House's head in the Magic-Celtics game Wednesday night, could also fall in this category.) THIS IS FROM ESPN's Daily Dime! Lakers fans, don't EVER equate toughness with dirty cheap play. Kobe responded to Artest's physicality with a cheap elbow to his neck which is an automatic ejection(just cuz he wasn't looking at him doesnt mean it wasn't malicious and intentional). In Game 1 kobe responded the same way to Battier after fighting for a loose ball. Even though we lost in game 2 the Lakers weakness has been exposed. Don't worry we will show your team a little 'southern hospitality' when they come to Htown!! Let's go Rox!!

[crockett]

When the Rockets came back from 15 down & the Lakers realized they couldn't shake them with their best punches, they had to resort to a "new" tactic;THUGGERY!
All non-biased NBA fans that watched last nights game realized that this Laker team is having major problems with this scrappy Rocket team despite Yao being an M.I.A. cheerleader for 3/4 of the game. Scola is just a scrapper that fights for every rebound/loose ball & outhustles his often more talented opponent but the Lakers aren't used to this "blue collar" type play & responded with a blatant & calculated foul. Even as a diehard Rocket fan, I figured LA would easily win this playoff in 5-6 games, but now I truly believe this will go to the final game. I would love Artest to knock Kobe's grin off his face Friday night.

[SoCalMike]

Clutch_city wrote:

<quoted text>
The NBA rulebook states that a player must be ejected for "an elbow foul which makes contact above shoulder level." By the standard that's been set in these playoffs, Bryant should be suspended. Orlando's Dwight Howard was when he elbowed Philadelphia's Samuel Dalembert in the head. Superstar or not, the head and neck have been deemed off-limits for elbows.(The lightest tap of the playoffs, Rafer Alston's slap upside Eddie House's head in the Magic-Celtics game Wednesday night, could also fall in this category.) THIS IS FROM ESPN's Daily Dime! Lakers fans, don't EVER equate toughness with dirty cheap play. Kobe responded to Artest's physicality with a cheap elbow to his neck which is an automatic ejection(just cuz he wasn't looking at him doesnt mean it wasn't malicious and intentional). In Game 1 kobe responded the same way to Battier after fighting for a loose ball. Even though we lost in game 2 the Lakers weakness has been exposed. Don't worry we will show your team a little 'southern hospitality' when they come to Htown!! Let's go Rox!!

Both Houston and Laker fans seemed to agree on the fact that the Lakers played soft in game one. Then the Lakers out and apply the pressure, turn the screws, and play physical, and Rockets players don't seem to respond well.

I believe Derek was responding to the initial altercation between Scola and Odom/Walton, since it appears that Scola likes to talk a big game but apparently cant back it up. Well yes, the ejection of Derek after he elbowed Scola was probably the right call. He'll probably get a 1 game suspension.

However, the incident involving Kobe and Artest is a bit more muddled. The camera angle is poor and the shot is fuzzy. The refs at the time didn't call a foul, a difference which sets this one apart from others like it. Both players were fighting for position on the rebound. It appears that Artest was leaning on Kobe. From the camera angle, you cant tell if Kobe gets Artest in the throat, chest or mid section. Perhaps it was his chest. Maybe it was his throat. But we can't tell from the angle. So it's going to depend on the way the league interprets the play based on the camera footage they have.

Artest is an over-reactor. He's always been. That's why the refs don't give him the benefit of the doubt. He lost his cool and Kobe kept it and that is why Kobe remained in the game and Artest didn't. Plain and simple.

So now we have a series. And a battle. And I hope the Lakers don't back down from the challenge and continue to play physical. So now, Rockettes, you have got us playing the way you wanted to. Let's see who can pull this one out down the stretch.

[Magic Johnson]

Thay is no way dat we wil lose tomorow nigh in Housson! Tha series is over wif! Housson is not at owr levil an you shal see wat I is talkin bout tomorow nigh.

[Clutch_city]

SoCalMike wrote:

<quoted text>
Both Houston and Laker fans seemed to agree on the fact that the Lakers played soft in game one. Then the Lakers out and apply the pressure, turn the screws, and play physical, and Rockets players don't seem to respond well.
I believe Derek was responding to the initial altercation between Scola and Odom/Walton, since it appears that Scola likes to talk a big game but apparently cant back it up. Well yes, the ejection of Derek after he elbowed Scola was probably the right call. He'll probably get a 1 game suspension.
However, the incident involving Kobe and Artest is a bit more muddled. The camera angle is poor and the shot is fuzzy. The refs at the time didn't call a foul, a difference which sets this one apart from others like it. Both players were fighting for position on the rebound. It appears that Artest was leaning on Kobe. From the camera angle, you cant tell if Kobe gets Artest in the throat, chest or mid section. Perhaps it was his chest. Maybe it was his throat. But we can't tell from the angle. So it's going to depend on the way the league interprets the play based on the camera footage they have.
Artest is an over-reactor. He's always been. That's why the refs don't give him the benefit of the doubt. He lost his cool and Kobe kept it and that is why Kobe remained in the game and Artest didn't. Plain and simple.
So now we have a series. And a battle. And I hope the Lakers don't back down from the challenge and continue to play physical. So now, Rockettes, you have got us playing the way you wanted to. Let's see who can pull this one out down the stretch.

SoCalMike, Let me repeat:
Lakers fans, don't EVER equate toughness with dirty cheap play. Its funny how before, the critics didnt even have us getting out the first round. Now they have us as legitimate Championship contenders. Amazing!!! And all this respect with one of our superstars out for the season, rehabing for next season!!! Lakers you better take us out this season cuz next season you guys will be the underdogs...Go Rox!