New look Houston Rockets to face disgruntled Kobe and LA Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers drama between superstar guard Kobe Bryant and team owner Jerry Buss is not yet over. Luckily for the fans of the Lakers, they still have Kobe on its roster to play their 2007-2008 NBA season opener against the revamped team of Houston Rockets at Staples Center.
Kobe Bryant went public with a trade request during a radio interview in May, and then rescinded his appeal in a different radio interview later that day. The commotion died down slightly over the summer until Lakers owner Jerry Buss acknowledged on Oct. 11 that he “would certainly listen” to trade offers for Bryant.
“I’m still a Laker. I’m here. I’m ready to play,” Kobe said. “My focus is here with this ballclub. Wherever I play, I’ll be ready. I’m focusing on this team. Dr. Buss said business is business. I understand that.”
Kobe Bryant will still the leader of the team together with Derek Fisher, who came back to add some firepower, which the Lakers sorely miss when Shaquille O’Neal was traded back in 2003. Lakers frontcourt will be tested with Andrew Bynum manning the middle with the help of foul prone Ronnie Turiaf and Chris Mihm. LA will miss Lamar Odom, who is still recovering from a shoulder injury.
Houston Rockets, who were eliminated by Utah Jazz in the first round of the playoffs made the most significant off-season move by signing offense-oriented Rick Adelman. The duo of Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, who were one of the highest-scoring pairs of teammates in the league combining for almost 50 ppg and 14.5rpg will have an easier job with the new recruits of Mike James Steve Francis, Spanish Center Luis Scola and veteran mainstays Shane Battier, Bonzi Wells and Rafer Alston.
“One of the first things he said to me was, ‘I think I can make life easier for your two big stars,’” Rockets owner Les Alexander said after hiring Adelman in May. “‘I can put them in positions where they can, instead of going uphill all the time trying to score, they can be more relaxed and have an easier time scoring.’ That’s one of the keys to this team being a big winner – having our two best players in a position where they can be more efficient.”
The Rockets and Lakers split four games last season with each team winning overtime game in Los Angeles. Yao averaged 33.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.7 blocked shots in three games against the Lakers, but McGrady was held to 19.0 points on 27.5 percent shooting in his two contests against them.
This will be an exciting game to watch with at least three All Stars in the Western Conference. Both T-Mac and Kobe will have their way. The support group will make the big difference, which the Rockets have. Rockets will dominate the paint with Yao Ming having a scoring spree; he might even have his career high in this game points, rebounds and block.
Rockets by 5
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