Game 7

Ignoring the big red elephants in the room (keep T-Mac? Yao Ming's contract?) for the time being, it's time to all convince ourselves that Houston has a chance today, right? With the game's top closer, Kobe Bryant, in his legendary, celeb-stocked home arena, with two 7-footers in the post and a 6 ft. 10 guy waiting in the wings, undermanned and offensively challenged Houston shouldn't stand a chance against L.A. But this series has flashed a blazing middle finger to all convention and predictability, as Houston has scratched and clawed, playing stifling defense and hustling with a reckless energy juxtaposing heaviliy with L.A.'s rather lackadaiscal, arrogant sense of entitlement that they come out and play with. The Lakers are the most talented team in this league, at least in my opinion, and they've looked like it at times in this series, such as Game 5's 40 point blowout, but then there have been the double digit 1st quarter leads for Houston in games 3 and 6 that lead to blowouts on Houston's side. Starting a 6 ft. 6 offensive non-entity at center in Chuck Hayes and relying on great drive and kick passing and three point shooting to score points, Houston is playing with a fire that could go out at anytime. It's a testament to the work ethic and attitude of the Houston role players that they are even taking this thing to a Game 7; Aaron Brooks has emerged as one of the quickest, most explosive scoring points in the league, while Artest and Shane Battier are stellar perimeter defenders who will be asked to score plenty as well. Shane needs to hit his open threes, while Artest needs to play within the offense and take it the hoop instead of shooting one-foot fadeaways and jacking up a plethora of threes that slowly chip away the paint off the rim. Hayes and Scola MUST stay out of foul trouble because of lack of post depth and height in the paint. Hayes plays the best defense on Gasol because of his stout base and strength, while Scola was a major factor in Houston's Game 6 victory with his scoring and rebounding. He's the only guy on the team right now who can score down low. Carl Landry, Von Wafer, and Kyle Lowry will need to provide scoring sparks and some up-tempo energy off the pine as well, and the big thing will be getting off to a good start. Every time Houston has won since Yao Ming went down, they have exploded to crazy fast starts in the 1st quarter, developing a cushion firm enough to withstand LA's inevitable scoring runs. Since that has been the trend of the series, I would assume a fast start is essential, but we all know in Game 7 rulebooks are torn to shreds when nerves and adrenaline are running rampant. I sure wish Houston would have the chance to close out at home, but what more could you ask for than a Game 7 against the arrogant, Charmin-soft Lakers at the Staples Center? Houston should prolly get smashed today, but with the "heart of a champion" and the way we never know which Lakers team will show up or how much energy they will come out with, anything truly is possible. Just ask Kevin Garnett