Now this is a series. The Rockets and Lakers have contrasting enough styles that whoever’s style prevails, wins the series.
No shortage of drama, either. Dating back to Utah, the officials had allowed first the Jazz, and then, the Rockets, to manhandle the Lakers, and they weren’t calling that stuff a foul.
Calling the game that way shows a prevailing bias to a particular style of play, and it aint the Lakers (style of play).
Regardless, the Lakers had to answer the physicality of the Rockets. Otherwise, they didn’t deserve to become champs.
If Houston won, they would have been up 2-0, going home for the next two games and playing in front of their fervent fans.
Beyond knowing what that would have meant for the Lakers, for Houston it would have meant that they are THAT good – i.e., good enough to be champions.
Yao is a warrior. Artest is excellent. He has played big. Their players are very tough and play together with fervor, commitment and heart.
An Incredible Game: Smash Mouth Basketball
Case in point, after an brilliant First Quarter by the Lakers, in the Second Quarter, the Rockets took the Lakers out to the tool shed and whipped them. It took a Kobe three for the game to be tied at Half.
During the Halftime Show, Kenny Smith nailed it, saying that the game had championship implications.
Which style would prevail in the Second Half?
The Lakers, like true champs, answered the bell, and (re) took the game.
Playing Three Card Monte
At the same time, the way they answered – with Fisher taking down Scola, and Kobe locking down into Artest, basically said, “bring it on.”
But it was more than that.
It was so blatant that it sent an emblematic, heart-felt message to a Party of Four (FOUR!!): Stu Jackson, the Rockets, Jordan Farmar and Rick Adelman.
To Stu Jackson, NBA Officiating czar, the message is simple. Know your place. Does the league really want Cleveland versus Houston? (Yeah, yeah, the league isn't about that, just like it isn't about relevance, money and ratings.)
To the Rockets, it sends a clear message that the Lakers aren’t intimidated. Tonight, they showed they could be plenty tough.
After the game, I think Jackson equated it to the team finding its purpose.
In that sense, Fisher was a masterstroke, pretty poetic. For one, it created the perfect situation for Farmar to come in. He didn’t need to look over his shoulder because Fisher was gone.
And in the closing rotation, which I loved (energy, defense), both he and Shannon Brown were able to share the floor, so he could focus on playing ball, and he did great.
That rotation (Kobe, Pau, Farmar, Brown, Walton, I think) throws a true speed and disruption look that the Rockets will have some trouble with, and with some burn, the rotation will become better finishers (Odom or Ariza can plug in pretty well, I think).
Minimally, it will force Houston to mix up some personnel at a time of Phil Jackson’s choosing; namely, when he needs a tempo reset to break Houston’s flow, and establish LA’s own.
No less, it adds another dimension to the Lakers, something that Phil Jackson has struggled to find since the role players haven’t, for the most part, answered when called in either of the first two series before tonight.
Welcome to Round Three of Jackson v. Adelman
But, here’s the thing. None of this is the REAL drama. That would be the happy fact that this is "Round Three of Phil Jackson versus Rick Adelman," and Laker fans happily remember how the last go around went.
Round One. The Adelman-led Portland Trail Blazers face off for the 1992 NBA Championship against Michael Jordan and the Phil Jackson-coached Chicago Bulls. The Bulls, of course, win the crown.
Round Two. In 2002, the Rick Adelman-led Sacramento Kings were about to go up 3-1, heading back to Sacramento.
Yep, that’s the game where Horry made that falling away three pointer to steal the game (after the Lakers had been down by as many as 24 earlier in the game), make it 2-2, and the Lakers prevailed in a colossal seven games.
The Lakers won their third championship under Phil Jackson, and the Kings never made it over the hump. Tonight signifies Round Three has begun for Adelman.
The Zen Master Arrives
If you doubt that Jackson is the Zen Master, consider this. The net effect of what played out tonight was that Fisher left, Farmar entered, Artest got kicked out, Von Wafer had words with his coach, and was sent to the showers early. All in the same game.
And the Lakers tempo prevailed; they won. I think this game perhaps re-awakened some bad memories for Adelman.
Also, let's not forget Artest's history of self-immolation, so some element of psychological voodoo is clearly at work on the part of Jackson and the Lakers.
That’s where Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley have it wrong.
This isn’t analogous to a playground-ish type of sport. The Lakers weren't being thugs. This is the NBA Playoffs, and the game is played on multiple levels, something PJ clearly relishes.
His mantra: refs, call it the same both ways. In well-matched series, it comes down to the stars stepping up. It comes down to a need, a collective will, not backing down from the challenge, who wants it most. It comes down to who answers the call.
It’s matchups, adjustinments, having a point of attack, and a lock down efficiency on defense, which the closing unit had tonight in spades. It's about having a clear purpose, and keeping the competition off-balance.
Somewhere in the distance, Game Three looms. I love this game.
Related Posts:
- Laker Thoughts: Playoff Edition (Game 2 vs. Utah Jazz)
- Lakers-Celts and the Sporting Metaphor
- NBA Basketball as Opera
- Sweet and Sour Endings: Boston Crushes the Lakers
