Lakers Take 2-1 Series Lead
HOUSTON, TX -- The Los Angeles Lakers regained home court advantage Friday night with a thorough 108 to 94 victory over the Houston Rockets in Game 3 of this 2009 Western Conference semifinal series.
The Rockets committed 17 turnovers which the Lakers converted into 20 points.
"We didn't play well offensively to win this game," said Rick Adelman. "Turnovers in the first half and a poor third quarter."
Both teams shot lights out in a fast-paced first quarter. The Lakers shot 60.9% (14 for 23) from the field as Kobe Bryant set an early offensive tone with 11 points on 5 for 6 shooting. The Rockets shots 57.9% (11 for 19) from the field in the opening quarter.
The second quarter was nearly a polar opposite of the first quarter. Both teams shot poorly from the field. The Rockets shot 35.7 (5 for 14) while the Lakers shot 30.4% (7 for 23). The Rockets committed seven turnovers to compound their struggles on offense.
"We turned it over in the first half," Adelman added. "They had 14 points off our 11 turnovers. You can't do that against this team. We talked about it from the very beginning that if we do that they get easy baskets. They're a good offensive team anyway; but, if you do that, you're really feeding into them."
The Rockets trailed the Lakers 50 to 48 at halftime.
The third quarter was a quarter of doom for the Rockets. The Rockets shot an icy 24.0% (6 for 24) from the field; and, the Lakers took advantage of the poor shooting to outscore the Rockets 24 to 14 in the third period. The Rockets had zero assists in the third.
Kobe Bryant drained a 33-foot jumper shot at the buzzer to give the Lakers a 74 to 62 lead at the end of three quarters.
"At the start of the third quarter, I thought we really had a good opportunity; but, we just didn't finish plays," said Adelman. "Then, we got impatient and we could never get it going."
Lakers head coach Phil Jackson said, "They had trouble hitting shots. Our defense was okay. But, they got a little bit tired and winded. We got some breakaways and some open things in the floor."
Shane Battier said, "We just couldn't find ways to score in the third period. We just felt like they were in control for most of the game; and, we couldn't put pressure on them offensively in the third.
The Rockets could not combine stops on defense with scores on offense in the fourth quarter; and, the Lakers kept at least a nine point lead until LA's Trevor Ariza drained a three-point shot to give the Lakers an 88 to 76 lead with 6:21 remaining in the ball game.
Carl Landry started an 8 to 2 Rockets run to trim Houston's deficit to just six points (90 to 84) with 4:15 remaining; but, Jordan Farmar drained an open 18-foot jump shot to give the Lakers an eight point lead. The Rockets never got any closer the rest of the game.
Farmar started tonight's game in place of Derek Fisher. Fisher was serving his one-game suspension for the 'flagrant 2 foul' he committed in Game 2. Farmar scored 12 points; pulled down five rebounds; and handed out seven assists in 32 plus minutes.
"Jordan played a good game today," said Phil Jackson. "But, he can play better than that. Even with his stellar performance tonight, he has a better game in him. We're not surprised at his game at all."
Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 30 points; but, Bryant was just 11 for 28 from the field including making just six of his last 22 shot attempts.
Lamar Odom scored 16 points (7 for 11 from the field) and pulled down 13 rebounds. Odom's production was only limited by getting into foul trouble in the first half.
Trevor Ariza and Pau Gasol each scored 13 points to give the Lakers five double-figure scoring starters.
The Rockets outrebounded the Lakers 56 to 43; but, the turnovers and the poor shooting in the middle two quarters cost them a chance to win Friday night.
The Rockets committed 17 turnovers which the Lakers converted into 20 points.
"We didn't play well offensively to win this game," said Rick Adelman. "Turnovers in the first half and a poor third quarter."
Both teams shot lights out in a fast-paced first quarter. The Lakers shot 60.9% (14 for 23) from the field as Kobe Bryant set an early offensive tone with 11 points on 5 for 6 shooting. The Rockets shots 57.9% (11 for 19) from the field in the opening quarter.
The second quarter was nearly a polar opposite of the first quarter. Both teams shot poorly from the field. The Rockets shot 35.7 (5 for 14) while the Lakers shot 30.4% (7 for 23). The Rockets committed seven turnovers to compound their struggles on offense.
"We turned it over in the first half," Adelman added. "They had 14 points off our 11 turnovers. You can't do that against this team. We talked about it from the very beginning that if we do that they get easy baskets. They're a good offensive team anyway; but, if you do that, you're really feeding into them."
The Rockets trailed the Lakers 50 to 48 at halftime.
The third quarter was a quarter of doom for the Rockets. The Rockets shot an icy 24.0% (6 for 24) from the field; and, the Lakers took advantage of the poor shooting to outscore the Rockets 24 to 14 in the third period. The Rockets had zero assists in the third.
Kobe Bryant drained a 33-foot jumper shot at the buzzer to give the Lakers a 74 to 62 lead at the end of three quarters.
"At the start of the third quarter, I thought we really had a good opportunity; but, we just didn't finish plays," said Adelman. "Then, we got impatient and we could never get it going."
Lakers head coach Phil Jackson said, "They had trouble hitting shots. Our defense was okay. But, they got a little bit tired and winded. We got some breakaways and some open things in the floor."
Shane Battier said, "We just couldn't find ways to score in the third period. We just felt like they were in control for most of the game; and, we couldn't put pressure on them offensively in the third.
The Rockets could not combine stops on defense with scores on offense in the fourth quarter; and, the Lakers kept at least a nine point lead until LA's Trevor Ariza drained a three-point shot to give the Lakers an 88 to 76 lead with 6:21 remaining in the ball game.
Carl Landry started an 8 to 2 Rockets run to trim Houston's deficit to just six points (90 to 84) with 4:15 remaining; but, Jordan Farmar drained an open 18-foot jump shot to give the Lakers an eight point lead. The Rockets never got any closer the rest of the game.
Farmar started tonight's game in place of Derek Fisher. Fisher was serving his one-game suspension for the 'flagrant 2 foul' he committed in Game 2. Farmar scored 12 points; pulled down five rebounds; and handed out seven assists in 32 plus minutes.
"Jordan played a good game today," said Phil Jackson. "But, he can play better than that. Even with his stellar performance tonight, he has a better game in him. We're not surprised at his game at all."
Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 30 points; but, Bryant was just 11 for 28 from the field including making just six of his last 22 shot attempts.
Lamar Odom scored 16 points (7 for 11 from the field) and pulled down 13 rebounds. Odom's production was only limited by getting into foul trouble in the first half.
Trevor Ariza and Pau Gasol each scored 13 points to give the Lakers five double-figure scoring starters.
The Rockets outrebounded the Lakers 56 to 43; but, the turnovers and the poor shooting in the middle two quarters cost them a chance to win Friday night.
posted by Kris Gardner @ 11:59 PM
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