Hypothetically speaking of course because I think the Lakers will win:

 

If the Rockets pull the upset on Sunday where does the blame fall for the Lakers?

 

1. Does it fall on Kobe? He demanded for the Lakers to get him so teammates. He has the most talented roster in the NBA now.

2. Does it fall on Phil? He gets alot of credit for watching his teams win 9 titles. Now his stratagies have really cost the Lakers as he sat and watched the Rockets manhandle the Lakers in the 1st quarters of games 4 and 6.

3. Does it fall on the Big men? Gasol has scored some in this series, but overall the Rockets little "bigs" have more than held their own in this series.

4. Does it fall on the front office? This is a talented roster but the team may not be that well built. I think the Lakers need a gritty, hard-nosed veteran that most championship teams have. Celtics had KG, Pierce, Posey, PJ Brown. Spurs, well their all gritty and old pretty much. Heat had Zo and Posey. You need some backbone to win in the NBA. Kobe has it, but it doesn't translate to the rest of the team.

5. Does it fall no where and the Rockets get all the credit?

3. No question about it.

Where does it fall or where does it belong? I agree with HT, it would belong on the Laker bigs, who had a huge advantage over an undersized Rockets after Yao left. It is unconscionable that the Rockets have won two games since Yao left, let alone that they would win a third and in LA in this scenario.

 

Where would it fall? On Kobe of course. As I've said before, he's the face of the franchise and he'll get the blame for anything bad generally.

Number 3. The downfall of the Lakers this year and last in the playoffs has been the bigs. Last year in the playoffs Pau and Lamar played superb until they reached the Celtics. Now against the Rockets their below average play has been good enough to allow this to become a 7 game series. It is more of their inability on defense that has hurt them as big men. The Rockets shouldn't be rebounding and scoring down low on Pau and Lamar the way they have been.

 

Like DragonFire said, the blame will ultimately be cast upon Kobe which is unfortunate. This series and these playoffs will be Kobe's best opportunity for him to put the "he needs Shaq" accusations to rest as there will be no stopping LeBron after this year unless LeBron does the dummy move and leaves Cleveland after next year. Either way, Kobe is getting old and worn and while I'll always believe he can win without Shaq, unless he wins this year, he'll never overcome the fact the he didn't win without Shaq.

Combination of 3 & 5. The big men and rebounding has been poor, but the Rockets, in the games that they have one, have simply executed terrifically.

Combination of 3 & 5. The big men and rebounding has been poor, but the Rockets, in the games that they have one, have simply executed terrifically.

 

Well said, I agree with that assessment.

All of the above.

Kobe shoots well they don't loose IMO.

^ Kobe has been pretty good all series.

^ Kobe has been pretty good all series.

 

I thought he struggled the last game by his standards. I look for him to come out like he did the game Artest got thrown out of (1st game he got thrown out:lol:).

Should the Rockets win and no matter who's fault on the Lakers (if anyones) I will be very happy. I am not a huge NBA fan other than my favorite team is the Celtics and whover is playing the Lakers, mostly whoever is playing the Lakers.

I am going with the bigs being the problem. The Rockets bigs are shorter, but are alot tougher and stronger. Gasol is a great finesse type player, but when things get physical he almost runs. And Bynum is a waste and will not be the rising big man he was tabbed to be. They should have traded him before the season.

^ Kobe has been pretty good all series.

 

.44% (last 3 games) nothing special. 11/27 is a little subpar. .40%

All of them but #4.

 

In order I think the numbers would go... 3, 5, 1 and 2.

They can accept the blame as a group if they let Houston beat them...there will be plenty to go around.

With the comments I heard from Kobe on the radio last night this one is charged to Kobe's tab. He is the leader and face of the Lakers, so act like it.