It’s easy to forget about all the good things the Rockets did against the Lakers in their loss Wednesday night, but I saw encouraging signs that bode well for them to become an elite team, and soon.

Like in the first quarter when Yao was aggressive defensively by swatting a Pau Gasol alley-oop attempt away for a block. It could have been goaltending, but it shows that Yao continues to work hard to get more rejections.

Ron Artest had 3 steals in the game’s first 7 ½ minutes, Luis Scola made all of his first 4 shots, and Yao went 5-for-5 at the start of the game.

In the second quarter, the Rockets went on an incredible 24-6 run to end the first half. During the run, I couldn’t help but make a note to myself that the Rockets NOW HAVE MORE ATHLETES which have changed the entire complexion of the team. They’re now younger, faster, and even smarter. That’s going to take them a long way.

Here’s some of the highlights I noted in the second quarter to remind you that it wasn’t that bad of a game for Houston:

7:35 – Von Wafer was really aggressive in stealing a cross-court pass and throwing it down, attacking the basket on another possession, and tipping in his own miss. A little later Wafer attacks the basket and tips in his own miss!

6:08 – Wafer takes it to the rack again and dishes to Carl Landry for a score.

5:48 – Kyle Lowry takes it coast-to-coast, attacks the rim and scores! 10-0 run by Houston. 37-34

5:15 – Luis Scola dishes to Landry for a jam. 39-34. 12-0 run. This quarter is very exciting!

4:54 – Artest knocks the ball away from Josh Powell for a turnover

4:38 – Artest steals the ball again.

4:13 – Lowry then would dish to Scola for a layup. 14-0 run by Houston! 41-34

3:00 – Artest hits a jumper! 16-2 run. 43-36

2:35 – Wafer attacks the basket and is blocked, but the ball is recovered and he hits a 3! 46-38

:55 – Lowry picks the ball up in the backcourt with 8 seconds, then dribbles it back into the frontcourt with the shot clock ticking down, and you wonder if he’s going to do anything, then Yao sets a pick, rolls off it, and Lowry zips the pass to Yao on the move and Yao throws it down with 1 second on the shot clock

:27 – Artest shakes his man out of his jock, takes it strong deep it into the paint, takes the bump in front of the basket, and puts it in!

In the 3rd quarter, Brooks starts it off by blowing Fisher into the lane, dishes to Scola, who scores and is fouled! After Scola hits the free throw, the Rockets lead 54-40.

After that, things went south for the Rockets, but let’s not forget that they were giving the Lakers a run for their money, and if they shoot decent like they normally do, they would have won that game!

This entry was posted on Friday, March 13th, 2009 at 1:30 pm and is filed under vs. LA Lakers. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.