Los Angeles Lakers Houston Rockets Game 6 Predictions
Written May 14, 2009 by Jason Lowry
Its scary to see what the Los Angeles Lakers can do when they decide to play basketball, as they dominated the Houston Rockets 118-78 in a blowout win in game 5. With the win the Lakers take a 3-2 series lead, and are just one win away from moving on the Western Conference Finals. After an off night in game 4, Kobe Bryant returned to form scoring 26 points to lead all players. The Lakers also got 16 points from Pau Gasol, 13 from Trevor Ariza, and 14 from Andrew Bynum. That wasn’t it for the Lakers as Jordan Farmar, Lamar Odom, and Josh Powell all came in off the bench to score at least 10 points. For the Rockets there wasn’t much offense to speak of, as Aaron Brooks led the way with 14 points, just 2 days after dropping 34 on the Lakers in game 4. Luis Scola added 12 points and 13 rebounds and Von Wafer came off the bench to score 13 points in just 13 minutes of play. Shane Battier also struggled on the road, as he scored just 5 points in game 5, and Ron Artest seems to have lost his touch, as he scored just 9 points on 4-15 shooting. The series is headed back to Houston, and the Rockets should have a little more life, but unless they are able to come away with a win, the Lakers are the team heading to the Conference Finals. Here is a look at what I think each team needs to do to win, plus my prediction on who comes out on top against the spread.
What the Lakers have to do to win: Its pretty simple for this team, just show up to play basketball like they did in game 5. There is no question that the Lakers are the better team with Yao Ming gone from the series, and in all honesty they should win this game pretty easily. Bryant will be the deciding factor in just how easy that is, as I believe the Lakers cruise to a win if Bryant is able to score close to 30 points like he did in game 5. I think one of the biggest surprises to game 5 was the reemergence of Bynum in the playoffs, as the big man scored his 14 points in just 20 minutes of play hitting 5 of his 6 shots and all 4 from the free throw line. If Bynum can play like this the rest of the postseason, the Lakers are a much better team, and they need him with Odom battling back problems. Odom was able to play in game 5, scoring 10 points in 19 minutes, but there is no question they would like to limit his playing time and save him for the Nuggets in the conference finals. I look for a much different Lakers team in Houston this time around, but I don’t think it will be anywhere near a 40 point blowout like it was in game 5. Bet the Lakers -8 to win at Sportsbook.com.
What the Rockets have to do to win: The Rockets need to find that energy they had in game 4, where they came out and jumped all over the Lakers, and maybe the home court will do just that. It was a bad sign for this team to see Brooks struggle as it looks as though the Lakers might have found an answer for him. Artest has to show offensively in game 5, or the Rockets season is over, and they will still likely need someone like Battier or Scola to have a big night as well. The bench is equally important in this game, as the Lakers bench outscored the Rockets reserves 47-32 in game 5. I expect the Rockets to come out fighting early, but unless this team shoots lights out form the field their season is likely finished. Bet the Rockets +8 to win at Sportsbook.com.
My Prediction: Lakers -8. This game will be closer than game 5, but that doesn’t mean the Lakers don’t win this one going away. I look for Bryant to come out firing, as he knows how important it is for the Lakers to finish off this series and get ready for the rest of the postseason. I got the Lakers winning this one by 10-12 points.
For those of you looking to do some NBA betting on the game this Thursday, check out our expert NBA picks and grab the latest NBA odds for the game at Betfirms.
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