The Los Angeles Lakers will face the Houston Rockets tonight, a team in which they almost sent Pau Gasol to in the nixed Chris Paul trade. However, the Lakers and Rockets have a history of facing each other in some thrilling games filled with buzzer beaters and playoff elimination games. We will take a look at some of the best between the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets.
5.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets
1981-1st Round Playoff Match-up
The Lakers were the defending NBA champions, represented by the dynamic duo of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The Rockets were coming in with a losing record, 40-42, but were led by Moses Malone. The match-up between the two big men was one to watch. At this time, the first round of the NBA playoffs were a best out of three series, unlike today where it is a best out of seven. So the first team to win two games would advance, which gave the Rockets a chance, but came into the series with no real expectation to knock off the defending champion Lakers. Unfortunately for all Laker fans, the Rockets would pull off the upset and actually used their momentum to reach the NBA Finals.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IW4r-Ifp6M4&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PLA5D754ECE8524D7F
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4.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets
2004-1st Round Playoff Match-up
Game 1
The Los Angeles Lakers had added two future hall of fame players, Karl Malone and Gary Payton, to their already impressive roster, while the Houston Rockets were led by Steve Francis and Yao Ming. The two teams squared off in the first round of the 2004 playoffs, and Game 1 went down to the wire. The Lakers were down by a single point with less than a minute remaining, but with the shot clock expiring Kobe Bryant fired a three that was caught by Shaquille O’Neal and hammered home. O’Neal was fouled in the process as well. The Rockets would have one last shot, but to no avail, the Lakers would go on to win Game 1.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95121hHTqbI
Next: A Fight to the Finish
3.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets
2009-Western Conference Semi-Finals
Game 2
The Lakers were bouncing back from a NBA Finals loss to the Boston Celtics, but the road to the Finals seemed to be an easy one on paper. However, the Rockets had other plans. The Rockets had actually stunned the Lakers in the first game of the series, so L.A. was looking to bounce back and the Black Mamba was ready to strike. The game was primarily led by the Lakers, but the Rockets would not go away, and the tensions began to flare up as the game progressed. Derek Fisher would be ejected because of a flagrant foul to Luis Scola and Ron Artest would have his famous confrontation with Kobe Bryant after complaining about being elbowed. Ultimately, the Lakers would grab the Game 2 victory behind Kobe’s 40-point performance.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZheEIyBOV0&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL2A95E4403C9D5AB1
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2.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets
2009-Western Conference Semi-Finals
Game 7
The over-achieving Houston Rockets were giving the Lakers everything they had, and the series would have to be decided with a game seven at the Staples Center. Coming into the series, nobody expected the Rockets to threaten the Lakers for their pursuit of redemption, especially after Yao Ming went down with an injury in Game 3 of the series. The Lakers could not take advantage of Yao Ming’s injury, and the Rockets would not miss a step. The Lakers had to deliver in Game 7 or they would be derailed before even reaching the Western Conference Finals. The Lakers would go on to blow out the Rockets 89-70 in Game 7 of the series, and although the anticipation was more stressful than the actual game, this was an impressive and must-win for the purple and gold.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SubJI7xfq80
Next: A Shocking Loss
1.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets
1986- Western Conference Finals
Game 5
Coming in at number one is another match-up in the 1980s, and this playoff series between both squads is very similar to the one that happened in 1981. The Lakers were once again defending their title and again the Rockets were in their way. The Showtime Lakers were led by Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar and Worthy. The Rockets had Hakeem Olajuwon and fellow big man Ralph Sampson to combat against the defending champs. Already down 3-1 the Lakers were desperate for a victory in Game 5 at the Forum. The game would go down to the wire, and once again unfortunately for Laker fans, Ralph Sampson would hit one of the most stunning, seemingly impossible shots in NBA history as time expired. The Rockets would celebrate their Western Conference championship in front of the L.A. crowd, and would advance to once again lose to the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF740MqYbOs