VIEW FROM THE OTHER SIDE

What papers in the Houston area are saying about the series:

FRAN BLINEBURY, HOUSTON CHRONICLE

Pick a play, almost any play.

Maybe Charles Barkley using Robert Horry like a yo-yo on a string down in the low post, backing him along the baseline and then whirling into the lane for that falling-away, how-does-he-do-that little push shot that seems to chin itself over the front rim and then snuggles into the net.

Or smashing like one huge bowling ball into a set of tenpins, mangling so many limbs and sending bodies flying as he wraps those mitts around misses and turns them into big opportunities for offensive rebound hoops.

Maybe Scottie Pippen turning himself into a one-man version of the Brian Setzer Orchestra, jumping, jiving and wailing all over the court like it was his own personal dance floor. Flashing across the baseline for the niftiest peek-a-boo reverse move, keeping his feet alive to tap in his own little jump hook, spinning past Kobe Bryant like he was just another teenager without a date at the senior prom for a tomahawk dunk. The only thing missing was a zoot suit and a long, gold watch chain.

Pick a play, any play from the Rockets’ 102-88 win over the Lakers.

Maybe Hakeem Olajuwon taking another early seat on the bench because of foul trouble and Antoine Carr coming in like the hungriest Big Dawg in the neighborhood, slamming himself into Shaquille O’Neal, setting himself up in the passing lanes and even taking his aging body down to the floor for loose balls.

Maybe Sam Mack coming in with a six-shooter that wasn’t firing straight, but keeping himself on the floor by chasing, bumping, pushing, pulling, shoving, harassing Bryant up and down the court. Taunting him even with a word that rhymes with witch.

Maybe Brent Price. Oh yes, definitely Brent Price, who exploded like a firecracker in the silverware drawer and let everybody in the house know this wasn’t a weekend in L.A. anymore.

This was a night when the Lakers, using $2 motivational tactics, checked out of their hotel rooms before the game.

This was the game when the Rockets finally checked into the playoffs.