Slower Is Better for the Rockets

The NBA record book will show that the Lakers defeated Houston in Game 1, 72-71, but both teams know better because the Rockets gave Coach Phil Jackson’s team everything it could handle Saturday.

Houston Coach Jeff Van Gundy’s stale approach may not be very exciting, but the deliberate style gives the Rockets their best chance against the favored Lakers, who lose steam when they have to rely on a half-court offense.

A low-scoring game also fits Houston center Yao Ming, who fouled out late in Game 1 with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Yao is the Rockets’ future, but he can’t play heavy minutes in an up-tempo game. It’s up to Houston guards Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley (14 combined turnovers in Game 1) to take better care of the ball.

Rockets’ move: In the third quarter Saturday, Houston outscored the Lakers, 17-9, and did a great job of getting transition baskets. The key to the run was the rebounding of forwards Kelvin Cato and Jim Jackson, who combined for nine in the quarter. They also ran the floor, taking advantage of Shaquille O’Neal and Karl Malone, who have a tendency to spend an extra count looking for offensive rebounds.

The Rockets also should feature more pick-and-rolls, which were effective in Game 1 thanks to screens set by Yao. Francis has to stay aggressive and force his will on the Laker defense as he did in the second half Saturday. When he drives to the basket, Francis opens lanes for his teammates in the Laker defense, especially when O’Neal and Malone move to help.

By double-teaming Kobe Bryant as much as possible and fouling O’Neal late, Houston played a strong defensive game Saturday. But the Rockets have to rotate quicker to shut down the Lakers’ reserve perimeter shooters. In Game 1, Kareem Rush, Derek Fisher and Devean George combined to make four of five three-point attempts. In a low-scoring game like Game 1, three-point baskets play a much bigger role than usual.

Lakers’ move: By getting O’Neal involved in the offense early, the Lakers scored the first eight points Saturday. To combat O’Neal’s strong start, the Rockets turned to a collapsing defense and the strategy left open perimeter shots for the Lakers, who made six of 15 three-point attempts.

Jackson should be credited for giving more minutes to Rush and Fisher in the second half because they gave the Lakers additional stationary shooters. The key for the Lakers is ball movement, and they need Bryant to remain within the team system and not try to beat two and three defenders off the dribble.

The Laker half-court defense was strong in Game 1 but they still had players drifting away from their assignments and it almost cost them on the Rockets’ final possession. Bryant moved inside to help on a Francis drive to the basket, leaving Jim Jackson, who missed a potential game-winning jump shot.

Something to watch for: During the regular season, Fisher shot a woeful 35.2% from the field, but he’s a proven playoff performer. In Game 1, Fisher scored five points, including an important fourth-quarter three-pointer, and played solid defense on Francis. If the Lakers are going to win it all this season, they are going to need more efforts like Game 1 from Fisher, who’s nursing a groin injury.