Yao is reason for battle cry

Staff writer Mike Bresnahan ties up some loose ends on days of Lakers playoff games.

From the message boards

Posted by Tmac1335 at chron.com, the website of the Houston Chronicle: “I almost had tears in my eyes when they showed [how] Yao told the [trainer] that he wanted to come back and play. Truly a warrior!”

You weren’t the only one crying. The Lakers were too.

Ring the bell

TNT analyst Kenny Smith used a boxing analogy to describe Game 1 of the Rockets and Lakers.

“It looks like a guy who had an easy fight playing the Utah Jazz,” he said. “Then all of a sudden, he’s in the ring against someone who is fighting back in the Houston Rockets. So you went from a guy who’s dancing to a guy who’s slugging. The Rockets are slugging right now.”

Now that the gloves are off, here’s how I saw Game 1: Houston = Pacquiao, Lakers = Hatton.

Q&A; of the day

Question: As much as I like Kobe, do you think it’s time to end the Kobe era by letting him opt out and then go for either LeBron or Dwyane Wade? Kobe’s basketball IQ just doesn’t seem that good and when he doesn’t score, he doesn’t contribute in other areas like those other guys. LeBron and/or Wade in 2010!

-- John in Hong Kong

Answer: Wow. I didn’t know it was possible to hear people jumping off the Lakers’ bandwagon all the way in China.

Worst-case Lakers scenario tonight

Anything that reflects, looks like, bears a resemblance to, is similar to, reminds you of, or has the appearance of Game 1. (I think I just dumped out the entre thesaurus listing for “resembles.”)

Final thought

Is it too late to take back my original prediction of Lakers in five? I’ll stick with the home team tonight . . . I think.

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mike.bresnahan@latimes.com