It might all come down to the one game for the La Lakers (44-37). By the time they tip off with the Houston Rockets (45-36) on Wednesday night, they will probably know whether they've to win to really make the playoffs. Currently, they are a full game in front of the Utah Jazz for the eighth playoff spot. Utah plays at the Memphis Grizzlies earlier on Wednesday evening. That game should be coming to an end across the time the Lakers-Rockets game starts. If the Jazz win on the street (because the tie-breaker is held by them, the Lakers would have to overcome the Rockets at the Staples Center to reach the postseason. The stakes get even larger considering a Lakers victory would not only clinch a place, but would also allow them to maneuver after dark Rockets into seventh place. The growing season collection could be tied at two apiece and the Lakers have a much better conference report. Ergo, they'd then have the seventh seed and experience the San Antonio Spurs in the very first round. The Rockets possess the tiebreaker on the Jazz, so that they would then be eighth and locked into a first-round game with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Typically, this could be considered a scenario the Lakers and their fans felt 100 % more comfortable with. But having lost Kobe Bryant for your postseason, even their best-case scenario brings about a huge amount of question. The Lakers won their fourth straight on Sunday. They enjoyed their first sport without Bryant and knocked off a possible first-round playoff opposition. They dominated the San Antonio Spurs on the glass behind the attempts of Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol.AHoward had 26 points and 17 rebounds while Gasol had seven points and 16 rebounds. L.A. also got 23 items from Steve Blake in the 91-86 win. Meanwhile, the Rockets happened to a loss to the Phoenix Suns on the trail. The Suns had four participants with 20 or more points to best the Rockets despite Chandler Parsons' 24 points. La and Houston have played this season to three high-scoring games. On Nov. 18, the Lakers won 119-108 at the Staples Center. Dwight Howard had 28 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Lakers, but Bryant's triple-double was huge. The Mamba had 22 factors, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in the glory. MsJonaVideo on YouTube The Rockets were light emitting diode by Parsons' 24 items. In the next meeting on Dec. 4 in Houston, the Rockets' counter offset 39 factors from Bryant to eek out a 107-105 gain. Toney Douglas (22 points) and Greg Smith (21 points) came off the table to provide a huge push to the Rockets. MsJonaVideo on YouTube Houston employed the hack-a-Dwight strategy in this game. Howard built only 8-of-16 from the line. In the the newest head-to-head matchup on Jan. 8, the Rockets again defended their house court with a 125-112 win. Patti Poole on Youtube Howard didn't play in this sport and James Harden had his greatest performance of the year against the Lakers. He went for 31 points to cause the Rockets. Bryant had 20 points and Metta World Peace had 24 points in a losing effort. The Lakers have reached home because of this all-important next game. Who gains and wins control of the seventh spot? Here is the data you will need to watch this critical regular-season finale. When:AWednesday, April 17, at 10:30 p.m. ET Where:AStaples Center in L. A. TV:AESPN Incidents (perACBS Sports) La Lakers Houston Rockets The Rockets have no injuries to record. Pau Gasol is averaging 19.5 points, 11.2 rebounds and 6.2 helps in his last four games Likely Starters Lakers James Harden is averaging 22 points per game contrary to the Lakers in 2013 Rockets BiggestAStorylines How Far Can the Lakers Go Without Bryant? If the Lakers do certainly make the postseason, what's their ceiling without the Mamba? In my opinion they could be an extremely dangerous team since the strategy for defending them has completely changed. Los Angeles does not have any other option but to work inside-out now. Howard and Gasol are becoming the most effective offensive threats and the Lakers depends on a genuine high-low post approach. For me, here is the way the staff must have been playing all time. As good as Bryant is, I do believe a few people will be surprised by how well the group plays in the postseasona'if they make it. Bleacher Report's Eric Ball took notice of LA's use of Howard and Gasol as well: With Howard and Gasol finding more details, they will be more blocked on the glass and in on the end. That principle has already started since the two combined to take down 33 boards on Sunday. I am maybe not planning to say they'd be reliable competitors to come out of the Western Conference, but I firmly believe they'd have a possiblity to gain a series with the Spurs. The Spurs are certainly a very good group, so a first-round leave would not be a shock either. On Sunday but the Lakers did only defeat them without Bryant. That was a regular-season game formally, nevertheless the Lakers have been in playoff function at this time. If they did get past the Spurs, they'd probably face the Denver Nuggets in the next round. This really is another staff I possibly could see the Lakers fighting well against. The Nuggets do not have a real star and I am not a large believer in clubs with collection casts in the playoffs. If they continue to play as hard as they've over the last week, the conference finals could be reached by the Lakers in a best-case scenario. Could the Rockets Win a Large Game on the Road? No matter what happens, the Rockets will not have home-court advantage within their first-round playoff series. They'll have to show they can win a casino game against a hardcore team on the way if they desire to progress. They may score a important confidence enhancement and huge gain by knocking off the Lakers on Wednesday evening. Houston will be playing in a playoff atmosphere for the very first time this year. Besides Harden and Asik, not many of the Rockets have postseason experience. Only Aaron Brooks, James Anderson, Carlos Delfino and Francisco Garcia have performed in the playoffs. Will the rest with this young group prepare yourself to rise to event? I've my doubts. Key Matchup: Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol versus. Omer Asik and Greg Johnson The Rockets can not let Howard run wild on Wednesday. If he weighs a, 20-rebound performance to them, the Lakers' photographers will get available looks and Gasol will have a ship load of helps from the high-post. Asik and Smith can not match Howard and Gasol's bad talents, but they can be just like effective as rebounders and wheel guards. The Rockets want to be in transition and that begins with Asik's ability to get defensive rebounds. If Howard is producing second-chance buckets, the Lakers may have an enormous advantage. On the other end, if Howard and Gasol are keeping the Rockets to at least one shot, the consequences for the missed three-point attempts will soon be critical for Houston. The Rockets take more threes than every other team in the NBA. They're extremely difficult to defeat, when they are making them. But if they're not dropping, the Lakers will have a wholesome number of change opportunities. Their twin towers will dominate inside. Forecast The Lakers will not lose this game in the home. The benefit this staff must have enjoyed in the color all period is likely to be present Wednesday night. Except the Rockets have the three-point shot trapped on intelligent, the Lakers will claim and win the seventh seed. My prediction is Lakers 110, Rockets 103. Than anybody should admit because more basketball is watched by me, follow me.
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