Dodgers Complete Comeback Against 'Stros

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Houston Astros 4-3, splitting the series two games apiece. Houston opened up with a three-run lead after the third inning, but the Dodgers scratched back for two runs before tying the game in the seventh on two errors by pitcher Alberto Arias. In the eighth, Matt Kemp homered with two out to give the Dodgers the lead for good. Jonathan Broxton rebounded from a tough outing yesterday to get his 22nd save. Kemp also doubled and scored all four runs, and Brad Ausmus doubled twice, driving in Kemp both times. Andre Ethier had three hits, and Rafael Furcal had an RBI. Michael Bourn doubled and scored a run for the Astros, and Geoff Blum hit a two-run homer.

Orlando Hudson injured his left wrist after bumping into Astros pitcher Russ Ortiz while running to first. It is the same wrist that Hudson underwent surgery on after he injured it last season. However, the Dodgers are saying the injury was sustained in a different area, and it is not serious. He is listed as day-to-day, and will have X-rays.

In addition to Jason Schmidt, who will make his first start since 2007 tomorrow against the Reds, two other Dodgers are on the verge of returning from the disabled list. Hong-Chih Kuo is making progress in his rehab starts, and Doug Mientkiewicz is ready begin his rehab and could be back in a matter of weeks.

Kershaw's Gem Helps Dodgers Beat Astros

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Houston Astros 5-2, preventing their first three-game losing streak of the season. Clayton Kershaw was dominant, shutting Houston out for seven innings on just two hits and one walk. The bullpen struggled though in the eighth, and Jonathan Broxton loaded the bases in the ninth, but he struck out the side and earned his 21st save of the season. Orlando Hudson had three hits, including a triple, scored twice and drove in a run. Manny Ramirez doubled and Matt Kemp had two RBI's and a run scored. Chris Coste doubled and scored a run for the Astros, and Jason Michaels drove in a run.

Before the game, the Dodgers announced that Jason Schmidt will be activated on Monday, where he will start that day against Cincinnati.

Billingsley Gets Slaughtered in Loss

The Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the Houston Astros 8-1, their fourth loss to Houston in five games this year. Chad Billingsley had his worst outing this season, giving up six runs on nine hits in less than two innings of work before being pulled. Roy Oswalt was just as good as Billingsley was bad, allowing only one run on four hits while going the distance. Orlando Hudson tripled on a ball lost in the sky, and scored on Russell Martin's RBI-ground out. Miguel Tejada homered for the 'Stros, and Ivan Rodriguez had four hits, two RBI's, and two runs scored. Hunter Pence knocked in two runs, and Kazuo Matsui, Michael Bourn and Carlos Lee each scored a run.

Astros Silence Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the Houston Astros 3-0, their first game of the second-half. Randy Wolf pitched six quality innings before allowing three singles to start the seventh, while Wandy Rodriguez was lights-out for Houston, shutting LA down. The Dodgers left nine men on base, and batted a collective 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Orlando Hudson was the sole bright spot of the game, notching three hits including a double. Kaz Matsui doubled and drove in a run for the 'Stros, and Humberto Quintero hit his first homer of the year.

Corey Wade was placed on the 15-day disabled list. The Dodgers called up Blake DeWitt to replace him in the roster.

Editor's Note: Artest for Ariza?

Trevor Ariza took a gamble, one that ultimately did not work out the way he thought it would. He thought that he could get the Lakers to up their offer, to put more cash on the table. Unfortunately for him, the Lakers found a more cost-effective substitute with Ron Artest. And now it looks like an old-fashioned swap, with LA taking Artest while Houston signs Ariza. In the long run, the Rockets have a better investment. Trevor is young and athletic, and can help a team that struggled to defend at times last season. Artest gives the Lakers a helping hand, a trustworthy defender who can take pressure off Kobe Bryant. He's a tenacious player who will leave it all out on the court. Both teams have much to gain from their respective transactions. How much though will be seen during the season.

If Ariza does leave for the Lone Star State, the Lakers are now in a prime position to resign Lamar Odom. One of the most versatile players the league has ever seen, Odom grew up playing basketball on the streets of Queens with Ron Artest. Artest's arrival, coupled with Ariza's departure, makes Odom's return almost inevitable.

Game 7: Lakers Cruise to Series Victory

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 89-70, winning the Western Conference Semi-Finals four games to three. The Lakers returned to form after struggling in Game 6, and used stifling defense to keep Houston from mounting a comeback. LA out-rebounded the Rockets 55-33, as well as 13-5 on the offensive glass, and blocked 10 of Houston's shots. The Rockets could not score more than 20 points in any quarter, and only shot .368 from the field. Pau Gasol dominated the inside, scoring 21 points, grabbing 18 rebounds, and collecting 3 blocks. Trevor Ariza had 15 points, and Kobe Bryant added 14, three steals, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. Andrew Bynum scored 14 points, snagged 6 boards, and blocked 2 shots. Aaron Brooks led Houston with 13 points, and Luis Scola had 11.

The Lakers will play the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals.

Editor's Note: How the West Can Be Won

I won't keep talking about how the Lakers need to win this Game 7 against the Rockets, or about how much it means for LA to come out strong or anything else like that. You already know that. Instead, I'll tell you how the Lakers must play in order to win:

1. Contain Brooks: Aaron Brooks may not be the best point-guard, but he is one of the fastest. And that exploits Derek Fisher's one weakness: he's slow. Fisher needs to be a bench-warmer for this game, and let Shannon Brown and Jordan Farmar try to keep up with Brooks. Remember, with Fisher the Lakers are 2-3 in this series; without him they are 1-0.
2. Exploit the Froncourt: Luis Scola is not as good as his Game 6 performance led some to believe. He is Houston's only legitimate inside presence, which should mean easy pickings for Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol, and Lamar Odom. They need to attack the basket, no matter what the score is.
3. Ariza Needs to Arize: Trevor Ariza has been a non-factor in this series, so much so that Phil Jackson won't put him in the game when the Lakers need stops. Ariza is the Lakers' best defender, and he can be deadly when he's on. The only problem is he's been off. Ariza needs to wake up and become a fierce threat.
4. Either Make It or Don't Try: The Lakers' three-point shooting has been consistent all season. Or at least in each individual game. Their early shooting is always an indicator of how they will do from behind the arc for the entire 48 minutes. If they're hitting their shots, then they should keep going. But if they're missing, they have to give up and attack the basket. They can't keep settling for jump-shots during the third quarter.
5. Bench-Warmers need to Light Fire: The bench became more critical after Yao Ming's departure left Houston short-handed. Luke Walton, Brown, Farmar, and Sasha Vujacic need to take advantage of the tired players on the court.

If the Lakers can follow these guidelines, they will find themselves struggling to keep up with Denver by next week.

UPDATE: Check, check, and check. The Lakers met all criteria, and are now in the Western Conference Finals.

Editor's Note: It's Now or Never

The Lakers had their chances. They could have easily put away the Rockets. Everyone thought they would. Except for Houston. Now they can upset the Lakers and advance to the Western Conference Finals with a win on Sunday. But there will be a large obstacle in their way. The Rockets will have to deal with a raucous Staples Center crowd expecting them to fail. They will face a rejuvenated Laker team that only needs the right motivation to enter Kill-Mode. They will face a strong front-court in Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, and Lamar Odom that won't let Luis Scola trick them again. They will face a Kobe Bryant with a serious chip on his shoulder. They will face a Laker team that won't give in so easily. Everything needs to come together for the Lakers on Sunday. The season hangs in the balance.

Game 6: Lakers Slow Out of Gate in Loss

The Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Houston Rockets 95-80, tying the series at 3 games apiece and forcing a decisive Game 7 to determine both teams' fate. The Lakers were put into an early hole after Houston took a 17-1 lead to start the game, and never recovered. LA scored just 15 points in the first and fourth quarters as their poor shooting did them in; the Lakers shot just a paltry .357 from the field. Kobe Bryant led the Purple and Gold with 32 points, and Pau Gasol added 14 points and 11 rebounds. Jordan Farmar was the only other Laker to score in double-figures with 13 points. Aaron Brooks exploited LA's perimeter defense as he scored 26 points, and Luis Scola put up 24 and 12 rebounds. Carl Landry added 15 points off the bench. Game 7 will be played on Sunday in Los Angeles.

Game 5: Lakers Exact Revenge

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 118-78, taking a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. The Lakers dominated from the beginning, outscoring Houston 35-24 in the first quarter. The Rockets then scored 15 points in each of the next two quarters. LA put up a .512 shooting percentage, while Houston shot just .326. The Purple and Gold defeated the Rockets in almost every catagory, including rebounds, assists, steals, turnovers, blocked shots, and fouls. Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 26 points, and Pau Gasol added 16 points and 13 rebounds. Andrew Bynum had his best night of the playoffs, scoring 14 points and grabbing 6 rebounds, and Trevor Ariza had 13 and 3 steals. Jordan Farmar, Lamar Odom, and Josh Powell each scored in double-figures off the bench. Aaron Brooks led Houston with 14 points, Luis Scola had 12, and Von Wafer added 13.

Game 4: Lakers Go Silent in Loss

The Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Houston Rockets 99-87 in Game 4 of the Western Conference semi-finals, evening the series at two games apiece. The Lakers were quiet right from the start, exiting the first-quarter trailing 29-16, and entering halftime down by 18. Only a 33-16 fourth quarter made the final score respectable. LA was only 11-for-18 from the free-throw line, and Houston was 17-for-20. Both teams were evenly matched in shooting percentage, turnovers, and blocked shots, while the Rockets won in rebounds, assists, and fouls. Pau Gasol dominated with the absence of Yao Ming, scoring 30 points, and Kobe Bryant was quiet with just 15. Shannon Brown added 14 off the bench. Without Yao Ming, the Rockets took advantage of their back-court offense as Aaron Brooks scored 34 points. Shane Battier had five 3-pointers and finished with 24 points, and Luis Scola added 11 and 14 rebounds.

Down and Yao-t: Ming Leaves Playoffs

Houston Rockets center Yao Ming will be out for the rest of the playoffs with a broken left foot. Yao left Friday night's game against the Lakers limping after posting a double-double. Exams revealed a hairline-fracture in the foot which will require 8-12 weeks of recovery. Yao has been the focal point of the Rockets' offense after Tracy McGrady went down with an injury. Ron Artest's flagrant-2 foul from Friday was downgraded to a flagrant-1 by the NBA. If any player collects four flagrant-foul points during the playoffs, they are automatically suspended for one game. Both Artest and Kobe Bryant have one point, and Derek Fisher has two.

Game 3: Five's For Fighting

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 108-94, taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. The Lakers were without the services of Derek Fisher after his suspension, but made the most of his absence as all starting five Lakers scored in double-figures. LA held Houston to just .417 shooting from the field and forced 17 turnovers, compared to the Purple and Golds' six. The Rockets had 19 offensive rebounds, but could not outscore the Lakers in all four quarters. Kobe Bryant finished the game with 33 points, and Jordan Farmar had an impact in his first career start, getting 12 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, and two steals. Lamar Odom added 16 points and 13 rebounds, and Trevor Ariza scored 13 points and grabbed 4 steals. Ron Artest led the Rockets with 25 points before leaving the game with a flagrant-2 foul in the final seconds of the fourth quarter after hitting Pau Gasol hard. Yao Ming added 19 points and 14 rebounds.

Game 2: Lakers Even Series

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets , evening the series at one game apiece. The game became very physical very fast, with five players collecting technical fouls and Derek Fisher was ejected with a flagrant-foul 2. The Lakers opened up the gate early with a 41-point first quarter, but the Rockets quickly turned the tide by tying the score at halftime. However, LA out-scored Houston by 13 in the second-half and held on to win the game. Kobe Bryant put up 40 points to lead all scorers, and Pau Gasol added 22 points and 14 rebounds. Fisher had 12 points as the Lakers were a perfect .500 from the field. Ron Artest led the Rockets with 25 points, and Carl Landry added 21 points off the bench. Artest was also ejected after engaging in an argument with Bryant.

Editor's Note: Asleep at the Wheel

It was a tough one to watch. The Lakers were punched, kicked, and pounded every which way with blood literally falling onto the hardwood. Call it rust, call it a wake-up call, call it Houston's tenacity, whatever you call it, this loss is inexcusable. The main problem has become the perimeter. The Lakers shot a combined 2-for-18 from behind the arc, just after they finished the Utah series shooting .446% from downtown in five games! The Rockets have the advantage in the frontcourt with Yao Ming, leaving the outside even more important. Derek Fisher showed his age when trying to keep up with Aaron Brooks. The pressure falls on Sasha Vujacic, Shannon Brown, and Jordan Farmar to hit their shots. Without any backcourt offense, the Lakers will struggle to contain Houston.

Game 1: Rockets Stun Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Houston Rockets 100-92, dropping the first game of the Western Conference semi-finals. The Lakers managed to shoot just .448 from the field, including a meager 2-for-18 from behind the arc. LA committed 26 fouls, and sent Houston to the line 29 times. The Purple and Gold only had 19 free-throw opportunities, and hit just 12 of them. Kobe Bryant scored 32 points and collected 8 rebounds, and Pau Gasol added 14 points and 13 rebounds. Yao Ming dominated with 28 points and 10 rebounds, and Ron Artest scored 21 points and threw in 7 assists. Aaron Brooks easily overcame his matchup with Derek Fisher to get 19 points. The Lakers lose their home-court advantage with the defeat.

Editor's Note: Lakers Have Clear Advantage

The Lakers will play the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of the Western Conference semi-finals tomorrow, looking to remove Yao Ming and his buddies from playoff contention. If there was ever a case where the second series was easier than the first, the Lakers have found it. They swept Houston in the season 4-0, and nearly hold the advantage over the Rockets in every category. Houston won't contain Kobe Bryant, and they have openly said they have no plans to. Yao Ming is big, but he's slow and will have trouble if he can be successfully double-teamed by Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol. Ron Artest cares more about getting into Kobe's head than the actual game. The Lakers' main concern will be the perimeter defense. Houston has the fire power to rain three-pointers down all game with guys like Aaron Brooks, Shane Battier, Von Wafer, and Luis Scola. The pressure will be on Derek Fisher, Shannon Brown, and Sasha Vujacic to protect the arc. Other than that, this series appears to be a piece of cake.

Lakers Set to Face Houston

The Houston Rockets eliminated the Portland Trail Blazers 92-78, winning the series four games to two. The Rockets will now face the Los Angeles Lakers in the the Western Conference semi-finals. The Lakers won the season series with Houston 4-0 during the regular season. Facing Houston is a relief for most Laker fans, as LA finished the season 2-2 against the Blazers, with the home team winning each time.

Billingsley's Gem has Dodgers Avoid Sweep

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Houston Astros 2-0, snapping a two-game losing streak. Chad Billingsley was sharp, not allowing any runs on just three hits and two walks. Manny Ramirez had an RBI-single in the first inning, and Casey Blake had an RBI-double to give LA an insurance run. Orlando Hudson had two hits, including a double, and Matt Kemp scored a run. Jonathan Broxton had two strike outs to get his fifth save of the season. The Astros had only four hits, two of which came from Miguel Tejada.

Offense, Belisario Sputter as Dodgers Fall

The Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the Houston Astros 6-5, their fifth loss of the season. The Dodgers entered the sixth inning trailing by two runs, but Manny Ramirez and Andre Ethier had back-to-back shots and Casey Blake hit a two-run bomb to put the Dodgers up 4-2. However, Randy Wolf gave the lead right back, surrendering four runs in seven innings of work, including two in the bottom of the sixth to leave the game tied. James Loney doubled in Ethier to put LA up by one, but Ronald Belisario coughed up the lead, allowing two runs on three hits, one a home run. Ethier finished with three hits, including a double. Matt Kemp's hitting streak was halted at 14 games. The Boys in Blue ultimately went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring-position, while leaving six on base. Hunter Pence and Lance Berkman both went deep for the 'Stros, and Pence drove in two and scored twice.