Houston at Los Angeles

The Lakers got a rude awakening in game one as they were beaten rather soundly by the Rockets. It was a massive upset as the Lakers were laying 9 points but lost by 8. The problem was that Kobe took 31 shots, and was off, and the rest of the starters took just 40 combined. When they got open looks they just weren't able to connect and Bryant himself was just 1-7 beyond the arc. I look for the Lakers to be "awake" in this game and for Kobe to get everyone involved early and get others going so they can knock down some shots. The Rockets played about as good as they could play, but that always looks to be the case when your opponent is struggling to shoot the ball. Credit can certainly be given to the Rocket defense, but even when the Lakers went to the line they hit just 63% with no one on them at all. It was simply an off-night for the Lakers who struggled to shake off the rust from their long layoff. The Rockets have not been a good team on the road and they have not been a good team off an ATS win as they have followed with an 11-24 ATS mark off of an ATS win. The Lakers are too good not to come out with their "A" game in this one and that game is more than capable of a 10+ point win. The Lakers get the win and cover here.