It took a bit of time, but the waiting game for the Lakers is officially over.  They have a second round opponent.  Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce..

The Houston Rockets!

Hence the whole outer space tie in with the header.  While we're sure to get much deeper into pre-series analysis- that's how we roll, people- here are some fun things to digest before the real fun begins.  A primer, if you will, full of facts fun-and-useful, interesting-and-useful, and fun-but-not-particularly-useful.  Because, again, that's how we roll.

The Season Series: Lakers, 4-0.

Game 1, Nov. 9 in Los Angeles: Lakers 111, Rockets 82.  Behind after the first quarter, LA uses big second and fourth quarters to pull away.  23 for Kobe, 20 for Pau, Yao Ming limited to 11 shots.

Game 2, Jan. 13 in Houston: Lakers 105, Rockets 100.  A Kobe triple with 27 ticks left in the fourth puts the Lakers ahead after a big fourth quarter push.  No Ron Artest, no T-Mac for Houston, but Von Wafer scores a career high 23 points.

Game 3, March 11 in Houston: Lakers 102, Rockets 96.  One of the more inspirational Lakers victories of the season.  Without Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom, the Lakers end Houston's 12 game home win streak.  Also provides the ever entertaining Kobe Bryant/Ron Artest TrashTalkapallooza. 

Game 4, April 3 in Los Angeles: Lakers 93, Rockets 81.  LA holds Houston to a mere 37 second half points, and cover a 39.5% shooting performance by forcing 18 Rockets TOs. 

Some numbers:

(Apologies for the late post, as there was some confusion over whose turn it was to write.  Well, not really "some" confusion, as BK didn't screw up anything.  My bad.)

For the Lake Show, life these days is all about the waiting game.  Waiting to learn their second round  opponent, a fate that could be decided this evening.  Should the Houston Rockets prove false fears over unconquerable first rounds and close out Portland, their eccentric forward Ron Artest may have already provided semi-finals bulletin board material.  Always good for colorful verbage, Bill Bill just told the equally colorful (in all senses) Craig Sager that Kobe Bryant is no Brandon Roy when crowning "the best he's ever played against." 

Now, did Artest literally mean that Portland's #7 is a better player than the Lakers' #24 (or for that matter, the Cavs' #23)?  Depends on the semantics, according to The Dream Shake's Tom Martin.   Either way, word's already spread like mono at a game of spin the bottle and by the time those words are pounded to death, Artest might as well have declared Mamba the second coming of Harold Miner.  For all intents and purposes, it's officially on.

The guy I really wanna see play, by the way, is Artest's buddy Mike from Queensbridge who spent a little time "inside" as a teenager.  The way Ron tossed around compliments, dude was the greatest player since Sliced Bread (who basically excelled at everything).

Just as a quick reminder, we're looking to answer some blogosphere Q's during tomorrow's 710 ESPN podkast.  Anything you'd like addressed?  Send an email to kambrothers@yahoo.com or our "Kamenetzky Brothers" Facebook page.  No promises your question will get picked, but I GUARANTEE it won't if you don't send it our way. 

That's right.  GUARANTEE.  Just like Joe Namath.

AK

With the Lakers still a few days away (at minimum) from opening their second round series, it was a crickets-and-tumbleweeds afternoon in El Segundo.  Call it a light workout, especially for the headliners.  Phil Jackson was away to attend to some personal business, and by the time we arrived Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, and Trevor Ariza had already left the building.  Like that trio, Derek Fisher and Pau Gasol basically spent the day getting treatment and continuing to let their bodies recoup.  That limited the on-court activity to a three-on-three game among Andrew Bynum, Josh Powell, Shannon Brown, Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic, and Adam Morrison. 

When it was over, Bynum took to the far end of the gym with Kurt Rambis to work on his face up game. 

Rambis was constantly working to help Drew get better extension in his follow through and arc on his shot as Bynum took reps from the free throw line extended and near the elbow (or at least close to those spots- it's a little tough to determine exact location from 35 yards away).  I wasn't wearing a stopwatch, but my unofficial count had it at about a half hour of extra shooting and instruction. 

When it was over, Bynum spoke with the short, pudgy, camera-and-mic types:

We also had some time with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who gave a little more insight into Bynum's progress (or, if you prefer, lack thereof, at least in round one).  Click below the jump for the full conversation. 

Yes, it's Shrimp on a Treadmill Set to the Benny Hill Theme!  (Yakety Sax, for those looking to extend proper royalty payments.)

Or, if you prefer, this very interesting interview with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (former Laker, very tall) from yesterday's Mason and Ireland Show on 710 ESPN.

BK

After Monday's series clinching win over the Jazz, Lamar Odom joked that he hoped the Houston/Portland series, continuing tonight in the Rose Garden, goes a full seven games with "eight overtimes" in each. Of course, for that to happen the Blazers will have to throw on their rally chapeaus, because with a win tonight the Rockets can close things out. 

On the one hand, it's better for the Lakers if Houston wins this series, because without question LA matches up better against the Rockets. 

On the other, would it be such a bad thing for Houston to have to grind things out deeper into the week? 

More video from last night, below the jump.

Also, we'd like to answer some blogosphere questions during tomorrow's 710 ESPN podkast, so if there's a topic you'd like addressed, please send it to either kambrothers@yahoo.com or the Kamenetzky Brothers Facebook page.  I would advise either approach over leaving the inquiry within the comments section, where items become easier to miss. 

No guarantees we'll read your question, but we'll try to hit as many as possible.

AK

 It's a measure of the high expectations for the Lakers that after beating the Utah Jazz in five games in their best-of-seven Western Conference Quarterfinals series, the death blow coming in Monday night's 107-96 victory, that the focus just doesn't go away from what the Lakers aren't doing.  This despite winning all four games by 10-plus points, and very nearly sweeping the disappointing-but-still-pretty-damn-good Utah squad. 

They don't really have anyone to blame but themselves, which is why Lamar Odom's 26 point, 15 rebound,four assist, three block night- his third straight double-double and fifth quality outing of the series- wasn't the big story.  Nor was it Kobe's 31 on 10-21 from the floor or Trevor Ariza's Swiss Army night (12/7/4 with a steal and two blocks). 

Nope. 

Breakdown below...

Like Clint Eastwood at the end of "Unforgiven," the Lakers are seeking closure.  But without the guns and killing, of course, because that's at least a one-game suspension.

The jabber box is below.

AK