Rockets Don't Need Yao to Crush Lakers

Coming into Game 4 against the Lakers, and playing without Yao Ming, the Rockets knew that they'd have to out-work, out-hustle, and out-shoot L.A. for 48 minutes if they were going to have a chance to win.

That's exactly what they did.

Houston jumped on the Lakers from the opening tip, and led by as many as 29 points on their way to evening the series at two games apiece.

So, how exactly did this happen?

Rockets 99, Lakers 87: Recap | Box Score | Sunday's Scores

Quite simply, the Rockets wanted this game more than the Lakers did. And it was evident from the very start.

While the Lakers mentally did not come out with the energy and focus to put away a team playing without its best player, Houston's gritty group of role players did exactly the opposite. Knowing they'd need an all-out assault to take down this Lakers team, they brought one: Houston opened with a 9-0 lead, stretched it to 19-4, and all the way to 26-9 before L.A. closed to within 13 to end the period.

The Rockets extended their lead back to 18 by halftime, and did so by hitting largely wide open shots. They got these looks by exhibiting excellent ball movement, and the Lakers just weren't in the frame of mind to close out on the shooters, especially from behind the three-point arc. Shane Battier had hit just 3-of-12 from downtown through the first three games, but went 5-of-10 in Game 4, and opened by hitting his first three from long range.

The Lakers had been a third quarter team all season long, but it was the Rockets who kicked it up a notch and ran L.A. out of the gym to start the period. Houston turned the game into a laugher by opening the period on a 21-4 run to put the game so far out of reach, that a furious fourth quarter rally by the Lakers to cut it to 10 wasn't even enough to have Rockets fans worried in the slightest -- because by the time the Lakers got that close, there were just 23 seconds remaining in the ball game.

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Injured Houston Rockets center Yao Ming cheers on his team from the stands as they defeat the Los Angeles Lakers to win Game 4 of their NBA Western Conference semi-final basketball game in Houston, Texas, May 10, 2009. REUTERS/Donna Carson (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)

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Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (C) is surrounded by Houston Rockets guard Kyle Lowry, Luis Scola (7), Carl Landry (14) and Ron Artest (R) during Game 4 of their NBA Western Conference semi-final basketball game in Houston, Texas, May 10, 2009. REUTERS/Richard Carson (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)

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Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant sits on the bench during a loss to the Houston Rockets in Game 4 of their NBA Western Conference semi-final basketball game in Houston, Texas, May 10, 2009. REUTERS/Richard Carson (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)

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HOUSTON - MAY 10: Aaron Brooks #0 of the Houston Rockets takes a pass from Ron Artest #96 of the Houston Rockets and scores against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Toyota Center on May 10, 2009 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE(Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Aaron Brooks

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HOUSTON - MAY 10: Ron Artest #96 of the Houston Rockets and Kobe Brynat #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers talk to Michael Smith #38 of the NBA officials in Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Toyota Center on May 10, 2009 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE(Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Michael Smith;Ron Artest;Kobe Bryant

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HOUSTON - MAY 10: Aaron Brooks #0 of the Houston Rockets shoots the ball over Jordan Farmar #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center on May 10, 2009 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Aaron Brooks;Jordan Farmar

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HOUSTON - MAY 10: Guard Derek Fisher #2 and Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers during play against the Houston Rockets in Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center on May 10, 2009 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Derek Fisher;Kobe Bryant

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HOUSTON - MAY 10: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots the ball in Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Toyota Center on May 10, 2009 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE(Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kobe Bryant

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HOUSTON - MAY 10: Lamar Odom #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers falls to the floor in Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Toyota Center on May 10, 2009 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE(Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lamar Odom

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HOUSTON - MAY 10: Yao Ming #11, Dikembe Mutumbo #55 and Shane Battier #31 of the Houston Rockets watch the game in Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Toyota Center on May 10, 2009 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE(Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shane Battier;Dikembe Mutumbo;Yao Ming

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Aaron Brooks led all scorers with 34 points, and Shane Battier finished with 23. Kobe Bryant finished with just 15 points on 7-for-17 shooting, and while Pau Gasol did end up with 30, Lamar Odom, Derek Fisher, and Trevor Ariza combined for just nine points, thanks in large part to Houston just playing with a ton of effort on the defensive end of the floor from the game's opening minutes.

The Lakers are to blame for not matching the Rockets' energy at the start, but it was Houston's excellent defense, great ball movement, and hot shooting from downtown that was the reason for their runaway victory.

Phil Jackson told the assembled media post-game to "give [Houston] some [expletive] credit, I mean, for real." As his Lakers prepare for Game 5, they would be wise to take that advice.