No Yao Ming, No Problem for the Rockets in Game Four

Just when you thought the Los Angeles Lakers would finally be able to take over the series against the Rockets and start looking toward the Western Conference finals they drop game four with their worse loss of the playoffs.

Kobe Bryant was definitely not on his game, the Lakers supporting cast failed to step up yet again and the Rockets capitalized despite not having Yao Ming.

Coming into game four you would have thought the Lakers were ready to take over the series with the news of Yao Ming's foot injury keeping him out the rest of the postseason, but it pretty much had the complete opposite effect and was just what the Rockets needed to keep in this series.

Yao Ming is obviously a huge part of the Rockets offense and defense. He is a force inside of the paint on both ends of the floor and believe it or not he is Houston's best free throw shooter, but the Rockets were able to win 99-87 without the big fella in a must win situation at home.

Once I heard that Yao was out I thought it was Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol's time to shine. With no Yao or Mutombo in the paint Bynum and Gasol should have had huge offensive numbers in game four, but that just did not happen. Pau did actually step it up a little with his team high 30 points and nine rebounds, but Bynum put up and ugly goose egg with no points, one board and three personal fouls in 12 minutes.

It was open season for the Rockets though as everyone seemed to get in on the action, except for Ron Artest who had a horrible night shooting the basketball as he only made four out of 19 from the field for eight points, but he did have 10 boards and six assists.

Aaron Brooks was the leader for Houston on Mother's day as he light up the Lakers for a game high 34 points. Brooks hit four for nine three pointers was perfect from the charity stripe hitting 6 for 6 and pretty much kept the Lakers on their heels all night long. He continues to be a match up nightmare not just for Derek Fisher, but all of the Lakers point guards in this series.

Shane Battier also got in on the action hitting five three pointers finishing with 23 points and keeping Kobe Bryant in check holding the former MVP to just 15 points on the night.

One major concern for the Lakers going into game five will be the heatlh of Lamar Odom. LO left game four after hitting the floor hard and heading to the locker room with back spasms. His availability is still uncertain for game five in Los Angeles.

Needless to say, the Lakers have to make some serious changes and regain the sense of urgency they had in game three or else this series will end up going seven games and LA might not be the team advancing to the Western Conference finals this year.

LAKERS PLAYOFF GAME 5: HOUSTON ROCKETS @ LOS ANGELES LAKERS Tues. May 12th 7:30pm PST on TNT