With L.A. Lakers On Tap, Houston Rockets Ready For Extended Happy Hour

For Houston Rockets fans, the L.A. Lakers couldn’t choose a better time to visit Toyota Center.

Bring on the hated Lakers and the return of Ron Artest to the Lone Star State.

Right now, the Rockets are on a roll, and with their latest victory coming in a place they haven’t won in two years (with a blowout win over the Utah Jazz), Rick Adelman likely couldn’t choose a better time on the schedule to pencil-in the L.A. Lakers.

Hey Houston fans: break out your Go Red gear and get to Toyota Center for tonight’s tipoff—it’s bound to be an extended happy hour from around 7 til 11.

This evening’s matchup between Los Angeles and Houston, which is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m., will mark the first time the Lakers and Rockets have met this year and pits the teams in a rematch of last year’s fight through Game Seven of the Western Conference playoffs.

There is one major difference, however, with a flip-flop taking place as Artest quickly jumped a plane to L.A. this past offseason while Trevor Ariza decided to join the good guys in Houston.

Tonight’s game should be a very exciting contest from start to finish. Expect a lot of physical play and a whole lot of scoring and fast breaks.

Aaron Brooks is looking awesome, Chuck Hayes is proving he can play the game, and Houston’s rookies are also making a name for themselves (especially newcomer Chase Budinger, the former Arizona hoops star).

Let’s not forget the remarkable play of Ariza and the offensive threat of Shane Battier, along with what has turned out to be a very deep bench.

Adelman has to be more than happy at what he is seeing thus far. At 3-1, look for the Houston Rockets to continue where they left off: on fire.

Riding a three-game winning streak and counting, it’s time for the Rockets to face the defending NBA Champs in the L.A. Lakers.

My guess, and my hope, is that streak will soon move to four with a big win tonight at Toyota Center.

Denton Ramsey may be reached via email at [e-mail]