Lakers-Rockets: Los Angeles Disappears in Game Four

This Los Angeles Lakers team is a confusing group.

In a game in which the Houston Rockets were without their marquee player, Yao Ming, for the first time in the Western Conference Second Round, the Lakers lost horribly.

This game was considered a "gimme" for the Lakers, because the Rockets seemed to be grounded with the loss of another All-Star.

But instead of flashing the "Killer Instinct" that surfaced in Game Three, the Lakers faltered and were blown out.

If the Lakers expected the Rockets to keel over and give up after another setback, L.A. was dead wrong. Aaron Brooks and Shane Battier stepped up big for the Rockets, leaving the Lakers looking at a level 2-2 series, instead of leading 3-1.

As a big fan of the Lakers, this is just maddening. In Games Two and Three, the Lakers performed at a level where they could crush the Rockets completely.

But perhaps after seeing their opponent was significantly weakened, they decided to lower their effort correspondingly.

This is just the type of game that casts a huge doubt on whether the Lakers can fully get into a mode where they dismantle their opponents with regularity and consistency—something the Cleveland Cavaliers have been doing almost perfectly.

Game Four was just a complete and utter letdown from the Los Angeles Lakers.

I can only hope they will find the series interesting again and show up in Game Five.