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The more things change, the more they remain the same.  As I told site editor Jeff Sack prior to this post, I abhor the Los Angeles Lakers.  I mean really abhor them.  And probably for all the wrong reasons as on paper, they have a decided advantage over their series opponent, the Houston Rockets. 

Speaking of which, both played each other Friday night in Game 3 of the Western Conference quarterfinals at Toyota Center; and as expected, the Lakers’ chief assassin, Kobe Bryant, wreaked offensive havoc as he scored 33 points in leading Los Angeles to the fairly easy 108-94 win over Houston – taking a 2-1 lead in their best-of-7 series.

Bryant was hot early as he hit 5 of 6 shots in the first quarter with 11 points, but then turned around and missed six of 7 shots in the second quarter; as a result, Houston slowed the game down a bit, got to the free throw line more often and took a 46-43 lead.  But the Rockets turned the ball over twice late in the period as Los Angeles took a 2-point halftime lead.

The Rockets went into an offensive funk as they made only 6-of-25 in the third quarter and the Lakers capitalized as they built up a 12-point lead; early in the fourth quarter, Houston’s Von Wafer missed a three-point attempt, leaning into Sasha Vujacic.  Fortunately, both sides kept cooler heads between them.  Wafer made all three free throws to cut the Rockets’ deficit to 81-71. 

Ron Artest muscled in a layup and Yao dunked to pull Houston to within 90-84 at the 4-minute mark of the fourth quarter; Los Angeles’ Jordan Farmar hit a jumper with 3:54 to give the Lakers an 8-point cushion.  Meanwhile, Yao missed a jumper with 3 minutes remaining and Bryant  drained a 3-pointer with 2:21 left for a 95-84 lead; the Lakers would cruise to the victory.

Los Angeles’ high scorer was Bryant with 33 points (including four 3-pointers), 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks while Lamar Odom added 16 with 13 rebounds, a steal and 2 blocks.  Houston was led by Artest with 25 points, 6 rebounds, an assist and a block while Yao added 19 with 14 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and 2 blocks; Luis Scola notched a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.  Los Angeles and Houston hook up again on Sunday afternoon at Toyota Center for Game 4.