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OMG you guys - Tracy McGrady's in the house!
I honestly have no idea whether he shows up to Rockets games on the reg - I guess he probably does - but I can't remember the last time I saw him, and I definitely didn't catch him at Staples for Games One and Two. I'm hopeful his appearance is an ill omen for the Rockets, his malign presence a direct cause of turnovers and other mishaps, not unlike Cousin Oliver from The Brady Bunch.
The second quarter was by and large unsightly for Lakers fans, as the slicing, dicing offense seen in the first collapsed into a disjointed mess of one-on-one play. But Luke Walton - yes, that Luke Walton - hit a couple of - seriously! what? it was Luke Walton! - nice jumpers toward the end of the half that sent the Lakers into the locker room with a two-point lead.
Yao (14 and 6) continues to do his thing, and Shane Battier (2-for-3 from range) has been an offensive entity for the first time in this series Also: the Rockets have 15 free throw attempts to the Lakers' 6, and have committed only 5 fouls to the Lakers' 12. Make of that what you will.
Here's your second-half thread, you magnificent commenters. Make us all proud.