makes it a lot easier on me.” Pau Gasol scored 30 points and Kobe Bryant had a quiet 15 for Los Angeles. Lakers coach Phil Jackson warned his team about taking the Rockets too lightly after hearing about Yao’s injury. But the Lakers looked lethargic from the start, giving away careless turnovers and playing lax defense. “They didn’t anticipate the energy that they were going to come with,” Jackson said. “But you say as much as you can as a coach and then the players have to execute and do it …

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