NBA Live 2001 (PS2) (Lakers vs Rockets) (January 19th 2001)

Two losses in a row... That should not have happened. Even sports media is surprised. Defending champs get two losses in a row. Some say it is because Kobe Bryant tried to be the hero too much, and others say the team got careless with the ball. Whatever the case may be, they need to get it together and get ready for the Rockets. (Final scores IRL) Lakers won Rockets - 101 Lakers - 114 Los Angeles Lakers 2000-2001 Roster Lineup #34 Shaquille "Shaq Diesel" O'Neal (Cover athlete on the NBA Live 96 PS1 box, and NBA 2K6 and 2K7's game boxes and 2K18 Legend) (   • SHAQUILLE O'NEAL | 75 Stories 💎  ) #54 Horace Grant (Traded from the Sonics with Greg Foster and Emanual Davis as part of a 4-team trade deal between the Lakers, Knicks, Sonics and Suns on Sept 20th, uncle of Jerami Grant of the 2023-2025 Portland Trail Blazers) #17 Rick Fox (The actor) #8 Kobe Bryant (R.I.P. January 26th 2020) (Son of Joe "Jellybean" Bryant (R.I.P. July 15th 2024) of the 1976-1979 Philadelphia 76ers, the cover athlete on NBA Courtside 1&2 and NBA Courtside 2002, NBA 2K10, 2K17 Legend Edition, 2K21 Mamba Forever Edition, and 2K24) (   • KOBE BRYANT | 75 Stories 💎  ) #4 Ron Harper Sr. (Father of Ron Harper Jr. of the 2022-2023 Toronto Raptors, G League's 2024-2025 Maine Celtics and 2025 Detroit Pistons, and Dylan Harper who was selected by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2025 NBA Draft) Bench #57 Nolan Owens (A fictional player I created from NBA Live 97 and father of Shep Owens of the 2022-2023 Miami Heat in my version of NBA 2K23's MyCareer story) #5 Robert Horry #20 Brian Shaw (Signed a multi-year contract on Oct 6th) #3 Devean George (Currently a real estate developer in Minnesota) #7 Isaiah "J.R." Rider (Waived by the Hawks on Mar 20th, signed free agent in Aug 25th) #12 Mike Penberthy (Signed free agent on Oct 2nd, currently a shooting coach and pro scout for the 2022-2025 Denver Nuggets) #35 Mark "Mad Dog" Madsen (1st Round 29th pick in the 2000 NBA Draft, former player development coach of the 2013-2019 L.A. Lakers, current head coach at the University of California, Berkeley) #40 Greg Foster (Traded with Horace Grant and Emanual Davis from the Sonics, former assistant coach of the 2020-2021 Indiana Pacers) #10 Tyronn Lue (Head coach of the 2020-2025 L.A. Clippers) #14 Stanislav Medvedenko (Signed free agent on Aug 15th, currently a politician in Ukraine) #2 Derek Fisher (Injured IRL for 24 games) Lakers head coach: Phil Jackson Houston Rockets 2000-2001 Roster Lineup #34 Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon (   • 75 Stories | Hakeem Olajuwon  ) #2 Maurice Taylor (Released from the Clippers, signed free agent in Aug 25th) #42 Walt "The Wizard" Williams #40 Shandon Anderson (Brother of retired NBA player Willie Anderson) #3 Steve "Stevie Franchise" Francis (The cover athlete on NBA Live 2002 and owner of the TBL's Houston Push) Bench #5 Cuttino "Cat" Mobley #21 Kenny Thomas #13 Kelvin Cato #52 Jason Collier (R.I.P. October 15th 2005) (Drafted by the Bucks as the 1st Round 15th pick in the 2000 NBA Draft, then traded to the Rockets with a 2001 1st Round pick (Jeryl Sasser) for Joel Przybilla in Jun 28th) #12 Moochie Norris (Head coach and GM of the Houston Push) #6 Carlos Deon Rogers #50 Matt Bullard #14 Dan Langhi (Drafted by the Mavs as the 2nd Round 2nd pick in the 2000 NBA Draft, then traded for Eduardo Najera on June 28th) Rockets head coach: Rudy Tomjanovich