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Series tied 3-3

THIRD ONE A CHARM?

Today's Game 7 against the Lakers will be the Rockets' third in the last five seasons. In the previous two, they lost big and small:

2005, at dallas

Mavs 116, Rockets 76

How it went down: Jason Terry led Dallas with 31 points, offsetting the 33 scored by Yao Ming as the Mavs beat the Rockets by 40, the biggest loss in the franchise's playoff history (since tied this year in last week's Game 5 loss at Los Angeles).

2008, vs. Utah

Jazz 103, Rockets 99

How it went down: After the Jazz extended the series to seven games with a 94-82 home win in Game 6, Utah delivered the knockout punch behind Carlos Boozer, who poured in 35 points to lead all scorers. Yao and Tracy McGrady had 29 points apiece, but it wasn't enough.

PLAYA VISTA, Calif. - Luis Scola remembers that feeling. A veteran of so many championship games all over the world, he thought about the way it feels to play knowing there won't be another chance.

Shane Battier spoke of the Rockets' previous Game 7 and how it slipped away. Ron Artest talked about the atmosphere he expects to be awaiting the Rockets today in Staples Center.

The Rockets will face the Los Angeles Lakers today with a trip to the Western Conference finals at stake. But in another part of the massive Los Angeles Clippers training facility, there was the usual silliness and laughter.

Chuck Hayes, Kyle Lowry and James White entertained themselves with a no-look contest of H-O-R-S-E. And as the Rockets fielded questions about the importance of the game and the opportunity they had given themselves, in many ways nothing had changed.

"As far as the stakes, what's on the line, you have to have fun with it," Hayes said. "Take everything we learned all series, all season long and apply it to this one game because this is the only one that counts and we should be fine."

They will face that challenge against a team tested by a run to the NBA Finals last season and against a player, Kobe Bryant, built for such occasions. The Lakers expected games like these - if not necessarily against the Rockets in the second round; the Rockets forced a Game 7 despite the injuries to Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady with an attitude the obstacles could not defeat.

But now they must mix their fearless, confident, sometimes goofy approach with the pressure of a Game 7.

"We're the same type of players, the same people," Artest said. "Game 7. Game 1. Nothing is going to change with this team. It's fun. The games never change. I learned that late."

The Rockets found that balance in Game 6, hitting the Lakers quickly in a 17-1 start. Rockets coach Rick Adelman said it is important to not just lead early in a series in which the team leading after the first quarter has won all six games, but to play well early.

Less clear would be whether the Rockets might react to being on the road, or if the Lakers would feel the heat of facing elimination earlier than they expected.

"It's no secret L.A. is the top team in the West," Rockets guard Aaron Brooks said. "But we're in a good position. It makes the game fun. We enjoy it.

"Honestly, I'm trying to be dumb about it. We played hard. We played with passion. We're going to continue to do that. I'll just go out there and play. We're going to have to come out and match their intensity somehow, bring what we had at home to L.A. It's going to be tough to do, but we're 3-3 and this is a good opportunity."

Lessons learned

In their previous game in Staples Center, the Rockets got off to an early seven-point lead, but Adelman said it was "fool's gold," knowing that the Rockets were not moving and taking care of the ball well enough to sustain their lead.

They lost by 40 but gained a vivid example of how they cannot play.

The Rockets are 6-1 in the postseason when holding the Trail Blazers and Lakers to fewer than 90 points. The Lakers are 7-0 when scoring 100 or more.

More than needing to control tempo to keep the Lakers' scoring in check, the Rockets believe they must run their offense well enough to be aggressive and take care of the ball.

In their past two wins, they averaged 11.5 turnovers. In the past two losses, they committed an average of 17.5.

"When we've been successful, we've made them guard us," Adelman said. "We've taken care of the ball, don't let them get to the open court. We have to give ourselves a chance to defend them in the half court.

"They're going to come out. They're going to try to put a hit on us early. They're going to attack us inside early. I know Kobe will be aggressive early. It's all about how much we've grown. I think we're ready to play."

But execution goes back to poise. The Rockets believe that comes from their attitude.

"In one Game 7 earlier in my career, I was expecting a huge change," Battier said. "At the end of the day, it's Basketball. You got to go out and make plays, make shots, get stops and do the things you've done all season long.

"I didn't feel like, ?It's Game 7, Oh it's so heavy.' It's Basketball."

The proper mix

In that way, the half-court shots at the end of practice can be as important as the shooting drills. Before Game 6, there was a mix of calm and focus. Adelman expects the same for Game 7.

"I think they're really looking forward to playing this game," Adelman said. "If any team was going to be hesitant, it would have been ours in that sixth game after the way they beat us down (in Game 5). I fully expect us to play a good game tomorrow.

"The pressure really is (about) getting here. We've gotten here. But I know these guys; it's not enough. I always tell them, ?You put yourself in a position. Take advantage of it.' We're there. We have a chance. Now, let's see what we can do about it."

jonathan.feigen@chron.com