The Lakers aren't overlooking the Rockets in their second round matchup, especially with Yao Ming patrolling the paint.

"I've never played against a player that was 7'6" and so skilled," Lakers forward Lamar Odom said, according to the Associated Press. "He can really shoot, his passing ability.

"He has a high IQ for the game. He's so wide down low, too. He's hard to get around."

The Lakers swept the Rockets in the regular season, but coach Phil Jackson realizes that the playoffs are an entirely different ballgame.

"I think they understand the regular season has a lot of parameters to it," Jackson said. "There's a lot that goes into the regular season that doesn't match up in the playoffs.

"This is a whole new ballgame now."