A Blog devoted to Lakers News, Commentary, and Analysis
On the brink of advancing to the second round and pulling out a sweep for the first time since 2010, the Lakers fell to the Rockets in Game 4. With Kevin Durant out once again, it set the stage for a young and athletic Houston squad to play with a sense of urgency and desperation. […]
Ejections for Flagrant 2 fouls typically are pretty egregious and easy to understand. By definition, they involve excessive force, which rarely leaves doubt about an ejection. And yet, when Deandre Ayton was ejected for a Flagrant 2 foul on Alperen Şengün during the third quarter of Game 4, which the Lakers were already losing handily […]
There was lots to dislike about the Lakers’ performance in Game 4. The offense looked stuck in mud. There was an alarming amount of turnovers and nearly all of them were live ball, which ruined any chance of a win. That will be discussed in the coming days on this site. But I’d like to […]
You can’t fake desperation. The Rockets fought hard in Game 3, but lost and were down 3-0 entering Game 4. With their season on the line, Houston decided they’d rather head back to LA instead of clearing out their lockers as they demolished the Lakers, 115-96. The Rockets got offensive contributions from their top players […]
On the heels of a grueling Game 3 win, the Lakers came out flat and were subsequently routed by the Rockets, 115-96. From the jump, it was pretty clear the Lakers didn’t have the right level of effort and played as such throughout. LA turned the ball over a staggering 23 times with the Rockets […]
This Lakers-Rockets series hasn’t featured pretty basketball. The Lakers have played without Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, and the Rockets have had two games without Kevin Durant. With so many key stars out, scoring has been ugly and each contest has been a grind. In that muck, the Lakers have been the better team. They’ve […]
Kevin Durant may have played his last game against the Lakers these playoffs. According to Shams Charania of ESPN, Kevin Durant will not play in Game 4 with a bone bruise in his sprained ankle, an injury that will sideline him for weeks. Shams went on to report that Durant was at the team’s facility […]
The Lakers aim to close out their first round series against the Houston Rockets on Sunday The purple and gold are looking to sweep an opponent in the playoffs for the first time since May 2010. Start time and TV schedule Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets When: 6:30 p.m. PT, Apr. 26 Where: Toyota Center Watch: […]
The Lakers’ win over the Rockets in Game 3 on Friday put them in such a commanding position that thoughts of future series could really start creeping into minds. Not only has no team come back from a 3-0 deficit in NBA history, but the way the Lakers beat the Rockets sure made it feel […]
To call Friday’s Game 3 win for the Lakers over the Rockets improbable would be quite the understatement. Down six without the ball and just 30 seconds left, LA somehow forced overtime before coming away with a win that puts them firmly in the driver’s seat in the series. It’s a win that required a […]
It’s widely regarded that a series doesn’t begin until a team loses at home. In that sense, the Lakers got the series started on Friday. The purple and gold secured a win inside what looked to be a half-filled stadium for Houston’s playoff opener, taking advantage of late blunders from the Rockets to end regulation […]
After defending their home court in the first two games, the Lakers headed to Houston knowing they would receive the Rockets’ best punch in Game 3. And that they did. With the news they would be without Kevin Durant for the second time in the series, the Rockets played every bit like a team whose […]
A couple of weeks ago, the thought of the Lakers being lucky injury-wise was laughable. However, now that they’ve played three playoff games, LA is trending in a positive direction with its injuries, and other Western Conference teams are in trouble. The Denver Nuggets are trailing 2-1 in their series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and […]
A miracle close to regulation saw the Lakers force overtime before controlling the extra session to steal Game 3, 112-108, and take a commanding series lead. Houston trailed by as many as 15 in the first half but was the aggressor for the entire second half. Up six with just under 30 seconds left, the […]
For the second time in this series, the Rockets will be without Kevin Durant. After missing Game 1 with a knee contusion, KD will miss Game 3 on Friday with an ankle sprain suffered in Tuesday’s Game 2 win for the Lakers. This appears to be the play in which Durant tweaked his ankle, coming […]
The Lakers look set to get an unexpected boost this weekend with the return of Austin Reaves. In a wave of updates that have escalated quickly, Reaves seems set to return to the court this weekend and as soon as Game 3 on Friday. Prior to Game 2 on Tuesday, head coach JJ Redick confirmed […]
Luka Dončić has already had a Hall of Fame-caliber career, with this season being his best yet. He averaged a league-leading 33.5 points per game and was named the Western Conference Player of the Month in January and March. But despite the scoring prowess, dominance, and being the best player on a 53-win team, he […]
It was obvious that Luke Kennard’s importance was going to rise with the Lakers this postseason with their starting backcourt players, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves out. What wasn’t known was how well he’d do in that situation. Well, two games in, Kennard is playing some of the best basketball of his career. In Game […]
The series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets shifts to the latter’s homebase on Friday. The Lakers look to take a commanding 3-0 lead in Game 3. Start time and TV schedule Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets When: 5 p.m. PT, Apr. 24 Where: Toyota Center Watch: Prime Video Just when everyone thought the […]
There are still some steps left, but Lakers fans can start getting excited about Austin Reaves returning. Reaves has missed all of the postseason so far, but he is now listed as questionable for Game 3 against the Rockets. He has been doing on-court work, but this is the first time he’s been upgraded to […]
Besides Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, the Lakers have had the rest of their roster available during the playoffs. However, they might be playing without a member of their rotation for Friday’s Game 3. After Thursday’s practice, Lakers head coach JJ Redick said Jake LaRavia is dealing with an ankle sprain and is considered day-to-day […]
The Lakers don’t win Game 2 against the Rockets without Marcus Smart’s efforts. In the opening quarter, he was the most aggressive player on the court. He took seven shots and converted on five of them, including a trio of threes. Smart ended the quarter with 14 points, which was part of a 25-point performance. […]
After the Lakers took Game 1, desperation naturally had to set in for the Rockets. No team wants to fall down 2-0, as those who hold that lead go on to win 92.7% of the time. Houston was held to an abysmal 37% from the floor in the playoff opener, setting the stage for superstar […]
When a team is shorthanded like the Lakers are, the only way to not only survive but thrive is for everyone who is available to step up. The Lakers have gotten that during this postseason from Marcus Smart. One of the ways he’s stepped up is as a vocal leader. As a 12-year veteran and […]
Playoff basketball demands a higher level of intensity. The stakes are raised, which means every possession matters more, every game can swing a series and the focus on physicality has to be elevated. If there’s a player on the Lakers who knows this and is capable of it better than most, it’s LeBron James. At […]