WCSF: (1) Los Angeles Lakers vs (4) Houston Rockets, Part 1 | Series Tied 1-1

[Vampirate]

Lakers in 5, I can see maybe Harden and Westbrook going off in a game, but they just aren't consistent.

[TheGOATWill]

If GS hunted Harden last year the Lakers are about to get downright disrespectful.

[red96]

Dort put 30 on the Rockets defense last night...so I don't even want to imagine what LeBron and AD are about to do.

Did you even watch the game?

[MoMan24]

Davis, McGee, and Howard are externally dangerous lob threats. So the second they are left alone it is a dunk. They will play nerf hoops. That is what makes them deadly. The ball is thrown for a alley and its 2 points before you even turn your head to react. There is no recovery time. Also they have zero shot blocking so when James gets to the rim its a finish or a foul. Same with AD. I trust length and size that will remain constant in a 7 game series. 3 point shooting comes and goes. Also the Lakers can win inside, outside, rebounding, going small, and defensively. They can not shoot well and still feast inside. Rockets are a lot more reliant on one way of playing.

[Krodis]

The idea that McGee or Howard are going to kill the Rockets is comical. If the Rockets lose it's because of LeBron and AD, not because of a couple of mediocre backup centers.

[lazybatman]

The Houston team cannot defend LeBron and AD simultaneously. Lakers in 5 or 6.

They are going to abused rebounding. Overpowered offensively. If they don't get supremely hot from 3, it isnt a contest.

I think the only chance they have is to put Tucker on LeBron and Covington on AD.

Then have a pre-game ceremonial ritual ended with a prayer.

No one on the Rockets can challenge AD in the slightest. Expect him to have a monster. Lebron's gonna get his. As long as our shooters can shoot over 30%, it's a wrap.

[No-more-rings]

So I'd rather see the Rockets win because it would be nice if Harden and Westbrook can get their rings, as opposed to Lebron racking up a 4th one and David getting one, but objectively i have to pick Lakers in 6. Maybe it goes 7 if Houston's lucky but i doubt it. I just don't see anything about the rosters that make me think Houston should win.

[EArl]

So I'd rather see the Rockets win because it would be nice if Harden and Westbrook can get their rings, as opposed to Lebron racking up a 4th one and David getting one, but objectively i have to pick Lakers in 6. Maybe it goes 7 if Houston's lucky but i doubt it. I just don't see anything about the rosters that make me think Houston should win.

If the Rockets manage to beat the Lakers, I would be very surprise if they beat the Clippers.

[mademan]

The idea that McGee or Howard are going to kill the Rockets is comical. If the Rockets lose it's because of LeBron and AD, not because of a couple of mediocre backup centers.

If the refs let them play physical in the paint, which theyve been since the 2nd round started, Howard is going to destroy them. No doubt in my mind. His efficacy falls when refs give him a weak whistle, but if he's allowed to man handle people, he/McGee/AD will generate 10+ extra possessions per game. If the Rox dont force a ton of TO's, the possession gap is gonna be too heavy to overcome

[lazybatman]

The idea that McGee or Howard are going to kill the Rockets is comical. If the Rockets lose it's because of LeBron and AD, not because of a couple of mediocre backup centers.

If the refs let them play physical in the paint, which theyve been since the 2nd round started, Howard is going to destroy them. No doubt in my mind. His efficacy falls when refs give him a weak whistle, but if he's allowed to man handle people, he/McGee/AD will generate 10+ extra possessions per game. If the Rox dont force a ton of TO's, the possession gap is gonna be too heavy to overcome

Howard and McGee avg less than 20 total mins this series.

[CptCrunch]

Lakers can't match up with the Rockets at all.

D'Antoni is gonna make Davis unplayable like Gobert and Adams.

Lakers literally have no wing defenders for Harden and Westbrook.

[lazybatman]

The idea that McGee or Howard are going to kill the Rockets is comical. If the Rockets lose it's because of LeBron and AD, not because of a couple of mediocre backup centers.

You're being kind with 'mediocre'. Superstar cheerleaders though..

[Jordan Syndrome]

Lakers can't match up with the Rockets at all.

D'Antoni is gonna make Davis unplayable like Gobert and Adams.

Lakers literally have no wing defenders for Harden and Westbrook.

This is a pretty...weird take.

Anthony Davis is versatile defensively and is more mobile than both Gobert and Adams. Davis is far more polished offensively than either Gobert or Adams. I think you would be a fool to think Davis defensively is a better matchup for the Rockets than Davis offensively for the Lakers.

Lakers have both Caruso, KCP and Green, all of whom are better than Schroeder who was often tasked with Westbrook in the first series. While none of these guys are as good as Lu Dort defensively, all of these guys are smart defenders and will make life difficult enough for Harden that someone else will need to step-up. I understand the idea of the Rockets exposing the Lakers by not thinking and shouting "Size, Size, Size" but you need to assess this rockets team for what it is, and that is a team that was 2 points away from losing a series to a team that had no business competing with the Rockets. That is a team who had a worse coach, far worse defense and a worse offense than the Lakers.

I have Lakers in 6 and I would be more surprised if the series went to 7 than if it ended in 5.

[iamworthy]

Lakers can't match up with the Rockets at all.

D'Antoni is gonna make Davis unplayable like Gobert and Adams.

Lakers literally have no wing defenders for Harden and Westbrook.

Say the middle comment out loud and tell me if it makes any sense.

[DS17]

Lakers can't match up with the Rockets at all.

D'Antoni is gonna make Davis unplayable like Gobert and Adams.

Lakers literally have no wing defenders for Harden and Westbrook.

You haven't watched the lakers at all LOL.

[Nacho Bidness]

When the Lakers can get their mismatches sure they'll score rather easily but the Rockets will oddly win by defense. The way they switch everything and disrupt passing lanes and are just overall very pesky, the Lakers will become discombobulated. The rebounding advantage is negated by turnovers. That's what nobody is seeing.

[hoosierdaddy34]

When the Lakers can get their mismatches sure they'll score rather easily but the Rockets will oddly win by defense. The way they switch everything and disrupt passing lanes and are just overall very pesky, the Lakers will become discombobulated. The rebounding advantage is negated by turnovers. That's what nobody is seeing.

Both the Lakers and the Rockets turn the ball over around 15 times a game.

And both the Lakers and the Rockets opponents turn the ball over about 16 times a game against them.

There is a statistical insignificance when it comes to turnovers between the two teams.

This seems to be a hope and prayer scenario you are throwing out here.

[hoosierdaddy34]

I’m here for Rockets fans trying to talk themselves into all these weird advantages they claim to have that don’t really exist.

[nzahir]

Lakers don't have Dort. Harden licking his chops

But we have a big guy who can actually score the ball unlike Adams

AD and Lebron should actually average 65-70, easily, on good efficiency.

If you say that than Houston can say there not throwing the corpse of Melo or a 6’4 Trent on lebron either

Once lebron gets to the basket or posts up, what big guy is coming over to challenge him?

Portland had Whiteside and Nurkic, even together, making it tougher in the paint.

Imagine from going from 2 7 footers at once to nobody above 6'7

Who is guarding who?

PJ on our C?
RoCo on AD?
Harden or EG on Bron?
Harden or EG on DG/KCP?
Russ on DG/KCP?

Or go PJ on Lebron and Harden on Mcgee/Dwight?

Or maybe we play a lot more AD at the 5? Unsure

[Dupp]

As long as the Lakers don’t hunt mismatches in the post they’ll be fine. Put harden in as many pick n rolls possible and Lebrons gonna get to the rim fairly well. Get AD the ball on the move and he can finish over that whole team.

Now if you start posting AD up too much tucker can hold his ground and a quick double forcing AD to pass is probably his biggest weakness.


I dunno I thought Houston was a threat all season but after that series I don’t see it at all.