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

[hoosierdaddy34]

The Lakers are not going to defend the 3pt line that well when they have to worry about all 5 guys shooting them. It's not remotely the same to the usual two maybe three guys on the court at one time.

This is just another emotional claim you are making without any basis in fact. The Rockets play that way every game and still only shot 34.9% from 3 on the season. The Rockets take a lot of 3s but they aren’t a good shooting team and haven’t been all season long.

I'm just pointing out that it won't be because somebody is draped all over them with good defense. We also shoot two pointers at a 55.7% clip because we live getting layups and dunks.

It’s hilarious that you don’t think the Lakers can defend the 3.

[Nacho Bidness]

This is just another emotional claim you are making without any basis in fact. The Rockets play that way every game and still only shot 34.9% from 3 on the season. The Rockets take a lot of 3s but they aren’t a good shooting team and haven’t been all season long.

I'm just pointing out that it won't be because somebody is draped all over them with good defense. We also shoot two pointers at a 55.7% clip because we live getting layups and dunks.

It’s hilarious that you don’t think the Lakers can defend the 3.

It's because it's very reminiscent of Utah best defense cuz Gobert, derp derp the paint derp good luck.

That never worked out like it did against traditional teams.

Same concept.

[hoosierdaddy34]

I'm just pointing out that it won't be because somebody is draped all over them with good defense. We also shoot two pointers at a 55.7% clip because we live getting layups and dunks.

It’s hilarious that you don’t think the Lakers can defend the 3.

It's because it's very reminiscent of Utah best defense cuz Gobert, derp derp the paint derp good luck.

That never worked out like it did against traditional teams.

Same concept.

AD guards exceptionally all over the floor, if you haven’t figured that out yet then you don’t know basketball. Javale can be taken advantage some without a doubt and probably we won’t see a ton of him. Dwight is exceptional on switches and staying in front of his man and even closes out well. Everyone else is a solid defender and Vogel has a great defensive mind. And you act like 5 out is some new magical system that no one knows anything about or what to do with it. It’s really not that big of a deal, especially when it’s loaded with so many mediocre shooters like Houston has. Again...the Rockets take a lot of threes but they aren’t a very good shooting team. Defending them won’t be hard. **** OKC could do it and that team isn’t near the defensive team the Lakers are.

[Nacho Bidness]

It’s hilarious that you don’t think the Lakers can defend the 3.

It's because it's very reminiscent of Utah best defense cuz Gobert, derp derp the paint derp good luck.

That never worked out like it did against traditional teams.

Same concept.

AD guards exceptionally all over the floor, if you haven’t figured that out yet then you don’t know basketball. Javale can be taken advantage some without a doubt and probably we won’t see a ton of him. Dwight is exceptional on switches and staying in front of his man and even closes out well. Everyone else is a solid defender and Vogel has a great defensive mind. And you act like 5 out is some new magical system that no one knows anything about or what to do with it. It’s really not that big of a deal, especially when it’s loaded with so many mediocre shooters like Houston has. Again...the Rockets take a lot of threes but they aren’t a very good shooting team. Defending them won’t be hard. **** OKC could do it and that team isn’t near the defensive team the Lakers are.

Lol Dwight can't defend on the perimeter. I saw plenty of him here. How do you expect me to take you serious? AD can but it's gonna depend on who. I wouldn't want him on Russ or Harden too often.

[hoosierdaddy34]

It's because it's very reminiscent of Utah best defense cuz Gobert, derp derp the paint derp good luck.

That never worked out like it did against traditional teams.

Same concept.

AD guards exceptionally all over the floor, if you haven’t figured that out yet then you don’t know basketball. Javale can be taken advantage some without a doubt and probably we won’t see a ton of him. Dwight is exceptional on switches and staying in front of his man and even closes out well. Everyone else is a solid defender and Vogel has a great defensive mind. And you act like 5 out is some new magical system that no one knows anything about or what to do with it. It’s really not that big of a deal, especially when it’s loaded with so many mediocre shooters like Houston has. Again...the Rockets take a lot of threes but they aren’t a very good shooting team. Defending them won’t be hard. **** OKC could do it and that team isn’t near the defensive team the Lakers are.

Lol Dwight can't defend on the perimeter. I saw plenty of him here. How do you expect me to take you serious? AD can but it's gonna depend on who. I wouldn't want him on Russ or Harden too often.

Dwight will have zero problems guarding PJ Tucker or Jeff Green on the perimeter. Stop it. And this is where we get to, if Houston had actual real threats outside of Harden this might be an issue. But they don’t. Just a bunch of fire hydrants that are mediocre shooters. Tough to run 5 out effectively like that.

[Nacho Bidness]

AD guards exceptionally all over the floor, if you haven’t figured that out yet then you don’t know basketball. Javale can be taken advantage some without a doubt and probably we won’t see a ton of him. Dwight is exceptional on switches and staying in front of his man and even closes out well. Everyone else is a solid defender and Vogel has a great defensive mind. And you act like 5 out is some new magical system that no one knows anything about or what to do with it. It’s really not that big of a deal, especially when it’s loaded with so many mediocre shooters like Houston has. Again...the Rockets take a lot of threes but they aren’t a very good shooting team. Defending them won’t be hard. **** OKC could do it and that team isn’t near the defensive team the Lakers are.

Lol Dwight can't defend on the perimeter. I saw plenty of him here. How do you expect me to take you serious? AD can but it's gonna depend on who. I wouldn't want him on Russ or Harden too often.

Dwight will have zero problems guarding PJ Tucker or Jeff Green on the perimeter. Stop it.

Yeah because we're not going to attempt to force any switches

[hoosierdaddy34]

Lol Dwight can't defend on the perimeter. I saw plenty of him here. How do you expect me to take you serious? AD can but it's gonna depend on who. I wouldn't want him on Russ or Harden too often.

Dwight will have zero problems guarding PJ Tucker or Jeff Green on the perimeter. Stop it.

Yeah because we're not going to attempt to force any switches

I mean LeBron is going to get every switch he wants. It’s going to be Eric Gordon trying guard him for 5 games until Harden just quits the series.

[lazybatman]

It's because it's very reminiscent of Utah best defense cuz Gobert, derp derp the paint derp good luck.

That never worked out like it did against traditional teams.

Same concept.

AD guards exceptionally all over the floor, if you haven’t figured that out yet then you don’t know basketball. Javale can be taken advantage some without a doubt and probably we won’t see a ton of him. Dwight is exceptional on switches and staying in front of his man and even closes out well. Everyone else is a solid defender and Vogel has a great defensive mind. And you act like 5 out is some new magical system that no one knows anything about or what to do with it. It’s really not that big of a deal, especially when it’s loaded with so many mediocre shooters like Houston has. Again...the Rockets take a lot of threes but they aren’t a very good shooting team. Defending them won’t be hard. **** OKC could do it and that team isn’t near the defensive team the Lakers are.

Lol Dwight can't defend on the perimeter. I saw plenty of him here. How do you expect me to take you serious? AD can but it's gonna depend on who. I wouldn't want him on Russ or Harden too often.

I say again Dwight and McGee are gonna play less than 20 mins combined in this series. They're both here to cheer lead the Lakers, not play against small ball. Dwight could've been productive, if he didn't pick up a foul for every 2 minutes on the floor, but well..

AD and Lebron, and 6'11 and 6'9 are average and good respectively at the perimeter D, and great at rim defense. Harden and Eric Gordon are gonna torch both of them and some of the Laker guards on some switches(Key word being - SOME) And we're gonna miss Avery Bradley so bad.

That said, AD is gonna just walk to 35-13-5 stat lines a game. Rockets don't have a shout against him, except maybe Tucker in the post sometimes. And then whose gonna guard Lebron. This is a terrible match up for them. Rockets don't have a shout outside of getting crazy hot from 3 in the fourth, while the Lakers are gonna feast at the rim with double digit rebounding advantages.

Rockets wanted the Clips in the semis, and the Clips wanted to avoid them at all costs for a reason.

[inquisitive]

EG and RWB can't miss any games or be injured for the Rockets. They need to be playing in all games. Stay healthy and the Rockets have a chance.

[mademan]

Lol Dwight can't defend on the perimeter. I saw plenty of him here. How do you expect me to take you serious? AD can but it's gonna depend on who. I wouldn't want him on Russ or Harden too often.

Dwight will have zero problems guarding PJ Tucker or Jeff Green on the perimeter. Stop it.

Yeah because we're not going to attempt to force any switches

Lakers dont switch anywhere near as liberally. You can attempt it, but its different than the Rox easily allowing every switch.

[gmoney411]

AD guards exceptionally all over the floor, if you haven’t figured that out yet then you don’t know basketball. Javale can be taken advantage some without a doubt and probably we won’t see a ton of him. Dwight is exceptional on switches and staying in front of his man and even closes out well. Everyone else is a solid defender and Vogel has a great defensive mind. And you act like 5 out is some new magical system that no one knows anything about or what to do with it. It’s really not that big of a deal, especially when it’s loaded with so many mediocre shooters like Houston has. Again...the Rockets take a lot of threes but they aren’t a very good shooting team. Defending them won’t be hard. **** OKC could do it and that team isn’t near the defensive team the Lakers are.

Lol Dwight can't defend on the perimeter. I saw plenty of him here. How do you expect me to take you serious? AD can but it's gonna depend on who. I wouldn't want him on Russ or Harden too often.

I say again Dwight and McGee are gonna play less than 20 mins combined in this series. They're both here to cheer lead the Lakers, not play against small ball. Dwight could've been productive, if he didn't pick up a foul for every 2 minutes on the floor, but well..

AD and Lebron, and 6'11 and 6'9 are average and good respectively at the perimeter D, and great at rim defense. Harden and Eric Gordon are gonna torch both of them and some of the Laker guards on some switches(Key word being - SOME) And we're gonna miss Avery Bradley so bad.

That said, AD is gonna just walk to 35-13-5 stat lines a game. Rockets don't have a shout against him, except maybe Tucker in the post sometimes. And then whose gonna guard Lebron. This is a terrible match up for them. Rockets don't have a shout outside of getting crazy hot from 3 in the fourth, while the Lakers are gonna feast at the rim with double digit rebounding advantages.

Rockets wanted the Clips in the semis, and the Clips wanted to avoid them at all costs for a reason.

The Rockets did not want the Clippers. They have two elite perimeter defenders and matchup perfectly with the Rockets when they go small. The Rockets would much rather take their chances exploiting switches on the Lakers bigs.

[K_chile22]

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.

That's totally ignoring pace. Rockets have the 9th lowest Tov rate, 4th highest opponent tov rate, Lakers have the 23rd lowest Tov rate and 3rd highest opponent tov rate. And I'd bet both those numbers are better for Houston since the Covington trade

That sounds completely made up considering the Lakers are 11th in pace and only 2.8 possessions per game (per 48) less than Houston on the season.

Such a drastic difference would make sense if we were talking about a team near the bottom in PACE at like 95 possessions per 48 versus a team at the top averaging 109 per 48. But that’s not what we have. It’s 107.4 vs 104.6 per 48.

So you go to turnovers per 100 stats at basketball reference, the Rockets turn it over 14.1 times per 100, the Lakers 15.0.

Lakers opponents turn it over 15.5 against them per 100 and the Rockets are at 15.1 per 100.

So that whopping .5 net turnover per 100 possessions is going to be a huge factor huh? As I said it’s statistically insignificant, and even when Pace is taken into account.

I'm using Cleaning the glass which uses actual possession counts, basketball reference uses estimate, and it filters out garbage time, 13.8 vs 15 and 15.8 vs 15.5, but since the Covington trade the Rockets are at 14.1 turnover rate themselves and 16.9 for opponents.

[Pharmcat]

Lakers need to start AD and howard and pound the rock inside . Slow the game down

[Jkam31]

AD guards exceptionally all over the floor, if you haven’t figured that out yet then you don’t know basketball. Javale can be taken advantage some without a doubt and probably we won’t see a ton of him. Dwight is exceptional on switches and staying in front of his man and even closes out well. Everyone else is a solid defender and Vogel has a great defensive mind. And you act like 5 out is some new magical system that no one knows anything about or what to do with it. It’s really not that big of a deal, especially when it’s loaded with so many mediocre shooters like Houston has. Again...the Rockets take a lot of threes but they aren’t a very good shooting team. Defending them won’t be hard. **** OKC could do it and that team isn’t near the defensive team the Lakers are.

Lol Dwight can't defend on the perimeter. I saw plenty of him here. How do you expect me to take you serious? AD can but it's gonna depend on who. I wouldn't want him on Russ or Harden too often.

Dwight will have zero problems guarding PJ Tucker or Jeff Green on the perimeter. Stop it. And this is where we get to, if Houston had actual real threats outside of Harden this might be an issue. But they don’t. Just a bunch of fire hydrants that are mediocre shooters. Tough to run 5 out effectively like that.

You do understand that Dwight won’t be guarding them right?

If dwights on the floor he’ll be guarding harden 100% the time and yes that’s because harden will hunt him in pick and rolls. Dwight/McGee aren’t playing anymore than 20mpg

[red96]

Lakers need to start AD and howard and pound the rock inside . Slow the game down

That would be an interesting way to start the series. I was expecting AD to start at the 5.

[scrabbarista]

Rockets are the (4) seed.

[Heej]

Lol at the people that think the Lakers game plan will willingly include Dwight switching onto Harden LMFAO. Rockets fans been watching switches all year and forget there's all kinds of coverages such as showing at the level of the screen and pinching in on the backside until Hardens defender recovers. Some of y'all got some simplistic ass bball IQ lol

[hoosierdaddy34]

Lol Dwight can't defend on the perimeter. I saw plenty of him here. How do you expect me to take you serious? AD can but it's gonna depend on who. I wouldn't want him on Russ or Harden too often.

Dwight will have zero problems guarding PJ Tucker or Jeff Green on the perimeter. Stop it. And this is where we get to, if Houston had actual real threats outside of Harden this might be an issue. But they don’t. Just a bunch of fire hydrants that are mediocre shooters. Tough to run 5 out effectively like that.

You do understand that Dwight won’t be guarding them right?

If dwights on the floor he’ll be guarding harden 100% the time and yes that’s because harden will hunt him in pick and rolls. Dwight/McGee aren’t playing anymore than 20mpg

You do realize that the Lakers don’t switch a lot right? And given Harden is shooting just 26% on off the dribble threes in the bubble, the Lakers will probably go under the screen. If Harden starts hitting then they will have Dwight hedge on to him until his defender can get back to him after going over. If Harden wants to give the ball up to PJ Tucker to make a play 22 feet from the basket, feel free. Lakers will take that all day long.

[lazybatman]

Lakers need to start AD and howard and pound the rock inside . Slow the game down

You do understand, they will need to defend on the perimeter after / before they 'pound the rock inside' which means 50% 3FG if not better or even worse, 3 FTs. And Dwight / McGee aren't even capable of getting 60%+ on way undersized defenders on their own, if they don't get the ball at the rim. And their lack of range means the paint(Lebron's biggest strength) is clogged at all times.

Bigs without jumpers or elite post offense are liabilities in today's game. They have no place in this series, except to give a breather to AD, where they'll be down the pecking order after Morris, Dud and Kuz.

Maybe they get a few minutes against the Clips when they play my darling boy Zuby / Harrell, but not much.

[K_chile22]

Lol at the people that think the Lakers game plan will willingly include Dwight switching onto Harden LMFAO. Rockets fans been watching switches all year and forget there's all kinds of coverages such as showing at the level of the screen and pinching in on the backside until Hardens defender recovers. Some of y'all got some simplistic ass bball IQ lol

There's this thing called a pick and pop that would result in a wide open three if you do that. Also lol at thinking Dwight will show on screens when he hasn't done that since he was in the magic. He doesn't leave the paint