Lakers Drop the Hammer in Closeout Win

Final Score: HOU 96 LAL 119 - Lakers Advance 4-1

Welcome in to the recap of Game 5. The Lakers complete yet another gentleman's sweep, putting the Rockets out of orbit 96-119. The Lakers advance to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2010.

Now that's how you dominate from start to finish! Game 4 left a bad taste at the end with the Lakers committing mental mistakes, allowing the Rockets to creep back in. Tonight, no comeback this time. Houston did have that mini run at the start of the 2nd quarter. But, the Lakers outplayed them big time to close this series out.

I said in my preview, the 3-point shooting is going to be an X-Factor in this matchup, especially for everyone outside LeBron and AD. It took awhile throughout the series, but when it mattered the most, they fired from all cylinders. Markieff Morris, Danny Green, and KCP showed out in this category. 'Kieff has been the game-changer throughout this series and he capped it off with 16 points and shot a perfect 4-4 from three. Danny Green added 14 points, shot 4-6 from three. KCP chipped in 10 points, shot 2-3 from three. Kyle Kuzma shot 3-6 from three and finished with 17 points off the bench. 

The Lakers beat the Rockets at their own game tonight. Outside of James Harden's efficient 30-point night, the Rockets couldn't buy a bucket. Credit to the stifling Laker defense for that. They had the perimeter on lockdown and completely took Houston off their game. In the 3rd quarter, between the 9:52 mark and 4:59 mark, they couldn't buy a bucket. They got outscored 18-33 and never made another run.

With how the supporting cast stepped up, LeBron and AD didn't have to be great. LeBron still put up numbers we're accustomed to with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists. Though AD had  only 13 points, he crashed the boards with 11 rebounds tonight. We can live with AD's off-game offensively, considering how the team played at a high level tonight. But he still did everything else from rebounding to anchoring the suffocating defense that the Lakers displayed out there tonight.

For the first time since 2010, the Lakers are in the Western Conference Finals. I've ran this blog for a long time after the Lakers' win over the Celtics in Game 7 that year. Back then, it's like these deep playoff runs were a guarantee. But for 10 years, it never happened. I thought by starting off this blog, I cursed the Lakers into mediocrity. Now to see them back one series away from the NBA Finals, it feels great. 

But they're not out of the woods yet. They will await the winner of Clippers-Nuggets. Without question, the Clippers pose the biggest threat to the Lakers' championship aspirations. They're deep in every position. But last night, they had a hiccup closing out Denver. Maybe the Clipper curse is still very real. But if it comes down to it, it's gonna be an exciting battle with the two LA teams if the Clippers do their job tomorrow night. It's just too bad that it's not gonna happen at Staples Center. Anyway, we'll await the winner and I'm going to post my preview immediately after. I'll see you guys later.

Lakers Dominate Through 3 Quarters; Survive 4th Quarter Scare to take 3-1 Lead

Final Score: LAL 110 HOU 100 - Lakers lead 3-1

Just wanted to give a quick recap on this game so I can jump into the Texans-Chiefs that's ongoing right now. The headline says it all. The Lakers had control for 3 quarters of the game. Into the 4th quarter, they almost let the Rockets steal one, but Alex Caruso and a last second highlight play from Rondo and LeBron saved the game for the Lakers to take a commanding 3-1 lead.

This game felt like a loss more than a win. We now know that complacency can doom the Lakers if they don't play at a high level for 48 minutes. 3rd quarter presented some early warning signs. Lakers still controlled the game at that point, but the Rockets hung around with some threes and free throws.

In the 4th, Lakers still controlled the game. They had a 100-78 lead at the 7:22 mark of the 4th quarter. After a timeout, that's when things started getting out of hand. The defense constantly broke down to force the Lakers to foul. Rockets got most of their points from the free throw line tonight. Other defensive lapses, the Lakers got lazy containing the perimeter. And the most irksome negative, untimely turnovers, two of them were unforced. The Rockets cut the lead to as close as 8 points. 

Mental errors and complacency got the Rockets back into this game despite what was a dominating game for the Lakers. Though those marred a complete performance, I was impressed with the all-around team game. AD tops all Lakers in scoring with 29 points. LeBron chipped in 16 points. However, it was the role players that stepped up and were active on both ends of the floor. Danny Green and KCP drilled a pair threes and both finished with 10 points. Rondo had a near triple-double off the bench with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists. Alex Caruso was the hero late in the game, saving the Lakers from total self-destruction. He had 16 points off the bench. His last three points and key defensive steal in the final minute put the game on ice. Other side notes, Talen Horton-Tucker saw action in the 2nd quarter and finished with 5 points and 2 steals. The rookie was solid in his playoff debut and it was a great "curve ball" thrown by Frank Vogel in the rotation since they elected to play small.

With that, at least that game gave me something to talk about. If the Lakers continued to dominate, this recap would've been shorter. But, I hope the Lakers learned from that 4th quarter to keep the pressure for the entire 48 minutes. As long as this Rockets team find ways to get hot and score quickly, these games are far from over. They might've found a silver lining that'll help them extend this series. The Lakers can make it right in a closeout situation in Game 5. Great game, but that 4th quarter was very uncharacteristic for the purple and gold. I'll see you guys later.

'Bron on a Mission; Laker Q4 Defense Clamps Rockets in Game 3

Final Score: LAL 112 HOU 102 - Lakers Lead 2-1

Welcome in to the recap of Game 4. The Lakers and Rockets went back and forth throughout the whole. But in the end, LeBron James won't be denied and the Lakers stepped their game up in the 4th. Lakers take a 2-1 series lead in these West semis behind vintage performances LeBron and Playoff Rondo.

Another tough, gritty win against these pesky Rockets. This game has been tight throughout. Houston played keepaway with the close lead and responded quickly when the Lakers rallied to take a couple of leads prior to the 4th. But the 4th quarter, a whole different story as the Lakers took control throughout.

As I mentioned, behind LeBron's 30+ point performance, Lakers kept themselves within striking distance. Anthony Davis was quiet in the first half, yet came alive in the 3rd quarter. The supporting cast was a no show until late in the 3rd quarter. It started with a pressure three from Rondo as the shot clock expired to give the Lakers an 80-77 lead. That was like a shot in the arm to get him going. Kyle Kuzma, same thing. Got a few good looks to the basket and then he was more active in the 4th to close this out.

Perhaps the small game changer was the adjustment that Frank Vogel made. He sat out Javale McGee in the 2nd half to put Markieff Morris at Center. We can see in this series, this matchup is unfavorable for McGee and Dwight Howard because of Houston's ability to space the floor. With the change, the Lakers were able to double more on James Harden and contain the perimeter. Although the only negative was the points in the paint. The Rockets took advantage of that this whole game. Even with the lineup change, they still found a way to penetrate to the basket. Other than that, the defense got better with the smaller lineup in the 2nd half.

Final stat lines: LeBron poured in 36 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 blocks. This is a stat line Miami Heat 'Bron would put up from 2010-2014. He was a man on a mission tonight on both ends of the floor and unquestionably the MVP of this game. Rajon Rondo gets runner-up with 21 points and 9 assists. "Playoff Rondo" showed up in the 4th and jumpstarted the bench production for the Lakers. AD notched 26 points and 15 rebounds. As mentioned, he stood out more in the 2nd half. Kyle Kuzma also stood out in the 2nd half with 14 points. I liked how active Kuz was on the offense, making the necessary cuts and crashing the boards.

If there's any themes of this series is that the 4th quarter will be a key factor. It's a matter of which team can be effective in crunch time. So far, the Lakers have controlled the 4th quarter in Games 2 & 3 since the ugly loss in Game 1. This Rockets team won't be easy to take down as long as they're getting to the line and shooting timely threes. But, the Lakers have made the adjustments since Game 1. They are forcing the Rockets to play at an unfavorable pace. Up 2-1, we know what happened in Portland in Game 4 in the last round. Lakers will look to replicate that and start fast to take a commanding 3-1 lead. I'll see you guys on Thursday for that game.

King and 'Brow Respond; Rondo and 'Kieff Step Up in Game 2 Win

Final Score: HOU 109 LAL 117 - Tied 1-1

Welcome in to the full recap of Game 2. The Lakers responded after the Game 1 debacle powered by their superstar duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The King and the 'Brow showed up and combined for 62 total points to top the Rockets 109-117 and even up this series at one game a piece.

If anything, the Lakers are going to need more of these to contain this well-oiled 3-point machine. Let's get the negative out of the way, the 3rd quarter was a total breakdown from the Lakers. They abandoned most of the things that were working for the most part of the game. But credit to the Rockets for making the necessary adjustments. They started trapping more on defense to force some turnovers. What worked for the Lakers was that they were deploying a zone defense to slow down the Rockets and force the ball out Westbrook or Harden's hands. The 3rd quarter, they abandoned that and were lazy on rotation. That lead to a lot of open looks from Eric Gordon, Robert Covington, and PJ Tucker, three prominent Rockets role players. And they helped Houston mount a comeback and have the lead at one point. Missed free throws also played a factor to allow the Rockets to hang around a bit.

Now, let's move to the positives. I said it before and I'll say it again, LeBron and AD have to impose their will on this undersized Rockets team. Last game, they only scored a combined 5 points in the 4th quarter. Tonight, they were much better down the stretch. AD lead all scorers with 34 points to go with 10 boards. LeBron racked up a near triple-double with with 28 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists to go with 4 steals.

Not to worry, the superstars got help tonight. Markieff Morris stepped up in a big way with 16 points. He started 4-4 from threes to extend the Laker lead to as many as 16. Rajon Rondo had a much better game tonight with 10 points, 6 assists, and 5 steals. Rondo set the tone for the Lakers defensively and most of all, he took better care of the basketball with just 1 turnover. 

Some other standouts, Kyle Kuzma chipped in 13 points with 6-7 shooting. The defensive numbers don't tell the whole story. But, I thought Kuz was solid defensively tonight. Danny Green added three 3-pointers with 9 points.

Overall, minus the 3rd quarter, the Lakers' activity on both ends were on display tonight. They got the Rockets in foul trouble. They gave Russell Westbrook a tough time, which was a huge help to get this W. But, they gotta do something about Houston's role players. When they step up, they can wreck a game plan and shift momentum in a hurry. This series will be a grind as long as Houston's players are locked in, especially when Westbrook and James Harden have inefficient games. 

Tonight, I liked the adjustments made by Frank Vogel and the coaching staff. They gave Markieff Morris extended minutes to stretch the floor and have AD play extended minutes at Center. We saw Javale McGee and Dwight Howard were ineffective last game in the lineup. So, they gotta match up, but retain their advantage in size and ability to crash the glass and dominate the paint. Whether or not they can maintain this consistency for the next three games remains in question. This series is just heating up. I'll see you guys on Tuesday for the next game.

Rockets Blast Lakers in Game 1

Final Score: HOU 112 LAL 97 - Rockets Lead 1-0

Alright, welcome in to the full recap of this game. The Lakers dropped another Game 1 in these playoffs. But unlike the opening round against Portland, they got dominated this game. An undersized Rockets team dominated and outplayed the much bigger Lakers squad 112-97 to take a 1-0 series lead. Shocking ain't it?

I mentioned it before, extended rest can be a double-edged sword. Prior to this, the Lakers were chilling while the Houston was in a dogfight against OKC in a 7-game series. After looking at this game, I don't think that was a factor. The Lakers jumped to a 7-0 lead before the Rockets upped the sense of urgency this game. I didn't find any signs of rust. The Rockets outplayed them the rest of the way and were the more physical team tonight. 

I said it in the preview: when the tandem of Russell Westbrook and James Harden go off, Houston is hard to beat despite their lack of size. After an atrocious Game 7, Harden was Houston's leading scorer with 36 points on an efficient 12-20 shooting. Westbrook chimed in with 24 points on 10-24 shooting. I told y'all they were going to find ways to be aggressive and draw contact to get to the free throw line. 

To make matters worse, key role players for the Rockets stepped up. Austin Rivers lead Houston's bench with 10 points. He started with 6 quick points to help balloon Houston's lead to 7 at the start of 2nd quarter.  Eric Gordon went off this game with 23 points on 7-14 shooting. The Lakers did a lazy job against him defensively. It's like they completely forgotten that Gordon is quite the scorer as well. I recalled two or three times, the Lakers didn't bother to rotate and Gordon had all day to get set and shoot the wide open three. 

As I mentioned, the Lakers didn't look rusty. But rather, they put up a disappointing effort after a 7-0 start. Turnovers and LeBron and AD combining for just 5 points in the 4th quarter were the major stories this game. They got some reinforcements with Rajon Rondo back in the rotation tonight. Evaluating, Rondo's return, he had a valley, then a peak, then a valley again. Rondo had the case of the "slip and slide" to start. He fell twice or three times when he was handling the ball. It was a tough stretch for him, lucky he got up unscathed. He showed signs with a 3-pointer and a layup off glass. And then, the turnovers mounted up.

Turnovers were close with the Rockets committing 13 turnovers compared to the Lakers' 15. But, the Lakers committed turnovers in the most critical times, especially when they were trailing by two or one. During those sequences, as a Laker fan, all you can do was shake your head. I had my head down the whole time when the Lakers committed these silly turnovers when they needed a bucket to tie or take the lead and get some of the momentum back. This is especially the conundrum when you have Rondo return and pair him with LeBron in the lineup. Rondo had a mixed performance. He pushed the pace well, but played "hot potato" with the basketball in his return. The Rockets made them pay in that category and bombarded them with threes to extend their lead. By the way, Lakers shot 24% from three and the Rockets shot 36% from deep. I did mention the three-point shooting was going to be an X-factor for this series.

Onto the superstar duo, LeBron James provided some highlights with a poster dunk on Westbrook and a chase down block on Westbrook again, but he didn't do a lot more. Anthony Davis as well. AD had 25 points and 14 rebounds while LeBron had 20 points and 7 assists, but these were disappointing stat lines if you looked back at this game. They got punked by Houston's defense tonight. To make matters worse, they didn't score in the 4th quarter until the 4 minute mark. By that time, it was too late and Frank Vogel effectively waved the white flag two minutes later by taking both of them out of the game.

The only positive I could probably take out of this game is that Alex Caruso showed out, leading the bench with 14 points. If there's positive with Rondo returning, Caruso can play off ball more. But other than that, the Lakers dropped the ball on this game. You can't blame rust or the extended rest, they got outplayed on both ends. 

Here's the concerning part: the Lakers are now 0-3 against Houston since the small ball lineup was unveiled back in February. It should be clear that size and length are not just the only thing that's going to take down this team. The Lakers need to do a better job at being the more physical team. And most importantly, they gotta take care of the basketball, especially since Houston likes to run and gun. That's the Mike D'Antoni / 7 seconds or less principle. The silver lining is that when the Lakers dropped the first game against Portland, they came back and won the next four. Will history repeat itself this series? Certainly, but they need to do a better job. I'll see you guys after Game 2 on Sunday.

Lakers Playoff Preview: Semis vs. Houston Rockets

Welcome in to another playoff preview. Finally, the stage is set for the Lakers to take on the Houston Rockets in the Western semifinals. What a thrilling end to the first round in the West! Tuesday, Nuggets and Jazz ended in a wild finish with the Nuggets prevailing and overcoming a 3-1 deficit. Rockets and Thunder had a lot of storylines surrounding James Harden, Russell Westbrook, and Chris Paul, which made an intriguing 1st round matchup. At the end of the day, the Rockets pulled it out coming up clutch on defense tonight. Not quite what you'd expect out of a Mike D'Antoni-coached team.

The Rockets are a team that has taken small ball to an extreme level. They have no true center on their roster. If you want to count Tyson Chandler, go ahead. At this point, he's just coaching them from the sidelines. And their game plan is pretty simple: live and die by the 3 and hope you can outscore your opponent. This team before the trade deadline retooled to have the roster consist of Westbrook, Harden, and a bunch of sharpshooting "3 and D" players. 

Despite being undersized, the Rockets are a tough, scrappy team. Harden made some clutch defensive plays in these playoffs. Robert Covington is a solid 2-way role player. P.J. Tucker is a dog out there. Westbrook can play D when healthy. This roster has some dogs. If I heard right, their defense has been top-tier throughout their series against OKC. The seventh game saw them in a close win, but their first three wins, they dominated the Thunder on both ends of the floor. But, credit to the Thunder, a team with .2% chance of making the playoffs, they hung in there and almost pulled off the win. If they won, all hell would've broken loose in Houston.

Now, we look at how the Lakers match up. In the series against Portland, the Lakers only had Jusuf Nurkic and Hassan Whiteside to worry about in the paint. But, they still imposed their will with the two-man powerhouse of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. By Game 3, LeBron was in attack mode and the series was history. Well, it was history when they went full Black Mamba mode in Game 4. The Lakers present a big mismatch for the Rockets. They're not facing a clumsy Steven Adams or an undersized CP3. They're facing a freight train disguised as a point guard and a titan with skills. We expect the Lakers to impose their will and use their size to feast inside the paint. Defensively, Houston may be small, but they're not going to back down. Simply put, they have to be the more physical team and it starts with the two man game of LeBron and AD being aggressive on both ends of the floor. 

There are two problems that the Lakers are going to encounter defensively. Obviously Westbrook and Harden are a problem. But, they also need to clamp down on the perimeter. Westbrook and Harden are dangerous when they shoot their patented midrange and stepback three efficiently. Not to mention, one can pick up the slack when the other is underperforming. Take the OKC series as evidence. Dame and McCollum were a handful for Caruso, KCP, Danny Green, and Kuz. What more with this backcourt of two ex-MVPs? They will obviously try to get whistles in their favor. Whoever is guarding them, they must remain disciplined and stay in front of them at all times. If the Lakers apply help defense, they should anticipate early that they will kick it to the open man from the perimeter. As I mentioned, Houston's role players are sharpshooters. They can chuck up as many threes as they want because they are confident in those shots. Not to mention, when you have Harden and Westbrook breaking down the defense, they will sit comfortably from the 3-point line because they know they have a higher percentage shot. 

For an X-factor, I hope the Lakers worked on their threes all week long. The last time these two teams met, the 3-point differential favored the Rockets by a huge margin. In the first round, we saw encouraging signs that the Lakers are slowly getting that 3-point shooting going. If the Lakers continue to strive and shoot efficiently from deep while dominating the paint, Houston will have no answer and this series will be over in a blur. 

Lakers will be well-rested for this series. They haven't looked well in the bubble overall. But, based on that first round series against Portland, it looks like they've shaken off some rust and got back into midseason form prior to the league suspension. This is a salivating matchup for the Lakers. As long as they do all the aformentioned things and not turn the ball over more than Houston, they could very well take this in a four-game sweep. Maybe they'll allow one generous win. But from what I saw from the Lakers against Portland and how Houston struggled to put OKC away down the stretch of their 1st round series, this presents a very advantageous matchup in favor of the LakeShow. I'll see you guys back here on Friday after the game. 

Lakers Fall to Rockets

Final Score: LAL 97 HOU 113 [L] (51-17)

Another day, another loss in the bubble. The Rockets' 3-point barrage was on display tonight. For the Lakers, not so much. It was difference tonight as the Lakers wrap up the back-to-back set with a 97-113 loss.

Well, I can say that the effort was a little better tonight. The Lakers used their size and pounded the Rockets' small ball lineup inside. Frank Vogel shuffled the lineup a bit. Kyle Kuzma was the beneficiary of that lineup change, leading the Lakers with 21 points. Talen Horton-Tucker got extended action, leading the bench with 10 points. I liked the fearlessness tonight from THT. Great 2nd round find from the Lakers' scout team.

Prior to this game, there's some speculation that the Lakers were playing the seeding game. Everybody said they threw the OKC game away, but they'll get back on track to beat the Rockets. No LeBron James and Anthony Davis barely playing tonight, that just made the scenario much harder. Especially when the team is shooting 2/19 from 3-point land against a team capable of shooting 3s regardless of the attempts! 

The Lakers did make it competitive when they cut the lead to 89-94 in the 4th. However, the Rockets are that type of team to let opposing teams in the game before they soul crush their momentum with dagger 3s. That's how confident that team is with their shot. I don't see that same confidence in the Lakers. 

We can try to downplay that the Lakers are on cruise control since they clinched the #1 spot. But as I said last night, teams gotta use these seeding games to "sharpen the blade" a bit. There's a major difference in resting down the stretch of a normal 82-game season vs. resting after a 4-month layoff after a league suspension. 

Admittedly, the Lakers are trying to get back to early-March form when they were playing at a high level. Shooting under 40% from the field, 30% from 3-point land, and averaging under 100 points per game in the restart? Not a good look, especially when you got the Clippers and the Bucks regaining form. Portland is also regaining form with Dame dropping a 40-piece on the Nuggets tonight. High chance that the Lakers will see them in the first round with Memphis fumbling that 8th seed away. The Lakers gotta get right. I could care less if they lost the rest of the seeding games. If they continue to play like this, it's a cause for concern. There is no magic on/off switch for the Lakers to flip. Start fine tuning your game guys and get right! The Indiana Pacers are up this Saturday. I'll see y'all later.

Lakers Weekly Roundup #13: Returning to Normal

*This week does not include tonight's 100-125 win over the Phoenix Suns*

No matter how much you put it, last week was a very tough week. But, the Lakers managed to stay strong and continue to push through this season. This week, it was time to get back to normalcy. Many have not noticed, but the top seed in the West is too close for comfort. With this notion, the Lakers must refocus. They've been reeling, especially against the better teams in the league. With a couple more games until the All-Star break, let's see how they fare to wrap up the first half of the regular season.

02/04: vs. San Antonio 102-129 [W] (38-11)


The Lakers and Staples Center returned to normal Tuesday after a somber week. This game, it was back to business. This stretch of the season should be favorable as the NBA inches closer to All-Star weekend. The Lakers and Spurs were always a headline on prime time. But with the Spurs' recent struggles, it's tough to view this matchup that way. Outside of DeMar DeRozan going off for 28 points, the Spurs struggled all around as a team. It was close though. Then, LeBron went bonkers for 6 three-pointers to help the Lakers pull away against the reeling Spurs. Not only that, the Lakers crushed the Spurs on the boards with 58 rebounds compared to the Spurs' 28 rebounds. Spurs should consider a rebuild at this point.

02/06: vs. Houston 111-121 [L] (38-12)

The trade deadline passed and the Lakers chose to stand pat. For the Rockets though, they revamped the roster going ultra small ball by sending away Clint Capela. I mean they're throwing P.J. Tucker into the pit and asking him to play Center. The Lakers have the size and length advantage. This should be easy.

It was not. Honestly with the tall lineup the Lakers have, how do you lose to a team full of midgets? Well, Mike D'Antoni said it best: it doesn't matter if teams dominate all statistical categories against them as long as they score more than the opposition. The Lakers didn't use their size enough. This is a team where you see they have a small lineup, you use that size and bully ball inside. They didn't do that and instead try to play the Rockets' style of play: jacking up 3s and turning the ball over. We can't undermine Russell Westbrook's 41-point performance. In the midst of James Harden's struggles, he's picked up the load and he carried the team. As for the Lakers, y'all epitomized the story of David vs. Goliath this game. What a shame.

02/08: @ Golden State 125-120 [W] (39-12)

Classy on the Warriors organization's part in providing a tribute to Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant during the game. Respect.

It's the Lakers vs. the Santa Cruz Warriors...and Andrew Wiggins. That's what it really is. Despite the Warriors struggles, facing them on the road spells "trap" for the Lakers. Considering how they stunk up the joint vs. the Rockets the other night, I wouldn't be surprised if they played down to their level of competition. That wasn't the case the third quarter as the Lakers blew the game wide open to a 20 point lead. Time to rest AD and LeBron. But, they can't hold onto the lead that LeBron had to bail them out with another dagger 3. A win is a win. Call it that the Lakers are still recovering from an emotional past week. But, this is a cause for concern, especially when they didn't make any moves at the trade deadline. Luckily, there's two more games after this until the team heads into the All-Star break. Just reach 40 wins before the break please.

Lakers Weekly Roundup #11: No AD, no Problem

Lakers open up 2020 with a hot start. The first three victories to open the year may be sluggish, but they did a good job in the next three. This week presents some favorable matchups and the team begins to embark on the long Grammy road trip. AD or not, they've shown they're capable. Let's see how they fare this week.

1/13: vs. Cleveland 99-128 [W] (33-7)

This game reminded me of that Denzel Washington meme where he hold onto his chest and laughs. I forgot what movie that was. Because it certainly looked like the Cavs were going to pull off the upset with the way that first half went sans Anthony Davis and Rajon Rondo. Kevin Love went off to a hot start from what I heard. Haven't seen that since he put up numbers on mediocre Timberwolves squads. But, the Lakers turned on the jets in the 2nd half, putting Cleveland's false hopes to rest. LeBron James, down with the sickness and all, dropped 31 points on his former team. He also surpassed Isiah Thomas at number 8 all time in the assists category. Dwight Howard returned to form for this game, putting up 21 points and 15 rebounds off the bench. If there's anything this stretch indicates, the Laker role players are finding ways to step up without being in full strength. It's an encouraging sign. Now, imagine this kind of performance with this Lakers roster at 100%.

1/15: vs. Orlando 119-118 [L] (33-8)

And boom goes the undefeated streak against sub .500 teams. The Magic always find ways to have the Lakers' number at Staples. From the first half, things were looking pretty ugly. But, the Lakers managed to find their way back into the game with unsung performances from Quinn Cook and Troy Daniels. Both players stepped up and rain threes to bring the Lakers back. Then, Markelle Fultz took the game over with a triple-double of 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. Whenever the Lakers had an answer, Fultz finds a way to respond with a big bucket for Orlando. You know else's the problem? Kyle Kuzma drawing iron all game long finishing with 4 points, going 2-10 from the field. Or LeBron being passive-aggressive this game with 19 points and 19 assists. He had the chance for the game-tying three and of course, it rimmed out.

1/18: @ Houston 124-115 [W] (34-8)

ESPN/ABC rolls out Saturday Prime Time NBA action for the first time this season. The Lakers begin their road trip against the high-octane offense of the Houston Rockets and the duo of James Harden and Russell Westbrook. Once again, no AD this game, but they can take advantage of a slumping Rockets team on a 2-game skid. When you're coached by Mike D'Antoni, his philosophy is simple: 100% offense, 0% defense. Houston started out hot in the first half. But when the Lakers put the clamps on in the 2nd half, the Rockets' holes begin to rip open. After conservative play against the Magic, the Lakers took no prisoners in the 2nd half. Kyle Kuzma breaks off the rust with 23 points. LeBron was more aggressive this game. Danny Green went off for 20 points plus 4 steals. And KCP lead the 2nd unit with 20 points. We can live with Westbrook and Harden combining for 69 points this game. As long as the rest of the Rockets' unit don't show up, that how teams beat them. And the Lakers certainly did a good job holding the rest of the supporting cast in check.

Lakers Weekly Roundup (03/03): Playoff Mode: ON?

*Some NSFW language*

The All-Star break is over. Time for teams to get back to work. This is the most exciting time in the NBA. With fewer games left now on the schedule, teams are getting serious as they get ready for the fight of their playoff lives. The fun and games are O-V-E-R. For the Lakers, it's the most daunting challenge. They have a steep mountain to climb as they trail closely behind the Clippers and the Kings in the race for the 8th seed. The bad news? The Lakers are facing their difficult stretch of the season. Yes, against the top-notch teams that are locking in their playoff position in either conference. This stretch is the measuring stick to see how playoff-ready this team is. Are they up for the challenge? This is this week's Lakers Weekly Roundup.

Keep in mind I combined last week's games with this week's games. I mean, the Lakers just had two games last week. We'll get back to normal in the next week. Without further ado, here's the lengthy Weekly Roundup.

02/21: vs. Houston 106-111 [W] (29-29)

HIGHLIGHTS

Right out of the gate, let's test that playoff intensity after the All-Star break by going up against the surging Houston Rockets. The Rockets have owned the Lakers this season with their flippity floppity tactics. This 4th installments had much more flavor than the last two. Mainly because Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul are on the floor. It feels like it's been ages since that infamous brawl between the two Point Guards back in the 2nd game when the season was still young that reignited this rivalry. And Laker fans since the 70's were taken a trip down memory lane when Kermit Washington sucker punched Rudy Tomjanovich as Rondo landed the 1-2 punch on CP3. On to the present matchup, it looked like the Rockets were going to run away with this. CP3 and Harden were up to their fancy old floppity flop flop bullshit to swindle out a victory against the Lakers. However, Playoff Intensity: ON. King James and the SlenderIngram commanded the Lakers to a rally against the Houston Floppets. Even the refs had enough of the Rockets' flopping ways that Harden and CP3 called out the head referee of this game, Scott Foster. Harden threw a tantrum. CP3 threw a tantrum and got T'd. Mike D'Antoni was up-in-arms. Not so much fun when the calls are not in your favor now is it?

In all seriousness, I was impressed with B.I.'s performance this game. Looks like he's finding his way to get more comfortable playing off ball while still being his aggressive usual self. Reggie Bullock was huge too with some key three pointers down the stretch to seal the win for the Lakers. I'll warm to the trade a little bit. Laker debut was flop, but he's making some okay all-around contributions.

02/23: @ New Orleans 115-128 [L] (29-30)

HIGHLIGHTS

All I wish for the Lakers is to build some consistency after a big win. They didn't do so before the break when they got a thrilling victory over the Celtics in Boston. Hopefully, they had the chance to look back and learn from some mistakes.

They didn't.

How in the hell do you lose to Pelicans team that sat Anthony Davis down for this game and traded away one of their stretch 4 sharpshooters in Mirotic? I should be riding high on this team after a big win against the Rockets, but games like these are the reason why I hold back because this team will find a way to say "fuck you" when it looked like things were coming along just fine. "Oh, their best player is not playing. Let's take it a little easy." If this is the attitude that the Lakers are giving against teams that they should beat, then there is a reason why they're two spots away from the 8th seed. Distrust among players after the trade drama. LeBron James questioning the mentality of this team after this ugly loss when he and Magic tried to boot them out. It's even worse that they left Luke Walton, yes there own head coach behind after this game on the bus ride back to the hotel. Oh by the way, for those who are watching ex-Lakers: Julius Randle had 24 points and connected on two 3-pointer. He's having a solid season for the Pelicans. (For fucks sake, WHO THE FUCK'S IN CHARGE OF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT ON THIS TEAM??????)

02/25: @ Memphis 105-110 [L] (29-31)

HIGHLIGHTS

0-2 on a road trip against sub .500 teams. Not a good look for a team with playoff aspirations on the line here. My goodness this Grizzlies team is not even good. Since they traded away Marc Gasol, they consist of a group of washed up vets/misfits. Despite some solid efforts by the Lakers' Big 3 of LeBron, B.I., and Kuz, the Lakers fell short as the offense became stagnant as LeBron's effort on defense late in the game. The starting five did its job. The bench failed them here. 7 points compared to the Grizzlies' 33 points in bench scoring has never nor will win any games. It's clear as day that the Lakers left their playoff intensity at home during this road trip. They find themselves with a 4% chance now of making the playoffs as they're placed back at the 11th seed.

02/27: vs. New Orleans 119-125 [W] (30-31)

HIGHLIGHTS

Ah yes, Anthony Davis suits up this game as he travels with the Pelicans since the trade drama. If the Lakers struggled against the Pelicans on the road without A.D., what more when they have him on the floor? A.D. did damage because Luke Walton thought it would be a great idea to match up Kyle Kuzma against one of the best big man in the league. Fortunately, the Pelicans had nothing to gain. So, they sat A.D. down after the 3rd quarter. This is something teams do in the preseason. How rare is it that you find a team that shuts their star player down in a regular season game when the outcome is not even decided? The Lakers are not the only team with internal issues. Despite the Pelicans decision, they still competed behind a 35-point effort by Julius Randle and a couple of three balls. But, here comes that playoff intensity as "Deus ex LeBron" bails the Lakers out from impending doom. Let's break down some stat lines here: LeBron, 33 pts, 6 reb, 10 ast. B.I., 23 pts. Kuzma, 22 pts. Rondo, 11 pts, 7 reb, 16 ast. Bullock, 14 pts. For the Lakers to win out, they need statistical output like these from their starting five on a consistent basis. Quality bench contribution is another bonus. Well, playoff mode for the Lakers came back after it hit a snag on the road. Fortunately, the Lakers got some significant help on this night as the Jazz topped the Clippers and the Bucks pulled out a thrilling OT win against the Kings. The race for the 8th seed in the West is far from settled.

03/01: vs. Milwaukee 131-120 [L] (30-32)

FULL RECAP HERE

The NBA has entered the month "March Madness." This time, NBA teams are serious about jockeying for position for playoff spot. Every game at this month is MUST-WIN. And the Lakers' efforts certainly showed against the East-leading Milwaukee Bucks. The Lakers did everything they can to spring the upset. Unfortunately, they gassed out in the 4th quarter against a better team. Good teams find ways to win.

03/02: @ Phoenix 109-118 [L] (30-33)

HIGHLIGHTS

Boy, did I have a feeling something would go wrong in this game? When an aspiring playoff-team loses to the Phoenix Suns, a franchise that is the living embodiment of mediocrity, then truly the sky is falling down. The Lakers have owned the Suns this season, but they couldn't get the job done in getting the sweep. This team isn't even good despite the likes of Devin Booker and DeAndre Ayton. The Lakers did attempt to rally in this game though. But I'm sorry, if you have to rally and come from behind against a mediocre Phoenix squad, then there's serious problems. Ask yourself this my fellow Lakers fans, do you really think this team is good enough to make some noise in the playoffs? The fact they loss to the shittier teams like the Hawks, Grizzlies, Pelicans, Cavs, and Suns, and swept by the Magic is the team's mark of being a pretender. Even if Lonzo Ball comes back, that's a big IF, this team is gonna have to run a really tough gauntlet if you look at the schedule this month. Playoff Mode has been activated alright. Unfortunately, the free trial ended in the win against Houston.

Lakers Weekly Roundup (01/20): Drama and Heartbreak

*Some NSFW language*

What a week it was after the Lakers had a tough loss against the lowly Cavaliers. Since that game though, they managed to regroup and string together some competitive games against teams that are far beyond their status. With playoff implication on the line, it was clear that the Lakers needed to play with more urgency, especially since LeBron James' status is still up in the air. Though, Laker Nation received good news that he's slowly progressing from the groin injury. And Rondo should be close to coming back as well. The Lakers are still beyond .500 and have to protect their winning record so far. Let's see how they fare in this Lakers Weekly Roundup.

01/15: vs. Chicago 107-100 [W] (24-21)

HIGHLIGHTS

Luke Walton channeled his inner Owen Hart by shaking up the starting lineup a bit. "Well, enough is enough and it's time for a change!" After a stunning loss against the then-winless Cavaliers, what could possibly go wrong going up against a team that's also on a losing streak? Well for the first half it certainly looked like things would go wrong as the Bulls were neck and neck with the Lakers. Seriously, the Lakers were once against lackadaisical to start right out of the gate. However, things settled down in the 2nd half as the LakeShow assumed control of the game. Zo breaks out of the funk with a triplet of threes to highlight his 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists night. B.I. took over the game, finishing with 16 points. Svi knocked down a pair of threes. Kuzma with a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. All was good from the middle of the third quarter to 1 minute left in the 4th. Yes, the Lakers almost went full melt down in the fourth quarter as Chicago continued to fight on an 11-0 run. Free throws reared its ugly head, but not much. The Lakers closed out a game in the fourth quarter. No LeBron. No Rondo. A shakeup in the starting lineup. You name it. In other news, Hell has officially frozen over. Unfortunately for Laker fans and Staples Center attendees, a team in the Central Division has to ruin your chances of getting free tacos yet again.

01/17: @ Oklahoma City 138-128 (OT) [W] (25-21)

HIGHLIGHTS

I couldn't be anymore proud the way this team performed this game whether they won or lost. That was the gutsy Laker young core I remember that kept their heads in the game last year. OKC had the upper hand early on, but it was the Lakers bench that brought them back from a big deficit to start. Ivica Zubac was a monster inside the paint with 26 points and 12 rebounds. I guess you can he Steven Adams'd Steven Adams this game. Despite the inspired performance, this game could've easily been marred a pair of bullshit calls against the Lakers, such as the out-of-bounds call when a Thunder player clearly touched it last. Or when Westbrook put up a second late after Lonzo fouled him before the act, which the refs still awarded him three free throws to tie the game in regulation. However, the Lakers wouldn't be denied as Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, and Zubac took the game over in OT to close the Thunder out without LeBron. Without Rondo. Add Westbrook going full Westbrick down the stretch to aid in the Lakers' big victory. And yet Paul George still chooses to go with stat-padding shot chucker. Don't come asking to play in the Purple and Gold when your contract is up and you wind up empty-handed in OKC, Paul.

01/19: @ Houston 134-138 (OT) [L] (25-22)

HIGHLIGHTS

Hot start from the Lakers this game. They've pummeled the Rockets in the first half. James Harden has not shot the ball well. Keep this advantage Lakers.

*2nd half* Once again, the Lakers  couldn't get away from the injury bug as Lonzo Ball had to be carted off with an ankle injury. Down goes another playmaker. The defender clearly tangled with Zo and there should've been a foul call. If that was Harden, he would've gotten the call and two free throws. Luke Walton lets the refs  know it at the cost of being ejected for the rest of the game with assistant coaches Brian Shaw and Jesse Mermuys taking over head coaching duties.

*4th quarter* Okay, the Rockets had a monster 3rd quarter since Zo got out of the game and Coach Walton got ejected. But, things are getting settled as Lance Stephenson hits a couple of clutch three-pointers. Zubac has been unstoppable in the paint and hitting clutch free throws. It's such an anomaly that the Lakers, one of the worst free throw shooting teams in the league, are perfect from their free throws. Just don't foul and-*Eric Gordon hits game-tying three* Well, that's the worst case scenario. Gordon hasn't played a game in awhile and he just pulled a Marcus Paige in the National Championship game two years ago. The Lakers have ran the gauntlet in this tough stretch. They came off a grind-it-out win against the Thunder two days ago. Can they do it again?

*OT* And this is why I don't like it when the Lakers let better teams hang around after regulation. Do you remember those two home games against the Warriors last season? Eric Gordon came alive. James Harden, bad shooting night at all, reminded the league why he's MVP and a magnet for the refs and their whistles. Brandon Ingram though came alive and kept the Lakers within striking distance. Rockets missed some critical free throws. And-*KCP airballs three* How the hell did you not give the ball to Ingram in that situation? I was mad, but I won't overreact. KCP had a great look for the go-ahead three. He just didn't have his feet and legs balanced enough.  If he makes it, he makes it. If he doesn't, well he gets crucified. But still, that was the most questionable possession that game. Lakers have another chance though. *Kuz loses the ball out of bounds* And he had B.I. wide open inside the key for a game-tying dunk. We can blame Kuz's butter fingers, but the Rockets had their hands on the ball to disrupt the inbounds play and Kuz had on-ball pressure all over him. You can't completely blame him for that. Clearly, I have a dissenting opinion cause I don't know, I actually saw the game? Seriously, everybody's blaming everyone and calling for some trades and some heads after this.

The Lakers played well enough this game. The number one rule is that you don't let a good team hang around beyond regulation. They will burn you since they have enough firepower and talent to muster a win if extra time is allocated. That's why I mentioned the home games against the Warriors last year. Lakers had a chance to put them away, but the Warriors just had too much firepower to pull away in OT. Speaking of the Warriors, they are in town tomorrow night as the NBA's Thanos arrives in Wakanda (Staples Center) with all Infinity Stones in tact and there's no Thor (LeBron), Rocket Racoon (Rondo), and Groot (Zo) to come in and provide the reinforcements. And open thread is back for tomorrow night!

Lakers Weekly Roundup (12/16): FINAL - LeBron 16 Wade 15; Ref-Ball

For years, many have come to believe in the conspiracy that the NBA is rigged. Reason #1 - the refs. From Joey Crawford to Tim Donaghy, they intentionally try to invade the spotlight of the NBA players. From phantom foul calls to unnecessary technical fouls/ejections, they even get more attention when they miss a few blatant calls. Sometimes, players use that to their advantage to intentionally draw contact on their defender, lowering the integrity of officiating even more. Truly, it's a "black eye" in the league. Even so, our love for the NBA does not change despite all suspicions. We are treated with so many star matchups over the years. Our "cardinal sin" is that we don't appreciate them until one of them decided to call it quits for a great career. Indeed, we take so much for granted what the NBA had in store for us over the years. Enough of the pros and cons, this is your Lakers Weekly Roundup!

12/10: vs. Miami 105-108 [W] (17-10)

HIGHLIGHTS

The Final LeBron vs. Wade matchup. It truly is the end of an era for the one of the most notable rivalry turned friendship turned rivalry again in the NBA. Barring any divine intervention that these two teams meet in this year's NBA Finals, this should be indeed the last matchup between the two. The two players are even in 30 total head-to-head matchups with both winning 15 wins. Only one will come out on top here for good. This was an antithesis of the last meeting against this Heat team in the Miami game. You know it was going to be a struggle for the Lakers when Lonzo Ball blows two wide open layups. It was like he's playing "Knockout" trying to get the ball in the hoop as he missed a jumpshot from the free throw line. Though D-Wade put up some vintage buckets, it was Justise Winslow stealing the show, putting up 28 points off the bench. This guy was a glorified non-scorer, but he's found the groove the last few games. Back and forth the two teams went. But the Lakers came out on top thanks to the heroics of King James and Lord Kuzma as the duo combined for 61 points. LeBron got the best of his "frenemy." A fitting end of an era as the era of the 2003 draft class draws nearer to a close. Wade will retire by season's end. Melo is left unsigned. Chris Bosh is in no condition to play anymore after two blood clot scares. And Darko Milicic is...well somewhere (the Pistons just had to ruin that talented order). Only LeBron will stand tall and fittingly as he's the flagship for that talented 2003 draft.

12/13: @ Houston 111-126 [L] (17-11)

HIGHLIGHTS

REFS HIGHLIGHTS

The rematch we've all been waiting for. The bad blood between the two teams has been brewing since the brawl in the home opener back in October. The only difference is, Brandon Ingram is out with a foot injury and Rajon Rondo had a setback following hand surgery. There will be no punches thrown here. The two teams exchanged baskets all game long. Though the Rockets had the lead the majority, the Lakers continued to fight and try to scratch and claw the best they can. That's until Floppity Flop Flop James Harden started taking advantage of the refs to draw unlimited fouls. The Bearded Man clearly has an endorsement with the refs. You can't even breathe on the man because he'll sucker himself into that modicum of air to draw contact and the refs will still end up calling a foul. If you're going to flop, at least make don't make it look obvious that you'll intentionally run into your man to get the call. Shit like that is why the NBA is a goddamn joke nowadays. To add insult to injury, Harden wraps up his School of Flopping by capping off a 50-point triple-double. We definitely needed Rondo and Ingram to throw hands for the Lakers this game. Hell, wish they brought back back Metta World Peace to check Harden and remind him of what legit contact feels like:

*In case anybody quickly forgot.*

12/15: @ Charlotte 128-100 [W] (18-11)

HIGHLIGHTS

Two days removed from the fuckery of the refs in Houston, the Lakers travel to Charlotte to visit the palace of "His Airness." The LakeShow had their extermination squads loaded to sweep out the Hornets. It was an old school, take-you-to-the-woodshed beatdown as the Lakers imposed their will on the hapless Hornets. We have ourselves two players with triple-doubles on the same team, a feat
that hasn't been accomplished in a long while. We are witnesses to the full power of "LeBronZo." King James, as he has done many times in the East, imposed his will on the Hornets, racking up 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists. While the first born of the "Triple B's" from Chino Hills racked up 16, points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. He even shut down Kemba Walker and racked up 5 steals, intercepting passes like he was playing Defensive Back in football. The LakeShow put the hammer on the Hornets in the 2nd half leading as many as 30 points. A splendid bounceback effort indeed!

12/16: @ Washington 110-128 [W] (18-12)

HIGHLIGHTS

Talk about a fucking letdown. It looked like the Lakers took the quick flight to the Nation's capital and left their complete team effort behind in Charlotte. You know how the old saying goes: "what goes around, comes around." The Lakers looked flat this game in this upsetting beatdown courtesy of the Wizards. The King proved that he was mortal after all as he was blinded by the wizardry of the Wizards.  LeBron was held in check to just 13 points. John Wall exploded with a 40-point game and getting away with so much contact on Lonzo Ball on the break. Honestly, how in the blue hell did the refs miss that call? John Wall didn't block Lonzo. He lead with his hip and bumped the shit out of Lonzo. No call. Probably the refs have made it clear to the Lakers that it was time to pay back the debt for the 2002 Western Conference Finals. I swear if that was James Harden, they will call that a flagrant 2. The only big takeaway this game was that KCP went off with 25 points off the bench. Wasted effort as we all know that KCP is hot-and-cold in terms of scoring.

Lakers Drop to 0-2 in Rumble with Rockets

Welcome in to the full recap of the Lakers' home opener vs. the Houston Rockets where the Rockets made some key buckets down the stretch to help spoil LeBron's home debut 124-115.

Ugh, as I said, this is going to be one of most frustrating early season losses. It's been said before that good teams find ways to win and the Rockets did just that. They made timely buckets down the stretch. James Harden took the game over since Chris Paul's ejection and momentum just escalated in favor of the Rockets. Their loss against New Orleans on Wednesday definitely helped them wake up for this one.

(+)

JaVale McGee, 16 points, 6 rebounds, 5 blocks, 7-11 shooting. Didn't I say something along the lines that McGee is going to have a career year in LA? He continues to do so. I was surprised he hit a couple of a jump shots tonight. Even hitting a fadeaway off a broken possession. Of course, he had a field day on defense with the blocks. McGee literally almost swatted everything that came his way. It was a block party with McGee in the paint.

Lonzo Ball, 14 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 5-10 shooting. This was a sight for sore eyes for Ball to rain down some threes. He did fire a pair of air balls, which puts a damper on his game. Defense wasn't on point as well. Then again, Chris Paul and James Harden are offensive maestros in the back court. But, Zo looks like he's regaining his bounce. I liked his hustle and activity tonight. Especially with Rondo facing suspension, Zo is going to have a lot more run.

(-)

Rajon Rondo and Brandon Ingram suspensions. Now, this has got to be the biggest storyline heading forward into the season  Let me break this down play-by-play. Like about late in the 4th quarter, James Harden drew a foul on Ingram as he got on the fastbreak. Ingram got frustrated and shoved Harden from behind. Both of them had to be separated. Ingram proceeded to take his frustrations on the officials. Then another incident occurred between Rondo and CP3. Both exchanged punches with CP3 claiming that Rondo spit on him. But, Ingram got himself into the brawl and landed a near haymaker on CP3. As a result, all three were ejected and possibly facing lengthy suspensions. Rondo and CP3 are seasoned veterans, so this likely hurts them less. But, CP3's absence could hinder the Rockets. The suspension definitely hurts Ingram. Yes, the Rockets have a tendency to draw fouls and it gets into every team's heads. I personally dislike the Rockets' antics. I especially can't stand CP3 as well. But, B.I. let the antics get into his head. It was very uncharacteristic given B.I's calm and collected demeanor to unleash such a side we've never seen from him before. It hurts thinking about the fact that he might serve as lengthy suspension because it's going to be detrimental to his growth. This season was projected as Ingram's coming-of-age as a superstar. And the fact that a long suspension looms over B.I. deteriorates that anticipated season. It's all in the hands in the NBA on what disciplinary action they could take.

Defensive breakdowns. On the game side, this was one of the reasons the Lakers lost this game. There was a lot of miscommunication on the defensive end. It's especially bad when you give Harden all the time in the world to shoot the ball because the Lakers left him open on certain sequences of this game. It was especially apparent down the stretch. P.J. Tucker is not a great three point shooter, but they have to close out regardless. And he hit a dagger three to give the Rockets some breathing room.

Free throw shooting. The Lakers need a high-percentage free throw shooter. It's saying something when the roster contains under 80% free throw shooters. KCP missed a technical free throw. Josh Hart failed to convert on the Flagrant 1 free throws. LeBron missed some free throws. Lance Stephenson split free throws at the worst possible time. There were many instances that the Lakers can creep back in had they made some key free throws, but it hasn't happened.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, 5 points, 2-8 shooting. I'll give KCP a few more games before we start putting the pitchforks on Luke Walton to start Josh Hart and give Svi Mykhailiuk a shot in the rotation. But right now, terrible start for KCP.

MVP

JaVale McGee, 16 points, 6 rebounds, 5 blocks, 7-11 shooting

JaVale McGee is in for a career year. Mark my words. He was pure energy tonight from both the offensive and defensive ends of the ball. Rockets had to drive on McGee at their own risk of getting their shot swatted back into the stands.


Conclusion

Oh , I'm missing how LeBron James did. Well, he didn't have a good shooting night. He still stuff the stat sheet as expected with 24 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Just want to throw that out there. But, overall, we have to see what the repercussions are regarding B.I.'s status. Already a bad start and it could get even worse. But, this team has to refine the brotherhood, hang together, and face adversity in a tough Western Conference. I'll leave it at there. I'll see you guys Monday for the game against San Antonio.

10/20 - LAKERS vs. Rockets 2nd Half Open Thread

2nd half open thread of the Lakers-Rockets in L.A. As usual, leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the game.

Q4

HOU 124 LAL 115

Key threes helped seal this for the Rockets down the stretch. It's early in the season, but this is one of those frustrating losses. With that, we'll see what kind of repercussions will happen regarding that brawl down the stretch that involved a shove from behind by Ingram, then punches thrown by CP3 and Rondo happened and Ingram came from behind with a blindside punch to CP3. We don't know what will happen from there. This may be costly to what is a promising season if Ingram were to miss an extended period of time after this incident. More to come in the full recap.

Q3

HOU 98 LAL 97

That was such a push off from CP3. That put a damper from the Lakers closing this quarter out the right way. The fight in this Laker team is undeniable. It showed last season. Houston built a 10 point lead this quarter and it looked like they were gonna run away with it. But, the Lakers found ways to hung around with good defense and some timely shots. First Zo stays hot from deep with his 3rd three-pointer to give the Lakers the lead. Then Josh Hart hit a three for the Lakers to reclaim the lead. They lead briefly, the Chris Paul went to take over the game for the Rockets. This is possibly coming down to the last offensive possession and the last defensive stop the way this game is going.

10/20: Home Opener - LAKERS vs. Houston Rockets 1st half Open Thread

Welcome to the first half open thread of the Lakers' anticipated home opener vs. the Houston Rockets. Leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the game.

Q2

HOU 66 LAL 62

Like I said, Houston can use the littlest of contacts to their advantage to launch their trip to the free throw line. But luckily, the Lakers are hanging around out there. Early 2nd quarter, the 2017 draft class helped spark a run. Lonzo Ball airballed badly on his first 3-point attempt. Then he came back this quarter to knock down back-to-back threes. The key for him is not to get those and scrutiny about his jump shot in his head and this quarter was a good confidence builder. Josh Hart and Kyle Kuzma helped out as well. Hart is just a dog out there with his scrappy effort. And Kuz surprisingly is showing some potential on the defensive end. He and McGee account for the team in blocks with six combined blocks. It's a result of very good timing to provide the help defense. That was very impressive. The biggest dud so far has been Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. He's struggling out the gate with five points on Thursday and his shot tonight have hit nothing but iron. The entire rotation has provided some contributions. I think if he can show up in the 2nd half, that can provide the Lakers a big time spark. The 2nd half will open up shortly.

Q1

HOU 31 LAL 28

We can live with the Lakers trailing by three. This was a very good pace to start by both teams. Both the Rockets and Lakers put out their small ball lineups in the middle of the first quarter. Lakers definitely had the edge with some good defensive plays to set them up in transition. But, the last minutes of the quarter, pretty silly fouls committed by them. The Rockets have a very good tendency to draw them whether contact or no contact. Those last few trips to the free throw line gave them the edge after one.

Lakers Lose to Rockets, but Andre Ingram Wins Hearts of Many

Welcome in to the full recap of the Lakers' matchup vs. the Houston Rockets in the second-to-last matchup of the NBA season where the Lakers still fall short even when the Rockets pulled their starters out early, losing 105-99.

Wow, did that game end in a hurry. You'd figure with the Rockets clinching the #1 spot, they would sit out their starters to make sure they get healthy for the playoffs. But, they still played for three and a half quarters until Mike D'Antoni pulled them out. The Lakers almost cashed in on an insane scoring run to finish the game and possibly steal one. They just fizzled out as they rode the momentum plus Houston recommitted on the defensive end to seal this game.

(+)

Andre Ingram, 19 points, 6-8 shooting, 3 rebounds, 3 blocks, 1 assist, 1 steal. This is the man of the hour right here. When I looked at the news that the Lakers signed him for the final two games, I was surprised he was 32 and bounced around the G-League. Many shed blood and tears on the basketball court to make it to the NBA and not all of them are guaranteed superstar status, let alone a roster spot on the main roster. But, as the old saying goes: good things come to those who wait and kudos to Magic and Rob Pelinka to give this guy his long-awaited shot in the big leagues. And he made the most out of it, going a perfect 4-4 to start. He also hit a clutch three, could've hit another one to cut the deficit to one point in the fourth quarter. They said he was one of the best shooters in the G-League and for a small sample size, that was pretty impressive to live up to that in an NBA game.

Josh Hart, 20 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals. Josh Hart got off to a really slow start, but finished strong to end the game. When the Rockets pulled their starters out, Hart was the catalyst on both ends of the floor to give the Lakers one final push before ultimately losing the game.

(-)

Short-handed. Nothing the Lakers can do when Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, and Lonzo Ball are shut down for the season. They've been fighting it, but they are just overmatched against deeper teams at the end of the day.

Turnovers. The turnovers were ugly for both teams. The Rockets committed 18 turnovers compared to the Lakers' 17 turnovers. Houston was handing those turnovers like they were free candy out there. Just unfortunate that the Lakers, being turnover prone, could not take advantage of that and gave some of that back with those 17 TOs.

No help defense for Ivica Zubac. I believe Zubac's time with the Lakers is done considering he can't be more physical as an inside presence. But, they did him dirty not giving any help defense to him when Chris Paul and James Harden were running circles around him. That's a big mismatch right there and Zubac's lack of lateral agility could not keep up.

MVP

Andre Ingram, 19 points, 3 rebounds, 3 blocks, 1 assist, 1 steal

There's not much more to be said. Andre Ingram finally lives his NBA dream and puts on a show he and his family and friends will never forget. No question, his game tonight is gonna be an inspiration to many to never give up on their dreams.

Conclusion

What I saw from Andre Ingram's story tonight is one of the many reasons I love sports. In a meaningless game, he was the highlight of the night putting on a show in his very first NBA game. He'll remember that for a long time. The Lakers did a good deed tonight, win or lose. That's a good way to end this segment right there as there's not much more to talk about. I'll see you guys tomorrow for the season finale against the Clippers.

04/10: LAKERS vs. Houston Rockets 2nd Half Open Thread and Discussion

This is the 2nd half of the Rockets-Lakers matchup in the second-to-last game of the 2017-18 NBA season. As usual, leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the game.

Q4

HOU 105 LAL 99

The only time where a win or a loss doesn't matter. Andre Ingram going off for 19 points is a reminder that dreams do come true. The Lakers did have a chance when the Rockets pulled their starters out. But, Houston recommitted on the defensive end to seal up this win. The Lakers may not have gotten the win in Andre Ingram's debut, but he won the hearts of many tonight. Stay tuned for the full recap.

Q3

HOU 82 LAL 75

Andre Ingram does not miss. That was fun while it lasted when he hit the three to give the Lakers a brief one point lead. The Lakers are hanging around even though the Rockets gave themselves some cushion to finish off the quarter. Chris Paul and James Harden may be putting up a Point Guard clinic out there, but they're missing some open shots, which could've blown this lead wide open.

04/10: LAKERS vs. Houston Rockets 1st Half Open Thread and Discussion

Welcome in to the first half of the Lakers' matchup vs. the Houston Rockets in the penultimate game of the season. Leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the game.

Q2

HOU 56 LAL 48

Well, well, the Lakers find themselves down only by eight, which is a good way to end the half. Houston in that first half, it's like they're on autopilot right now. They light it up offensively and then slow it down a bit. Like I said, it's like they're not trying, which they don't need to do since they locked up home court throughout the West playoffs. The biggest story during this quarter, Andre Ingram, 32-years old, can ball. A couple of three pointers and starting off 11 points, that is a feel good story there. It's never too late to fulfill a dream and Andre Ingram is living it right now, playing in the NBA. Not much to say about adjustments, so on to the 2nd half. 

Q1

HOU 23 LAL 16

It's like the Rockets are not even trying since they have the #1 seed on lock. Slow start for both teams. A very bland first quarter to start the game. Luckily, the Rockets haven't put the clamps on yet. The Lakers just have to hang around as much as possible to compete.

Lakers Close Out 2017 With Tough Double Overtime Loss to Rockets

*Stats courtesy of NBA.com and Yahoo Sports*

Julius Randle was the Lakers' top performer, pouring in 29 points and 15 rebounds to go with 6 assists and 1 block, but the hard fought effort fell just short as the Rockets pulled away 142-148 in a double overtime victory.  Josh Hart lead all Lakers in scoring with 26 points, Kyle Kuzma added 23 points, Tyler Ennis notched a double-double with 20 points and 11 dimes, and Brandon Ingram chipped in 12 points.

Final Score: @ Houston 142-148 (2OT) [L]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20171231/LALHOU#/recap

Next Game: @ Minnesota (01/01)

Highlights: *Courtesy of MLG Highlights*

First and foremost, happy New Year Laker Nation as 2017 winds down and 2018 is on the clock. This game overall was good way to end 2017. The Lakers almost notched another one in Houston, but the Rockets rallied to come back and win. I was really impressed with the effort from Josh Hart this game. I've said this time after time, Hart is like the forgotten 1st round pick out of the 2017 draft class headlined by Ball and Kuzma. Of course with KCP's jail time, he fills very well. This game, he went off. Like Ball and Kuzma, Hart showed tendencies in being aggressive to the cup. That was on display in this game and I liked his hustle and activity in trying to will the Lakers to victory. He and Kuzma carried the Lakers' 3 point shooting this game. Kuzma was good to start, but as the game went on in OT, he started to fizzle out, missing a couple of contested shots, especially in the 2nd overtime. Ennis stepped up as a scorer and playmaker. This was like a prove-it game for him considering Houston made he and Brewer a trade piece when they accepted the Lakers' trade for Lou Williams and he balled out. Pretty much as noted in the stats sheet, the starting five carried the team. Randle still proved he's a double-double machine as a starter. Ingram had a solid game. He came through  with some clutch free throws to send this game to a 2nd overtime. Good effort, but the Rockets still have too many weapons on their roster. Chris Paul took over the game when Houston needed him the most, especially when they took a hit on James Harden's hamstring injury when the game went beyond regulation.

Lakers Snap Rockets' 14-game Winning Streak

*Stats courtesy of NBA.com and Yahoo Sports*

Kyle Kuzma poured in a career high 38 points to go with 7 rebounds to power the Lakers past the red-hot Rockets 122-116 despite a 50+ point performance from James Harden. Lonzo Ball added 16 points and 9 rebounds while Brandon Ingram racked up 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists and Josh Hart chipped in 11 points, filling for KCP. Corey Brewer came back to Houston and stung the Rockets with 21 points off the bench and Larry Nance Jr. added 13 points and 9 rebounds.

Final Score: @ Houston 122-116 [W]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20171220/LALHOU#/recap

Next Game: @ Golden State (12/22) <-- b="">*No Open Thread and Full Recap Posts*

Highlights: *Courtesy of MLG Highlights*

This was a stunning, yet big win for the Lakers on the road. Think about this, heading into this game the Rockets were undefeated with Chris Paul on the floor. The Lakers are one of the worst in the league in terms of 3-point shooting. All those fact checks were thrown out of the window by the time this game was over. What a game by Kyle Kuzma as the stats indicate. Kuz ignited the 3-point shooting game and ignited the fantastic start for the Lakers, starting the game 6 for 6 from beyond the arc. The Rockets couldn't put a hand up on time and Kuz just straight line drives his jumpshot, nothing but net. Houston's defense had no answer because Kuzma can shoot and attack the basket at will. He has the arsenal to be an all-around scorer. Big ups to Corey Brewer as well coming off the bench. The crazy part about it is that the Lakers' most consistent players off the bench, Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle, did not play well. Randle in particular didn't play that much off the bench. But, Corey Brewer stepped up as did Larry Nance Jr. Brewer probably had this game marked on his calendar so he could stick it to his former team. I liked his aggressiveness on both ends of the floor. Speaking of defense, the Lakers really stood out on the defensive end. The final score doesn't indicate it, but they were running and hustling back defensively and securing rebounds to finish the good defense. Clyde Drexler, NBA legend and color commentator for the Rockets basketball network, pointed that out during the game. Harden can drop 50+ points, but it's all about containing the rest of the team, which the Lakers did and granted, the Rockets missed a whole lot of shots that they routinely make, especially from three point land.