Let's go! If the Rockets play like they played today, it's not going to go well for them. AD needs to look like this in the second round:
Would’ve preferred OKC, but I’m not as concerned about Houston as I was a few weeks ago. The one thing I’m a bit worried about is that I hope we don’t try to force the size mismatch too much. Strategically take advantage of it when it make sense, sure. But don’t force it and get away from our natural playstyle just for the sake of it. Like if AD is feeling himself from the midrange like he was in Portland, don’t break up his rhythm to force the ball down to Javale in the post just because he ends up with a midget on him. I feel like I saw some of that from us in our regular season matchups with Houston. Specifically I see a lot of that from Dwight, in general. He gets a size mismatch tries to establish post position, it’s not really great position or making sense for our offense to go to him in that moment. But then he gets frustrated that he didn’t get the ball and ends up with a 3 second violation or offensive foul. Lillard was a good way to prep our team defense for Harden.
Green, KCP, Caruso needs to hit shots. Period. Then Bron and Ad can go to work. I really hate that they got Covington. This should be a big series for Kuz and Morris to shine - rebounding, 3 and D. Rondo will cost us at least one game.
Lakers in 4 or 5 except I can't discount Houston shooting and Vogel's extreme stubbornness with lineups I'm sure he'll find some reason to play Rondo instead of Caruso and KCP with lots of AD at the 4 to really help the spacing So it will probably be 6 That being said the Lakers can match up with anything they want to do on offense and I don't see how without a rim protector they keep Lebron from going downhill. In addition, put AD at the triple threat position at the FT line and he can shoot those easy mid range jumpers all day without Houston being able to contest.
Ugh. I hate Houston more than any other team. Can't stand to watch them play and now we will be forced to watch a whole series against them. But, that's what we've got. Lakers in 6 hopefully as the Rock said.
I’ll say this, James Harden is a mega choker, yes he made a huge block, good for him, but 17 points on 4-15, 1-9 from 3 in a game 7, typical Harden. I hope that continues should our series go 7. The series as a whole, just like it has fallen on GS for the past however many years, the fate of basketball and the souls of all mankind now rest on the Lakers shoulders to beat Houston so this unholy style of “basketball” they play is never rewarded and copied and allowed to spread like a cancer forever after. Robert Harry saved us from it in the 2000’s by checking Nash into the boards, and ‘Antoni went away for a while, but he’s crawled out of hell now and trying again, Durant has stopped it the last few years luckily being a beast, but now he and Harden must be stopped again. This series matters a lot, if we don’t beat them I’m going to have to root for the Clippers, and if they don’t beat them I’ll have to possibly root for the C Bags, and I’m not sure I can take that to finish off this disaster of a 2020. Go Lakers.
Gonna be interesting to see how we match up with them defensively. Lebron should be able to get in the lane at will.
Rockets vs. Lakers Playoff History YEAR ROUND RECORD 1981 First Round Houston 2 - 1 Los Angeles Lakers 1986 Conference Finals Houston 4 - 1 Los Angeles Lakers 1990 First Round Houston 1 - 3 Los Angeles Lakers 1991 First Round Houston 0 - 3 Los Angeles Lakers 1996 First Round Houston 3 - 1 Los Angeles Lakers 1999 First Round Houston 1 - 3 Los Angeles Lakers 2004 First Round Houston 1 - 4 Los Angeles Lakers 2009 Semifinals Houston 3 - 4 Los Angeles Lakers
god i hate the rockets harden and westbrook are my two least favorite players and f*** d'antoni too. it'd be so awesome if they can send them packing
The Rockets disgust me. My least favorite player and coach are there. Gross. I'm not making any predictions since I'm so bad at it, so Go Lakers!
matchups make series My hope is that, should the Lakers win, they are thoroughly tested and forced to improve, and are ramping up to be the best version of themselves if they make the finals. Take on all comers and beat them. That's what it's all about. Unless you're Lebron and just happy to make the Finals.