Game Preview

The evolution of the Lakers series with the Rockets has very much mirrored their 1st round matchup with the Blazers. After losing game 1 on both rounds, the Lakers adjusted more and more to the strengths and tendencies of both teams to win more and more convincingly. In game 4 vs. Houston, the Lakers only […]

Heading into game 4 of the Lakers series vs. the Rockets, what’s become pretty clear is that it’s the Lakers who are adjusting to what Houston does and that those adjustments are working. The Lakers went from playing big and running a regular gameplan, to playing a bit smaller and tweaking things on both sides […]

The progression of the matchup between the Lakers and the Rockets has been fun to watch, but also moving faster than I anticipated. After a game 1 that saw the Lakers play the Rockets with fairly vanilla schemes on both sides of the ball and lose, they went heavy on adjustments in game 2 and […]

While being down 0-1 to an explosive offensive team powered by dynamic guard play is a position the Lakers have been in before these playoffs, heading into game 2 vs. the Rockets feels different than what it did in round 1 vs. the Blazers. For one, the Lakers played well defensively vs. Portland and simply […]

Lakers vs. Rockets game 1 is finally here. It’s been nearly a week since the Lakers have played a game, and while Houston might be a bit fatigued coming off a longer-than-expected 7 game series vs. OKC, I expect both teams to play hard tonight and for there to be a good energy in the […]

My full preview that I wrote for what was supposed to be a game on Wednesday, August 26th remains intact about halfway down this post. If you’re looking for my thoughts about how the Lakers can win this game and what I think the keys are in this matchup at this point in the series, […]

The Lakers played a Jekyll and Hyde game vs. the Blazers on Saturday, playing with a lack of focus in the first half and then ramping up their intensity and execution in the second half to win the game. With that game 3 victory, the Lakers are back in the driver’s seat heading into today’s […]

Regardless of where the series stands, game 3 is a pivotal turn where a team can either bury their opponent (go up 3-0) or reaffirm/establish control of where the series can go. For the Lakers and the Blazers, this is as true as ever as the former are looking to build on their momentum from […]

If watching the NBA and the Lakers for as long as I have has taught me anything, is that the only time there’s a must win game is when elimination is looming. When it’s win or go home, you better win. Otherwise, you live to fight another day. It’s that understanding that is the backdrop […]

The playoffs are here and I could not be more excited. I’m also pretty anxious, honestly. The Blazers are a strong opponent and not your typical 8 seed. And with the Orlando Bubble not offering your typical environment and the Lakers not looking anywhere near their best, the circumstances are far from normal and certainly […]