The Los Angeles Lakers are taking on the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs. After falling to the fourth seed in the Western Conference in the final days, they will still have home-court advantage. However, they will have to win the series without two key pieces.
Both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves will be out for most of this series. They are both nursing injuries that will keep them out for a few weeks. That leaves LeBron James as the top option at age 41. He might not be equipped for such a burden at this stage of his career.
James understands what will be required to beat the Rockets. He talked to the media about what it will take to beat them.
LeBron James Talks Rebounding vs. Rockets
GettyLos Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James celebrates. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
James understands that a big key to beating Houston will be dominance on the boards. He talked about how to keep the Rockets from getting so many rebounds.
“They’re the best rebounding team in the last 25 years. You don’t need to have a message. You’re going against a Mahomes team, and they’re the best passing team in the last 30 years. The message is going to be ‘Hey, we don’t need to let the receivers get off the line, we need to jam.’ What’s the message? The message is, get your ass in there, box out and rebound. Don’t need to have a message. We’re all grown men. Do your job.”
James has been in the NBA longer than some of his teammates have been alive. He knows that if his team needs to have some motivation to win a playoff series, they are in trouble. The entire roster will have to focus on keeping Houston from getting offensive rebounds. They were the best offensive rebounding team in the league.
LeBron James has a Tall Task
GettyLos Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James drives the ball. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
James understands that it will not be easy to beat the Rockets without their top two options. It will be up to him to be the focal point of the offense. Keeping Houston off the boards will be a big key to victory for them, as that is how they are able to generate easy offense.
The Lakers had the 11th-worst defense in the league during the regular season. That will need to be fixed going against a premier scorer in Kevin Durant, as well. Durant is the best scorer that Houston has, even at his advanced age. Stopping him will be key for LA.
James is hoping he doesn’t have to play the entire series without Doncic and Reaves. Ideally, he will only have to play the first couple of games without them. That way, Houston can’t just crash on James and keep him from scoring. With both of them out, they will be forced to find a new second banana behind James, which won’t be easy.
LeBron James Gives Blunt Message About Lakers Competing with Rockets