The (2-3) Los Angeles Lakers are in Houston, the largest city in Texas and fourth-largest city in the United States to face the (4-1) Rockets against whom the Lakers are 12-6 in the last 18 games. L.A. has lost four straight and is 5-5 in its last 10 games at the Toyota Center. The purple and gold did win the finale in 2012 — in overtime — to earn the season split.
A lot of the focus tonight will be on Rockets’ center Dwight Howard, who played last season at less than 100-percent. At times he played as if he was suffering from GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) or maybe had some food lodged in his throat. But Howard is far from the only difference between these two teams.
He faces the Lakers for the first time after making a business decision to leave the team via free agency. Houston sometimes looks like it could be one of the top teams in the Western Conference playoffs… IF it can discover its identity. Although a long way off, the Western Conference Playoffs could be a bloodbath.
The Rockets just have to decide if they are a shut down defensive team or a highly potent offense. They can play small ball or go ‘big’ with two big men on the floor at the same time.
The team has the best of both worlds with elite defenders in the paint and fire power in the backcourt. It has shooters that can stretch the defense. The problem has been that the Rockets’ big lineup, with two non-shooters in the paint, has really struggled to score. The (shooting guard) James Harden/Dwight Howard combo can and will be lethal.
The Lakers have a myriad of things to figure out. Their defense has been non-existent, losing their last two road games by a combined 50 points. They are allowing opponents to shoot 48-percent from the field, score on average 109 points and the team is averaging 14 turnovers per game.
The Lakers’ mission — should they choose to accept it — is to play with a high energy level, show more effort on defense and get back in transition. They need to stop the ball, double-team the point guards on the pick and roll play and stop the dribble penetration to the middle of the paint. In addition, L.A. needs to limit the turnovers, control the tempo, win the rebound battle and limit the Rockets to one shot per possession. A challenge on every shot is a must.
The purple and gold needs better ball and player movement to find high percentage shots. The Lakers also need to do a better job of knocking down opposition shots. The ball needs to consistently go inside to the big guys tonight. L.A. will start center Chris Kaman next to teammate Pau Gasol tonight and BOTH need to attack the basket consistently.
Starters
Lakers: S. Nash, S. Blake, X. Henry, C. Kaman, P.Gasol
Rockets: J. Lin, J. Harden, C. Parsons, D. Howard, O. Asik
Tip-off: 6:30 PM PST
Television:
- Los Angeles: TNT
- Houston: TNT
Radio:
- Los Angeles: 710 ESPN (Spero Dedes & Mychal Thompson)
- Houston: 610 AM (Craig Ackerman & Joel Blank)
Injuries:
Lakers:
- Kobe Bryant (Torn Achilles) Out
Rockets:
- Patrick Beverly (Ribs) Out
- Omri Casspi (Ankle) Day-to-Day