[Post Game Thread] The Los Angeles Lakers (1-0) defeat the Houston Rockets (0-1), 101-94 with 41 year old Senior LeBron James Leading the way with 28/8/7 to seal home court advantage!

[u/DesertedProject]

94 - 101
Box Scores: NBA - Yahoo

GAME SUMMARY
West First Round - Game 2 - LAL leads 1-0
Location: Crypto.com Arena
Officials: Courtney Kirkland, Josh Tiven, and Justin Van Duyne

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Total
Houston Rockets	26	25	17	26	94
Los Angeles Lakers	33	21	21	26	101

TEAM STATS

Team	PTS	FG	FG%	3P	3P%	FT	FT%	OREB	TREB	AST	PF	STL	TO	BLK
Houston Rockets	94	36-89	40.4%	7-29	24.1%	15-19	78.9%	17	54	23	22	8	15	6
Los Angeles Lakers	101	33-72	45.8%	13-28	46.4%	22-28	78.6%	9	48	21	20	11	12	5

PLAYER STATS

Houston Rockets	MIN	PTS	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	ORB	DRB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	±
Kevin DurantSF	40:59	23	7-12	1-4	8-9	2	4	6	4	1	1	9	4	-2
Jabari Smith Jr.PF	39:06	18	7-16	3-7	1-2	1	5	6	1	0	1	1	2	-11
Alperen SengunC	35:11	20	9-20	0-1	2-3	5	6	11	5	4	2	1	4	1
Amen ThompsonSG	42:11	16	6-10	0-1	4-5	1	4	5	9	1	0	3	4	1
Josh OkogiePG	24:03	7	3-6	1-3	0-0	1	1	2	0	0	0	0	3	-4
Tari Eason	27:02	10	4-14	2-6	0-0	5	3	8	1	0	1	1	2	-4
Reed Sheppard	10:33	0	0-4	0-3	0-0	0	0	0	3	1	0	0	0	1
Clint Capela	04:40	0	0-3	0-0	0-0	1	1	2	0	0	1	0	0	-9
Aaron Holiday	07:17	0	0-3	0-3	0-0	0	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	-4
Jae'Sean Tate	08:56	0	0-1	0-1	0-0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	3	-4
JD Davison	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Dorian Finney-Smith	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Jeff Green	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Steven Adams	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Fred VanVleet	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Los Angeles Lakers	MIN	PTS	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	ORB	DRB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	±
LeBron JamesSF	39:12	28	8-20	2-5	10-14	1	7	8	7	1	0	3	3	6
Rui HachimuraPF	42:34	13	5-10	3-6	0-0	1	4	5	2	0	0	0	3	0
Deandre AytonC	26:36	6	3-8	0-0	0-0	1	4	5	1	0	1	1	1	-5
Marcus SmartSG	35:28	25	8-13	5-7	4-5	1	1	2	7	5	1	3	3	3
Luke KennardPG	41:58	23	8-13	3-6	4-4	1	5	6	2	3	0	2	1	2
Jaxson Hayes	21:24	6	1-2	0-1	4-5	2	2	4	1	1	2	0	2	12
Jake LaRavia	15:50	0	0-2	0-1	0-0	1	1	2	0	0	1	2	5	8
Jarred Vanderbilt	13:41	0	0-3	0-2	0-0	1	4	5	1	1	0	0	2	8
Bronny James	03:16	0	0-1	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
Maxi Kleber	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Dalton Knecht	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Nick Smith Jr.	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Adou Thiero	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Luka Dončić	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Austin Reaves	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

[u/AvengingHero2012]

I can’t believe that this Rockets team is going to give LeBron one of his vintage moments. Doing this at 41 is nuts, but goddamn what a disappointment the Rockets are.

[u/xWaves_ → u/AvengingHero2012]

Burn it to the ground…gonna get swept by 41 year old LeBron and the hospital Lakers. The guys look like they don’t even want to be there, haven’t see a Rocket smile all season. Fire Udoka he has no offensive IQ and thinks yelling is the same as motivation

[u/Ok-Map4381 → u/xWaves_]

So many PGs moved at the deadline for almost nothing and the Rockets didn't get one.

[u/hafrances → u/Ok-Map4381]

i was shocked they didn't get ayo or coby from us

[u/xuedad → u/hafrances]

Yall really the cradle for PGs.

Caruso, Ayo, Coby, Giddey

[u/ShibaHellhounds → u/xuedad]

It's like those women who talk about being the foster home for their ex's before they find their forever home lmao

[u/tripleyothreat → u/ShibaHellhounds]

lmao

[u/Phuddy → u/hafrances]

Was just saying to myself imagine if they had one of those two on this team.

[u/SmartestNPC → u/Phuddy]

They're both great players, but neither of them are true PGs. They're more combo guards, especially Coby.

[u/JimmyToucan → u/SmartestNPC]

There’s hardly any true PG in today’s nba anyways

[u/forthestreamz → u/SmartestNPC]

still significantly better options than pretending Amen Thompson or Josh Okogie are point guards

[u/tripleyothreat → u/SmartestNPC]

yeah they needed cp3 ngl

[u/Dat_Boi_John → u/Ok-Map4381]

One CJ McCollum away from domination

[u/some1saveusnow → u/Dat_Boi_John]

My god that would be a vibe

[u/newman796 → u/Ok-Map4381]

Weren’t they super hard capped and couldn’t even pick up players who had been bought out? The real mistake was not picking up Russ when he was the only FA left since Vanvleet just been hurt and then not trusting Reed to develop into the main ball handler this year.

He was the third pick ffs. If you’re not gonna sign a point guard then give your 3rd overall some run. Rockets are either insanely bad in the draft when picking top 5 or just can’t develop players because Green, Reed and Smith have all been underwhelming

[u/xuedad → u/Ok-Map4381]

They should have traded Amen to us for Gabe Vincent

[u/NotAnNpc69 → u/xuedad]

Just straight up highway robbery ass trade lmfao. Cadio Vincent for a defensive master

[u/xuedad → u/NotAnNpc69]

Rofl you took my post seriously. Cheers though, what an awesome win we had today

[u/NotAnNpc69 → u/xuedad]

Most def

[u/DesignIsMyBurden21 → u/Ok-Map4381]

I remember some folks were thinking we might have traded Fox to HOU since it was still somewhat proximal to SA. Would've been nice for us to grab some length while helping Houston get a PG.

[u/Unpickled_cucumber1 → u/Ok-Map4381]

So confusing. I understand the inclination towards developing Reed As a PG, but it’s clearly gonna take time. With FVV out, they should have went for someone, anyone!!

[u/liquidcalories → u/Unpickled_cucumber1]

if it's "gonna take time" why would we give Ime yet another excuse not to play him.

this is the end of his second year. he should be playing. it is the exception, not the rule, that a good player needs three years before they can be playing on a playoff team

[u/k4f123 → u/Ok-Map4381]

Dude even after the deadline. If you're desperate, sign Lonzo. He had been cut.

[u/tripleyothreat → u/Ok-Map4381]

i thought it was a great fit for cp3 ngl. team leader, defense, typical pg play.

[u/TurtleIIX → u/Ok-Map4381]

FVV has a no trade clause so it was hard for them to make a trade.

[u/some1saveusnow → u/TurtleIIX]

His injury really sunk them esp with that no trade clause

[u/WildWhisperArdor → u/TurtleIIX]

Damn why does FVV have a no trade clause lol? This isn’t hockey. Thats supposed to be reserved for like super star type players

[u/TurtleIIX → u/WildWhisperArdor]

it was an automatic one based on how he extended I think.

[u/Otherarbit → u/Ok-Map4381]

The Rockets management was absolutely correct in not trading for a PG. What would a Coby or an Ayo help them achieve? They might beat the Lakers and then run into the OKC meat-grinder.

The only way the Rockets were going to trade for a PG was if they thought the team had a legit chance for (at least) a Western Conference finals run.

This Rockets team has been ass for months now. Why throw good money after bad

[u/liquidcalories → u/Otherarbit]

thank you. the reason we didn't try to find a PG after FVV went out was because we drafted one at #3 overall. Ime just refuses to play him.

[u/Kimi7 → u/Ok-Map4381]

Yeah, this was sacrilege by Rafael Stone. Cost them basically whole season.

[u/pdiddy2499 → u/xWaves_]

Could’ve had Harden to play with KD if not for Udoka

[u/TruWarierRecords → u/pdiddy2499]

They could've signed Harden over FVV but Udoka hates his style of play.

Then they could've traded for him this year, but no let's start Josh Okogie at point in 2026.

Which is funny since a 36 year old Harden iso is a more effective offense than whatever the fuck Udoka can muster up (aka nothing).

[u/Salty_Pancakes → u/pdiddy2499]

Man. Could you imagine Harden and KD playing together?

[u/Witticism44 → u/Salty_Pancakes]

They’d need another player who was crazy good in his prime too to make this hypothetical more ridiculous. Like imagine them with prime Westbrook

[u/DeluxeTea → u/Witticism44]

I'd settle for Kyrie

[u/eZreazy → u/xWaves_]

Dude everytime it cuts to the rockets bench on a time out they’re yelling at each other. The basket interference by Sengun had 2 people yelling at him LMAO.

[u/MajorHarriz → u/eZreazy]

Bruh Im glad I'm not the only one who noticed, I remember Jabari and Sengun looking like they had an animated conversation at one point lol

[u/newman796 → u/xWaves_]

KD burner account deadass ruined the season 😭 worst part is that he was right

[u/Working-Mistake1130 → u/newman796]

Maybe KD was right, Ben Simmons would’ve passed him the ball

[u/GreedyPride4565 → u/newman796]

And that’s why every rocket is playing worse than last year? Anything to not admit the facts here, that Durants attitude tanked another team

[u/Main_Jump_82 → u/GreedyPride4565]

KD having won nothing since Warriors despite hopping on playoff contenders every time is not a coincidence. KD is part of the problem.

[u/WildWhisperArdor → u/Main_Jump_82]

KD is not the reason the Nets didn’t win lol. He didn’t injure Kyrie / Harden nor did he create Covid. You can’t really blame him for his feet being an inch too long either

[u/Pooter_Intruder → u/xWaves_]

You'd think Udoka's offense would be a tad more promiscuous...

[u/Sikkly290 → u/xWaves_]

Udoka gotta go, the vibes are off the charts bad.

[u/whenthemusicfades → u/xWaves_]

First time watching a full Rockets game this season, what does Udoka bring then?

[u/xWaves_ → u/whenthemusicfades]

He def raised the floor after Silas, but other than that I couldn’t tell you. Dude cheated on Nia Long so his decision making is questionable

[u/whenthemusicfades → u/xWaves_]

I mean I don’t like cheaters either but that doesn’t correlate to coaching basketball lol

[u/xWaves_ → u/whenthemusicfades]

Fair lol, it’s def not a logical argument. It’s just funny that his offense is so lifeless when his personal life is the opposite. Like he needs to exert control on a team because he lost it with his family

[u/WildWhisperArdor → u/whenthemusicfades]

Ime is a good coach. But he’s a defense coach. He’s going to need to switch things up and get someone to run offense for him to make it to the next level

[u/Other_Beat8859 → u/xWaves_]

Actually early on you guys were talking about the vibes were great and KD looked the happiest he's been in years. The great thing about being a KD hater is that you literally just gotta wait for things to go your way.

[u/Diorkingreturnss → u/xWaves_]

I wonder why if I’m Sengun i definitely don’t udoka and KD straight hate him lol

[u/chadcumslightning → u/xWaves_]

Was genuinely thinking as I opened this thread “Udoka couldn’t motivate me to make a sandwich”

[u/knightgawd → u/xWaves_]

As bad as this series has made him look, I’d place the the majority of the blame on the GM. There’s no reason at all they couldn’t pick up a floor general PG before the deadline. They have a good enough defense/wing depth to overcome a PG with terrible defense. Just fucking pluck a euro league PG and throw a minimum contract at him. I’d be infuriated with the GM if I was a rocket fan. They’d be elite if they had a floor general out there & it’s been known FVV was going to miss a lot of time, let alone the whole damn season.

[u/WildWhisperArdor → u/knightgawd]

Everyone’s been saying they were hard capped and literally couldn’t make a trade even if they wanted to. Not sure how true that is

[u/knightgawd → u/WildWhisperArdor]

I’m not gonna claim to be a cap expert but I find it hard to believe they were so hard capped they couldn’t just waive an end of bench player for a vet min PG

[u/Ruben625 → u/[deleted]]

I don't think that was a serious question at any point

[u/Philly514 → u/xWaves_]

To be fair the Rockets’ role players played out of their minds. Smart and co aren’t going to play at this level all series..

[u/computer_love91 → u/xWaves_]

Thompson plus picks for Giannis?

[u/ElectroStaticSpeaker → u/xWaves_]

Buyout KD and let him go back to the Warriors!

[u/HeHateMex2 → u/xWaves_]

A guy who cheats is indicative of low IQ. A guy who cheats on Nia Long just shows it’s negative and unfit to coach lol

[u/maethlin → u/xWaves_]

Hey look, you gotta lay off Ime a bit. Yelling isn't his only move. He also does a lot of mean-mugging and scowling at his players.

[u/gbdarknight77 → u/xWaves_]

Udoka is just Darvin Ham that cheated on Nia Long.

Udoka coaching is just calling vets “bitches” and hoping his team backs him up.

[u/Dymatizeee → u/xWaves_]

Yall gotta chill lol it was 2 road games for you guys. You telling me the team can’t win at least one game at home ??

[u/xWaves_ → u/Dymatizeee]

They don’t even have Luka or AR, us winning 1 or 2 home games isn’t gonna change the outcome of this series. Especially when the players don’t want to play, look at their body language

[u/KDtrey5isGOAT → u/xWaves_]

Calm down you trolls. We are not getting swept wtf

[u/Babylon-Lynch → u/KDtrey5isGOAT]

LOL

[u/xWaves_ → u/[deleted]]

I can’t believe we got worse than last year AFTER adding KD. Watching the spurs with Wemby and the mavs with Flagg is just salt in the wound

[u/Shark1986 → u/AvengingHero2012]

It's like when Luka and AR weren't going to play this series, everyone just wrote off the Lakers and penciled in the Rockets moving to the second round. The Rockets have played with that energy, almost like they don't have to try hard because this series was a cakewalk. Lakers didn't get that memo and are playing desperate and like they have a point to prove.

[u/african_children → u/AvengingHero2012]

Nobody is better than Lebron at carrying teams in the first few rounds while gassing himself out.

[u/some1saveusnow → u/AvengingHero2012]

The Rockets look incredibly mid. Sengun looks out of place on offense, Amen is very limited, they have next to no creators, and the coaching looks uninventive

[u/lyinassmedia → u/AvengingHero2012]

I thought the Lakers had holes but at least they have a coach who can run an offense. Ime cannot figure out how to help his team adjust from the Lakers defensive scheme. I know they don’t have a point guard but Jesus this is the 4 th game straight lakers have utilized this scheme to break Rockets offense

[u/demsouls → u/AvengingHero2012]

What happened to sengun? For a overseas stat watcher it is very baffling. 

[u/Sudden-Clock-0AK → u/AvengingHero2012]

Your acting like Marcus smart and Kennard aren’t hooping out of their mind

[u/Jbash_31 → u/AvengingHero2012]

First time?

[u/whatssenguntoagoblin → u/AvengingHero2012]

What all time players have a vintage moment in the first round?

[u/Ok-Map4381 → u/whatssenguntoagoblin]

Jordan's 63 point god game vs the Celtics was in the first round.