Lakers-Rockets Highlights: Houston has some issues
Things didn’t start off great for the Houston Rockets on Friday.
Kevin Durant was ruled out of Game 3 of the first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers due to a sprained ankle with LA leading the series 2-0.
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From then on it only got worse.
Houston took a six-point lead in the final 30 seconds when LeBron James hit a 3-pointer with 14 seconds left to force overtime in the Lakers’ eventual 112-108 victory that pushed their series lead to 3-0.
Everyone knows what a 3-0 lead means in a best-of-seven series, but here are the key takeaways from a Game 3 that feels like the Lakers stole it.
Durant’s latest scratch from Ime Udoka’s starting lineup forced him to take third-year guard Reed Sheppard, but the young sharpshooter struggled overall, finishing with 17 points on 6-of-21 from the field and 4-of-13 from deep, and it was his turnover that led to James’ heroic 3.
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The 21-year-old had some bright moments on offense and a rare drive-and-finish with contact, but fell victim to the Lakers’ pressure more often than not, finishing with five turnovers. Sheppard’s ability to space the floor and operate as a primary and secondary ball handler has been vital in Houston’s offensive season, but his flaws – namely, defensively – have been fully exposed over the course of the series.
Sheppard is an aggressive defensive playmaker who certainly doesn’t lack effort, but his size and physicality level aren’t enough to keep up with a very long and tough Lakers group. It’s clear that Udoka is reluctant to play Sheppard alongside Alperen Şengün for coverage reasons, but if Sheppard’s jump shot isn’t falling, which could potentially offset issues on the other end, his minutes become difficult to overcome or maximize. (It doesn’t help that Şengün continues to shoot ineffectively — 27 shots for 33 points Friday night — and is unable to exploit post-ups against smaller defenders and convert at the rim.) Whether Durant is able to get into Game 4 or not, Sheppard — and Şengün — must be sustainable offensive sources or the Rockets’ season is over.
Because of the national storylines that have dominated this series — another LeBron James-Durant matchup, the absences of Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves — not much attention has been paid to Rui Hachimura, the calm, composed presence paying dividends for an in-control Lakers team.
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Hachimura, averaging a modest 13.5 points this series, lit up the Rockets with 16 points in the first quarter on 6-of-6 shooting, giving the Lakers a comfortable lead in an important Game 3 on the road.
Coach JJ Redick has used Hachimura in a variety of ways; as a setter for ball carriers, as a spacer on the floor and also as a finisher. His combination of size and high release point make him a tough cover for any Houston defender, and his quiet consistency has been a bright spot all season and a much-needed source of goals while Dončić and Reaves remain out. Hachimura finished with 22 points and hit four of his seven 3-point attempts.
The Lakers defense continues to deliver results
The Lakers, who seemingly shut down the Rockets on offense with a fluid defensive scheme, continue to impress. With Durant gone, the prevailing thought was whether it would reduce Los Angeles’ penchant for frequent traps and doubles, allowing Houston to play 5-on-5 basketball. That wasn’t the case at all.
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The Lakers took turns in various waves of pressure, whether it was casually double-teaming Sheppard and Şengün, trapping at odd angles, or making opponents work late in the clock, resulting in low-percentage shots. During drives, the Lakers made sure to have multiple players with hands and feet in the middle, rotating at the rim and making life difficult for the Rockets in the paint.
Additionally, Redick appears to have placed a heavy emphasis on getting back in transition, limiting the league’s fourth-most efficient transition unit in the regular season to just 15 fast-break points in Game 3. The Lakers prevented a number of foolproof attempts in transition, the main reason the Rockets rank in the bottom six in playoff transition efficiency.
Regardless of what ultimately happens to Houston in this series, the version of Jabari Smith Jr. the Rockets got in Game 3 — the confident, aggressive, three-level shooter — is what this team needs moving forward every night.
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Smith was in great form Friday night, finishing his night with 24 points on impressive 6- or 10-pointers from deep. His importance as a glue and connective tissue guided his time as a Rocket, but what kept him from taking the next step was his ability to make smaller defenders pay.
A fluid and efficient Smith, paired with Durant, suddenly makes Houston’s half-court attack much more potent, reduces Los Angeles’ defensive gambles, and creates an additional constant threat on the court. Houston needs it now more than ever.