Dyin’ Hard with House Money: Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers Second Round Preview
Small Meets Tall. House Money. Pure Pandemonium.
“Now I have a machine gun… ho ho ho,” Bruce Willis declares as he’s strapped with heavy artillery in Die Hard, one of the best action movies of all time. On Friday night, what might go down as one of the most action packed series in NBA Playoff history, begins. James Harden, Russell Westbrook and the Rockets fully-loaded Houston Rockets face their first real test of the season: LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the Los Angeles Lakers. And sure, you’ve heard all the talk. Houston’s the underdogs in this series. Not one “expert” on ESPN picked the Rockets to win this series. But that’s right where the Beard and Houston want to be. The pressure was mounting, like trying to climb Mount Everest, as the clock winded down in Game 7 of the Rockets first round victory over OKC. Harden and Houston dodged a bullet. If Harden doesn’t hustle his tail off to get that signature block, the Rockets are back in Texas right now. I had a feeling that was going in… but the Beard intervened, keeping Houston alive, and changed the Rockets destiny. Sure, a seven game series against a team that wasn’t even supposed to make the playoffs, as people say, in OKC, isn’t the best of looks. But, the way Houston came out of that series… how they won. The Rockets, especially James Harden, took pressure that must’ve felt like the weight of the world off their shoulders by ousting OKC. It would’ve just been too embarrassing to even process, trading Chris Paul and four future draft-picks, for Russell Westbrook. The trade was fair, but Houston wasn’t even supposed to be meet the Thunder this postseason at the time of that swap, let alone on the hinges of a Chris Paul jumper away from sudden death. CP3 and OKC were supposed to be in rebuilding mode, but they proved everyone wrong, and pushed Houston to the limit, in the process improving the Rockets going into next round’s battle with L.A.
Everyone, and I mean everyone, besides people in Houston’s locker room, and people who really know the Rockets, are picking L.A. to win this series. And it’s understandable. The Lakers still have arguably the best player in LeBron James, and the best big-man in basketball, Anthony Davis. However, unlike the Thunder, LA has no one who can guard James Harden, or Russell Westbrook. Besides LeBron James. But at his age, and with the load he’s carrying, LBJ won’t be on Houston’s superstars much unless it’s in the final minutes of clutch time. Nonetheless, the Rockets have two, so LeBron can’t guard both, and AD can’t guard either Russ or the Beard. And yes, Houston has a wooly mammoth of a problem on their hands with Anthony Davis. Small meets tall as L.A. is a much bigger team than the Thunder squad Houston faced in round one. P.J. Tucker will do his best, but he’s going to need help, and the Rockets have to out-shoot the Lakers if they want to win this series. Houston is by far the better shooting team on the perimeter, and three is still bette than two last time I checked. If the Rockets can avoid those soul-draining droughts, where they shoot 0-for-20-something from distance, Houston has a real chance to take the Lakers deep, and win this series. And against L.A., James Harden can’t play like he did offensively in Game 7 of the first round. But the Lakers have no one with close to the perimeter defensive abilities of Lu Dort, who honestly gave Harden the most fits of any player all season. Most people are focused on the size advantage L.A. has, and they do have a giant one. But the Rockets have a huge advantage on the perimeter. If James Harden and Russell Westbrook play up to their MVP-caliber level, the Rockets should win this series. That’s a big if, and it will all be determined over the next two weeks.
LeBron James, at 35 years old, is still one of the most dominant players in the game, and with his immense experience, never backs down from the moment. He’s one of the few players who can basically win a game by himself, maybe not anymore against the great teams, but LBJ gets compared to the greatest player of all time, Michael Jordan, for a reason. And LeBron is still one of the best players, if not the best when he wants to be, despite showing signs of aging and of nearing the end of the basketball tunnel. With a healthy LBJ and Anthony Davis leading guys playing their roles, even if they’re just Alex Caruso, or Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the Lakers can beat anyone, and it’s not a surprise at all that they’re heavily favored in this series. But don’t think Houston doesn’t have a chance. The Rockets can beat the Lakers if they can maintain L.A.’s bigs, not only Anthony Davis, but Javale McGee and former-Rocket Dwight Howard. They’re going to be just as important for the Lakers, as guys like Eric Gordon and Robert Covington will be key for Houston if the Rockets want to pull the upset.
As important as these “others” on both sides, this really is just a battle between superstars. A fiery chess match on the court. We know everyone thinks the Rockets can’t guard Anthony Davis and the Laker bigs. But who for Los Angeles, exactly is going to contain Russell Westbrook and James Harden. Tooth for a tooth, eye for an eye. This matchup’s an even battle if you look closely. The Lakers play hard every night, have the most experienced player in LeBron, and the best big-man in Anthony Davis. But L.A. isn’t as deep as Houston. The Rockets have two superstars in their primes, and an arsenal of experienced veterans ready to outplay L.A.’s “others.” Houston is more likely to be apathetic if they get a lead in this series, so if this series is going to be short, it’ll likely be in the Lakers favor. But don’t expect a sweep with these two legitimate contenders going head-to-head. Don’t be surprised if the Rockets find themselves in another seven game series. This one will be more difficult, Houston can’t have letdowns. LeBron is a Game 7 is James 7. He will dominate, he will be the best player on the floor. What does that mean? Houston better not hope this series goes seven games, because LeBron’s feeling pressure now, and then need to end it in six games. I don’t see that happening due to the Rockets trend of getting too comfortable. They’re not going up 2-0 or 3-1 on these Lakers. If they are, L.A.’s storming right back to make this a seven game series. That’s not necessarily the case the other way around. Houston’s the team that needs to get off to a hot start in this series. Game 1 isn critically important, a lead and more pressure on the Lakers. L.A. hasn’t played in a few days, and while they may be more rested than the Rockets, Houston’s in a better rhythm right now, coming off that demon-exorcising Game 7 win in the first round. Harden and the Rockets have to seize advantage from the opening tip in Game 1, and show everyone this series is going to be closer than most expect.
After being labeled last series as the “favorites”, Houston is clearly the underdogs in the eyes of most, giving them an added arsenal. Instead of the weight of the world, the Rockets are playing with house money against the Lakers. After dodging a thunderous OKC-bullet, Houston’s fully-loaded with heavy artillery ready to feast on the likes of Alex Caruso, KCP, Danny Green, Kyle Kuzma, J.R. Smith, and an injury-riddled Rajon Rondo, who’s likely to return in Game 1. A much different look from Chris Paul, Dennis Schroder, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, at least for the Beard and Brodie. Houston’s superstars should excel in this series, as long as they’re smart finishing around the basket. Anthony Davis is one of the best shot-blockers in the game, and drives won’t be as easy as they were to finish in the OKC series against this Lakers team. Still, Houston has a legitimate shot, if they stay healthy and play up to the task.
The Rockets were the only team to beat the Lakers multiple times by double digits this season. I know, one of those wins didn’t feature a healthy L.A. team, but the other did, and the key to this series, besides the superstar matchup, is if Houston can prevent JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard from doing serious damage when they’re on the court. If the Rockets keep the action focused on the perimeter, take the bigs out of the game, and space the floor like Houston likes to do, Harden and Russ should have enough space and time to make the right decision. But this series is in their hands. If either one doesn’t show up, the Rockets will be in trouble. Luckily for Houston, Harden’s played well against the Lakers and LeBron, historically. The Beard’s outscored King James in their last seven meetings, and Harden has proven no one, not even LeBron (too slow, only in small stretches) can guard him on the Lakers.
So this battle of heavyweights comes down to Harden being Harden, and the Rockets slowing AD and the Laker bigs. Russ won’t back down from this moment. Neither will LBJ or AD. The Beard has to play like he does in the regular season against the Lakers, where 40-point performances are the norm, and the Rockets have the best chance at anyone, along with the Clippers, at dethroning LeBron from appearing in the Finals when he’s healthy. Expect Harden to play up to King James, and look more comfortable against a Lakers defense that has its hands full. After escaping a bout with revenge against an old friend, and a what seemed like a series of Russian Roulette, Harden and Houston is free of the pressure they were feeling since after losing Game 4 of the OKC series. And now, going into round two, all the pressure’s on L.A. This time, instead of passiveness, or a legit defender haunting him every game, Harden has avenues for aggressiveness, to explore en route to redeeming his entire reputation and career. Don’t expect anything but pure pandemonium. This one has the feelings of a classic series. Watch out Laker Nation, the Beard’s coming to ruin Christmas. And now, he has a machine gun… ho, ho, ho.
Series Prediction: Rockets in 7