Rockets, Lakers, Face Off for Series Supremacy
Pillows and Blankets. The Brodie Bounce Back. Turning Point.
“I’m slept on heavily. With a pillow and a blanket,” Danuel House Jr. said yesterday, as the Rockets and Lakers face off in Game 3 on Tuesday night, with the series knotted at a game apiece. And, House is right. The national media has barely heard of him. Although Houston’s superstars James Harden and Russell Westbrook obviously own the spotlight, that doesn’t mean there aren’t diamonds hiding in the dark. And since House arrived in Houston, his progression from stints in the G-League into one of the league’s most versatile role players, is the definition of hard work and perseverance. Personally, I haven’t imposed House’s impact, and the importance the Houstonian’s presence brings to the squad. If P.J. Tucker is the heart and soul of the Rockets, Danuel House Jr. is the ultimate hustling sacrificer. He’s the orchestrator who keeps everyone in their respective roles. Whether starting or coming off the bench, House’s mindset remains focused on the ultimate goal: making winning plays on every possession. House has quietly had a solid postseason, making hardly and mistakes. Houstonian’s “glue guy” deserves more credit. With P.J. Tucker needed as more of a defensive presence inside due to being a “center,” House has emerged as the Rockets true mesh director. He may not put up the flashiest numbers, but his energy and effort is infectious. Houston isn’t winning this series without House, the most unselfish player on the squad.
In Game 2, the Rockets rallied from a 21-point deficit, only to throw away the game late. If Westbrook doesn’t go kamikaze at the end of Game 2, Houston is probably holding onto a 2-0 series lead right now. Westbrook’s turnovers were costly, but Brodie realizes the mistakes he made. In Game 3, expect Russ to bounce back and have his best performance of the series. The question is, what will L.A. do? They made adjustments in Game 2. Besides Anthony Davis, the Lakers basically put out a small-ball lineup. And they used a zone, which Houston seemed to solve in the third quarter as they mounted a comeback. JaVale McGee only played 8 minutes, and Dwight Howard was out with an injury. So, if the Eric Gordon renaissance continues, and Westbrook returns to form, the Rockets should be able to instill more fear in the Lakers’ defense. Coach Mike D’Antoni and Harden even mentioned sensing fear in L.A. when the Rockets attack on offense. Houston needs to stick to the game plan, whether any early L.A. storm, and push the pace without costly turnovers. Despite losing Game 2, the Rockets like their chances heading into Game 3. Russ won’t play that terribly again (hopefully), and all Houston needs to do is space the floor and stick to playing Rockets basketball. Harden and the co. won convincingly in Game 1. And despite trailing by 21 in Game 2, they came back, and if not for late mistakes, the Lakers would be sweating hard right now.
Game 3 is the turning point in this series. With the Rockets riding the wave of an epic Game 7 win coming into the series, and the Lakers being off for a few days. It’s not much of a surprise the series is tied 1-1 after two games. Basically, common sense could have told you this was going to happen. But Game 3, that’s when the conversation begins to turn, and we really get an eye into who has the edge in this series. Everyone still thinks the Lakers are going to win the series. Houston might have woken some people up with their Game 1 win. You can expect these same people to peer open their eyes a little wider tonight. Harden and Russ can take you so far, but, despite the expectations, they’re not going to be on every night. Houston knows they need to rely on their depth, one huge advantage they have over the Lakers in this series. House is L.A.’s nightmare: Houston’s most versatile option overall (mentally, and on both ends of the court). And after tonight’s crucial Game 3, don’t be surprised if LeBron has trouble sleeping… even with a pillow and a blanket.
AdventHealth Arena: Orlando, Florida
Jersey Colors:
Los Angeles Lakers (1-1): White
Houston Rockets (1-1): Black
TV: 8 PM CT – TNT