For the first time this season, the Lakers enter the second night of a back to back game as winners. Unfortunately for them, there are no more Eastern Conference teams on the road trip.
Tonight, the Lakers play a Houston team that loves long distance shots even though they are volume three point shooters. The Rockets take the most threes in the NBA, 32. But just because you love to do something doesn’t mean you are great at it. The Rockets three point efficiency is average. They make 34% of their threes.
All the analytics experts will tell you it’s irrelevant how many threes you miss. It matters how many you make. The Rockets make 11 per game, the most in the NBA.
Nov 18, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Kent Bazemore (24) is fouled by Los Angeles Lakers guard Ronnie Price (9) in the first quarter of their game at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Only Philadelphia and Dallas give up more three point shots than the Lakers. Against the Lakers defense, teams jack up 23 three point shots, making nine. This is what the Lakers are facing on the perimeter. Patrick Beverly makes 45% from behind the arc. Trevor Ariza shoots 40%. Jason Terry makes 47% of his threes. The Lakers as a team allow 40% shooting behind the arc.It looks like its going to be a long night on defense.
It doesn’t get much better in the paint. The Lakers are too small to have much impact when Dwight Howard gets the ball down low. Lacking an explosive forward/center, the best defense is putting Howard on the line. Howard, having to deal with a private matter gone public in the way of Adrian Peterson, has an extra burden of focusing when his off court life is suddenly making the headlines.
Carlos Boozer and Ed Davis’ habit of picking up cheap fouls only plays into the Rockets hands, especially sending James Harden to the line over and over.
Tonight will be Nick Young’s first back to back. His conditioning will be tested guarding Trevor Ariza or switching off on Harden. Regardless, the presence of Nick changes the on court chemistry. Kobe trusts Nick to make shots which eases up the stress on him to always be a relentless initiator. On offense Nick spreads the floor. It’s not a coincidence Kobe had his most efficient shooting night of the season, playing with Nick. The presence of a skilled scorer opens the floor up for Kobe to make a variety of decisions: penetrate, pass or take the shot himself. On defense, Nick has improved his footwork, has energy and most importantly plays with an infectiousness that is contagious.
The last time these teams met Julius Randle broke his leg, Kobe and Dwight renewed their hate-fest and the Lakers got blown out of the building. Since then the Lakers have lost nine games and the Rockets have turned the page without Chandler Parsons and Jeremy Lin.