The Los Angeles Lakers picked up a thrilling, come from behind victory over the Houston Rockets in their first game back from the All-Star break.
The Los Angeles Lakers may make the playoffs or they might not, but leave it to LeBron James to sell the drama for the next 25 games. Coming into the game against the Houston Rockets, the Lakers were three games out of the Western Conference playoff chase.
Was LeBron James worried? No. In fact, he had an explanation that he needs to trademark because trust me, no one has ever had an explanation like this before…
"“I love being uncomfortable,” James said. “I fall in love with being uncomfortable. This is another uncomfortable thing for me and I love it.”"
Sidebar LeBron, if you are in love with being uncomfortable, wanna switch cars? Trust me, my Chevrolet Cavalier can make you really uncomfortable! Let me get a Bentley real quick!
All jokes aside, LeBron James’ relationship with being “uncomfortable” went to a new level of matrimony being down 19 points in the 3rd quarter against the Houston Rockets. After a “conversation” with Kyle Kuzma on the bench during a timeout, most thought the Lakers implosion was coming.
But a huge effort from Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram helped lead a furious comeback winning 111-106 to get the Lakers record back to .500.
Lake Show Life’s post games reports usually center around effort and defense. Statistical numbers are only part of the story and the Lakers have lacked in those areas a lot this season. This has especially been the case with Lonzo Ball being injured for almost five weeks.
Credit the Los Angeles Lakers for one thing that they can do better than most of the NBA teams this year; they can bother James Harden and it has gone on for a couple of games now.
Harden scored 48 in the last game in Houston, but he was pushed past the point of exhaustion. James Harden got to 30 points to extend his streak of scoring at least 30 points in a game to 32, but he was the reason the Rockets lost this game.
He did not play well at all. He was frustrated all night long collecting at least three offensive foul calls and two late in the game when Kyle Kuzma and LeBron James stepped in for charges.
A couple of players need to be shouted out even though they will not be a part of the headlines. Reggie Bullock played an outstanding game knocking down open 3-point shots in the second half and making James Harden work on the offensive end.
Many questioned (myself included) Luke Walton‘s decision to place Bullock in the starting lineup fresh off the plane after the trade. Bullock showed everyone why by competing while he was on the floor and playing hard with Kuzma and Ingram on the defensive end.
The Los Angeles Lakers welcomed back an old friend in Josh Hart last night. Hart got into the game in the 3rd quarter when the Lakers were down 19 and provided energy off the bench. He led the team with a plus/minus of +22. His transition layup really got the crowd rocking and the Rockets were in trouble after that.
Luke Walton really outcoached Mike D’Antoni for the second straight game. His in-game adjustments really showed and bailed the Lakers out. How many times are you going to see James Harden AND Chris Paul foul out in the same game?
Probably won’t happen for the rest of this year.
Let’s get to the takeaways from this game.