– Dominate the inside
Against the Rockets, the Lakers are going to be outmatched in the backcourt. There are few teams in the NBA that can say they feel good about going up against a backcourt of Westbrook and Harden. While the Lakers have some good defensive players that might be able to slow that pair down a bit, the Lakers will have to take advantage of their strength on the inside.
With Davis expected to be back, the Lakers will have a huge advantage on the inside with him in the lineup. Davis can really do it all on the court, and while he might be rusty, the Rockets will not have many people who can slow him down if the Lakers are playing big.
In addition to Davis, getting McGee and Howard involved on the offensive end and the glass will be important. This is a frontcourt that the Lakers should be able to dominate on the glass. That means they should be limiting second chances for the Rockets and also getting more opportunities of their own misses.
This game feels like it will come down to whether the Lakers can dominate the inside, or the guards of the Rockets control it. One thing that is for sure; this should be a fun one in Houston.