Los Angeles Lakers: 3 Houston Rockets players to watch for

3. Jeff Green

Playoff Averages: 13.4 PTS, 6.4 TRB, 51 FG%, 46 3P% 

Jeff Green has been one of the biggest surprises for Houston during the first round against the Thunder. Green started the 2019-20 season with the Utah Jazz until he was waived in late December. He was signed to a 10-day contract with Houston in February and was eventually signed for the remainder of the season.

The 6’8″ forward fits perfectly in the Rockets small ball system as he averaged 12 points per game while shooting over 56% from the field in his 18 appearances during the regular season.

During the playoffs Jeff Green has stepped it up tremendously while Russell Westbrook was out with injury, averaging around 30 minutes per game in the seven-game series.

The Rockets needed more from their bench during his absence, and Green was their best bench player in the first round by far. One of the Lakers’ biggest issues this season has been sustaining the same level of play when LeBron goes to the bench, so it’ll be up to the Lakers bench to slow down Jeff Green’s hot streak.

If the Los Angeles Lakers are able to contain these three players on the Rockets during the series, then the series should go as planned. The Lakers haven’t played since August 29th, so it is possible that they are a little slow out the gate, but expect them to settle down early on.

The Rockets are also coming off of a long seven-game series, so their fatigue should balance out with any rust the Lakers may have. Given the fact that all three of these players are shooters, the Lakers will need to sharpen their perimeter defense in order to win the series in fewer games.

It won’t be an easy battle, but I have faith in the Lakers’ roster to limit the abilities of the Rockets.