Los Angeles Lakers lose opening game to Houston Rockets, 5 Lessons

Frank Vogel looked unprepared and the in-game rotations were poor!

This wouldn’t be as bad if the Los Angeles Lakers had won the first meeting after Houston shipped out Clint Capela and started “Micro Ball”. Only the Lakers were beaten quite soundly.

This wouldn’t be as bad if the Los Angeles Lakers had beaten the Rockets in the seeding games. Only the Lakers were blown out. Russell Westbrook didn’t play. Eric Gordon didn’t shoot well and James Harden went crazy.

Fun fact: The Houston Rockets ran away in the 4th quarter with Harden not scoring at all.

You’d think the Los Angeles Lakers would start using their size. They didn’t. The question is, What is the coaching staff going to do?

Will Frank Vogel play JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard more? Check that, are McGee and Howard even in his plans? If he does, when? He didn’t on Friday.

Markieff Morris got 9 minutes on the floor and one shot. One shot less and he joins the NBA Cares YMCA aerobics class. The Clippers’ Reggie Jackson is the class instructor playing 13 minutes getting no stats against the Nuggets the night before.

The Houston Rockets are not going to change outside of shooting more 3 point shots. 

• There’s no way James Harden should be allowed to guard your best player in Anthony Davis without collecting any fouls.
• The teams can’t finish with 41 rebounds apiece.
• The Lakers can’t hand over 27 points off of turnovers.
• Don’t wait until James Harden goes nuts to try a double team. 

Finally, this series will come down to the backcourts. If Frank Vogel is hell-bent on getting Rondo minutes while allowing KCP and Danny Green to chaperone lay-up lines for Harden, Gordon and Westbrook, the seismic shock in the Eastern Conference will show up in the Western Conference real quick.

In short, the Los Angeles Lakers have work to do before they play again on Sunday.