Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron and AD stave off Rockets surge, 5 Lessons
By Ronald Agers
![LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 06: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers react during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets in Game Two of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 06, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 06: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers react during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets in Game Two of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 06, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/321e610d40fb10381bbecc078e1f0520b716696e85c96d698f8b6604837675da.jpg)
The Los Angeles Lakers have to keep improving! There’s an underlying reason they won!
Let’s be clear here. A win is a win. But as hard as it is to blame one players for a loss, the reason the Rockets lost this game was because of Russell Westbrook. This could have easily been one of the worst games of his career. If not, the most embarrassing.
This will not happen again. If it does, the Lakers can take full credit for ending his career.
The 3 point perimeter defense still needs work. Giving up 22 shots from the land of the extra point will loom large later on in the series (41.5%). It could have been more, but the Lakers caught on to the fact that Rondo could beat him in a game of H-O-R-S-E from behind the arc.
The starting guards have to contribute more!
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Danny Green were bailed out by the bench. Bottom line. Why Frank Vogel brought them back in the 4th quarter made no sense. They were so bad, Vogel IGNORED Rondo’s minutes restriction and had him finish the game!
KCP had 5 points on 2-5 shooting. At times, it looked like he didn’t want to shoot.
Danny Green may not know it yet, but he is playing himself out of the starting lineup. If Alex Caruso could hit a jumper with any regularity (He can throw LeBron lobs with the best of them but shot 15 from the field!) he could start.
Sure, he scored 9 points on 3-6 shooting (3-5 from distance!) but the defense?
https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets/status/1302793324240175104
Plays like these Lake Show Life has noticed since the team set foot in the bubble.
It’s not about shooting anymore.
Lake Show Life would like to extend a safe and Happy Labor Day. Put on your masks if you are going out. The more people that practice social distancing protocols, the sooner the Staples Center can open their doors to Lakers games!
Next. 40 greatest Lakers of all-time. dark
Keep that in mind!