Los Angeles Lakers: Houston Rockets “Micro Ball” is dead! 5 Lessons

The Los Angeles Lakers are now up three games to one over the Houston Rockets.

The Los Angeles Lakers possibly ended the “Micro Ball” era of the Houston Rockets and Mike D’Antoni’s tenure as Head Coach with a 45-minute clinic showing why his style is not championship style of basketball. Lake Show Life breaks basically is predicting that unless the Rockets players grow six inches in 48 hours, the series is over in Lake Show Life Lessons.

The staff of Lake Show Life has some very important announcements to make to the Los Angeles Lakers fanbase. It’s something that seemed very simple all season long and after a couple of bumps in the bubble, it has come clear.

• The Los Angeles Lakers will be playing the Los Angeles Clippers next week.
• The trash talk between the players and two fan-bases will be epic.
• It will probably go six to seven games easily with so many storylines that the staff may not get any sleep covering it all.
• We say this because on Saturday barring what was seen for half of the 4th quarter of Game 4, this semifinal series, “Micro Ball” and Mike D’Antoni will be done by this time next week.
• Don’t be surprised if Russell Westbrook isn’t moved in the offseason!

It was strongly assumed that JaVale McGee would join Dwight Howard in the cheering section as Frank Vogel rolled out a new, smaller starting lineup against the Houston Rockets in Game 4. For about 40 minutes, the challenge was wondering if the Lakers were playing the Houston Rockets or the Houston Cougars.

Outside of a 22-4 run in the 4th quarter when the Lakers started clock watching, this team has beaten the life out of the Houston Rockets. More importantly, they know it and are constantly reminding Russell Westbrook of it for 48 minutes.

When Houston cut a 23 point lead to 5 points to make things a lot closer than they should have been, LeBron James just shrugged.

First, he set up Alex Caruso for a dagger 3 pointer in the right corner to beat the shot clock with less than a minute to go.

There’s this phrase that the writer likes to use when someone just keeps running their mouth when they really should shut up. It’s called “We can put you on the news tonight!” Man, that is exactly what LeBron did to Russell Westbrook to end the game.

Let’s set the scene because this video is not enough.

• Russell Westbrook had been barking at the Lakers bench, particularly Dwight Howard and LeBron when he was sitting.
• He ran his mouth to Anthony Davis late in the game and they both received technical fouls. Maybe he was still sore from AD yelling “Hell Nah” or LeBron losing one of his shots in the Atlantic Ocean or something. 
• Rajon Rondo is a instigator by nature. In this case, this is better than his performance in Game 3 if that’s possible!
• Alex Caruso continues his strong play (More on him later!) by stripping Eric Gordon to start the fast break.
• He hits Rajon Rondo with a perfect pass and Rondo takes a quick snapshot to survey the floor.
• Rondo throws the ball off the backboard and made sure Russell Westbrook’s image on this play lasts longer than his playoff chances. 

The Lakers are doing a repeat performance of the first round against Portland. Russell Westbrook said something to wake the roster up and they have basically made it a point not to beat their opponents but crush their spirit. Not since the “Bad Boy” Detroit Pistons have we seen a team almost target the other team’s superstars with destruction on their minds.

Simply the only drama left in this series is the Los Angeles Lakers getting enough sleep according to ESPN.

"“Hopefully the NBA will give us a break sometime,” Lakers guard Rajon Rondo said after Game 3. “They’re running us to the ground.”"

On the Houston end, what went on in Danuel House Jr.’s room and who was there.

To the new Los Angeles Lakers fans that are checking us out for the first time, welcome to Lake Show Life Lessons. An extended post-game report with video analysis that has covered the second round so far.

• Los Angeles Lakers lose opening game to Houston Rockets, 5 Lessons!
• Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron and AD stave off Rockets surge, 5 Lessons!
• Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron and Rajon Rondo beat Houston, 5 Lessons!

Over the next several pages we will provide highlights of certain players and coaches. Afterward, the comment section is loaded with knowledgeable fans adding their basketball knowledge. We usually start with the stars.

Which one? Let’s get to Lesson One and find out!

The Los Angeles Lakers have a new tag team called the “Grave Diggers” to end “Micro Ball,” meet Anthony Davis!

Mike D’Antoni will be fired next week. This is no secret, but you can’t fault him for going out on his terms. He wanted the small lineup to prove the NBA world that he could win a title with his uptempo style of play. He beat the Lakers three times in a row with it, but it took Frank Vogel about a game a half in this series to figure it out.

 It’s over. Why?

Anthony Davis stands almost seven feet tall and has the wingspan of skyscrapers. P.J. Tucker is 6’5 and is a stronger moving version of a chair. AD led a rebounding barrage with his partner (Stay tuned!) that bordered on embarrassment.

The Los Angeles Lakers outrebounded the Rockets 52-26 and it started with Davis who almost hit double figures by halftime.

Unless Tyson Chandler comes off the bench to lean on this guy (PFFT!…Don’t hold your breath!) or unless P.J. Tucker or Robert Covington gets that supersized growth spurt AD had in high school, nothing will change.

Now that Markieff Morris is in the starting lineup, AD starts the game right where he needs to be, down on the blocks beating those small players up. Just like basketball was intended.

Anthony Davis is enjoying bubble life in the paint dropping 29 points (10-18 shooting, hit all 9 free throws!) 12 rebounds (3 offensive!), 5 assists and 2 blocks. He literally could use Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly” as his theme song because that is what he doing to the tune of hitting 17 straight baskets in the paint.

The only thing that needs to be watched at this point is possible cheap shots from the Rockets in the deciding game.

You’ve met one half of the tag team. Read on to see what his partner did to the death of “Micro Ball”.

Meet LeBron James, the other half of the “Grave Diggers” tag team for the Los Angeles Lakers!

If you thought Anthony Davis beat up the Houston Rockets on the boards, LeBron James was even more dominant.  LeBron sent the message with his 15 rebounds that he and AD would make sure that the “Micro Ball” unit wouldn’t get an inch on the boards.

Plus he is attacking the basket with so much force that the Houston Rockets defense is being exposed as a team that is unwilling to stand and take a charge. Watch the stars, Russell Westbrook (Top left on the wing!) and James Harden (Top right by the paint!). Both left Jeff Green on an island and the King hit a ridiculous reverse lay-up.

Even though James scored only 16 points, his defense, rebounding  and 9 assists set the tone for this overall dominant performance by the Los Angeles Lakers. Every time the Rockets thought they had a shot before the big run, James would make sure things did not get out of hand.

But this wasn’t a game where the Lakers’ stars totally carried the team. This was an all-around team win, especially with everyone chipping in on defense.

The next lesson discusses Alex Caruso, Rajon Rondo!

Alex Caru”Show” is back and “Playoff Rondo” might be real X-factors for the Los Angeles Lakers!

The Houston Rockets bench got more production even though the Lake Show Life staff wonders what Ben McLemore did to make Mike D’Antoni mad (Dude hit all of his 3 point shots! 9 points). But the Lakers bench led by Alex Caruso and Rajon Rondo is not only outperforming the Houston bench but the starters too!

Alex Caruso:

Man, it seems that AC Fresh is starting to get real comfortable in playoff competition. Caruso set his career playoff-high with 16 points (5-9 shooting, 2-5 from distance!), with 3 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 assists and a steal. Lakers Nation is watching a long career being started right in front of our eyes.

It is bigger than the 3 point shot that ended the Rockets chances. If Alex Caruso’s jump shot can catch up with the defensive prowess that has taken James Harden out of the series, this could be a major X-factor in the near future. He always seems to be in the right spot and makes the right play!

• Watch how he gets back on defense and anticipates Westbrook’s pass and makes the steal.
• Then he starts the fast break and draws the defense into the paint that sets up the 3 point shot for Danny Green on the wing.
• He makes the pass right to Green in rhythm and Danny knocks down the shot!

Rajon Rondo:

Look Lake Show Life called Rajon Rondo a major liability for the Los Angeles Lakers for most of the season. Six months later, articles like these are starting to get posted.

• Los Angeles Lakers: Playoff Rondo is here and will stay!
• Los Angeles Lakers: Rajon Rondo is making us eat crow!

Yes, Rajon Rondo is making us eat crow and more help could be on the way. Rajon Rondo continued his strong play with a box score of 11 points (5-8 shooting!), 10 rebounds (3 offensive! This is a point guard right?) and 8 assists including this gem.

Rondo’s importance will be shown in the next game. Look for Russell Westbrook to start some extracurricular activity throughout Game 5. He knows it’s over and Rondo’s backboard alley-oop was about as disrespectful a shot as the other stars put on him.

Look for Rondo to get his hands dirty do the stars don’t get suspended or hurt.

Speaking of Westbrook, James Harden despite the free throws is officially missing from the offense. Lesson four is the Harden report.

Frank Vogel has low key used double teams and Russell Westbrook to eliminate James Harden!

James Harden over the last few years had done a good job of shedding his reputation of quitting on his team. One more game in this series the way things are going, he’ll have that reputation back. He is about done. His body language is just screaming 1-2-3 Cancun!

The rest of his Rocket teammates had similar body language for much of Game 4. With one more game left in this series, the Lakers have made it clear that they are the superior team at this point.

If the Los Angeles Lakers actually give Houston a spark of life, it’s not coming from James Harden. Frank Vogel has devised a scheme that every elite team will use to stop this guy in the playoffs for the rest of his career. Harden hit a season-low two shots on 11 attempts.

The Lakers have officially double-teamed him out of the series. He won’t play defense if he’s not shooting and 21 points are not going to be enough to extend the series.

What has been the Lakers’ secret weapon? Russell Westbrook! 

Somewhere Chris Paul is watching just shaking his head. He knew this was coming. After this series is over, especially when the Thunder came one minute and 42 seconds from ousting them last week, something is evident.

The trade was a mistake. James Harden will have a lot of sleepless nights this winter. Guaranteed.

As smooth as the double schemes the Lakers throw at Harden, it’s nothing compared to the mind games they’ve put on Russ. AD and LeBron get switched on to Westbrook almost laughing as they dare him to shoot. Russ just keeps firing. As long as Westbrook shoots making it a personal challenge, the Lakers don’t have to worry about Houston’s number one weapon.

Final lesson? Look everything wasn’t peaches and cream. The Lakers have some cleanup duties and we shine the light on a rookie!

The Los Angeles Lakers have to stop fouling… period!

This game should have been over by halftime. The stars should have been on the bench by the 4th quarter. It was that type of game. Why wasn’t it?

Fouling and putting Houston (Particularly James Harden!) on the line. The only reason the Rockets didn’t get beat by 40 points in this game was because of the foul difference. For most of this game, the Rockets couldn’t score outside of the 30 points from the free-throw line.

The defense for the most part has been very disciplined in keeping James Harden off the line. Not in this game, he got to the line 20 times. That is a problem if the Lakers let it happen.

Let’s end this report on a very high note. Lake Show Life extends its congratulations to Talen Horton-Tucker.

In his first playoff appearance, THT scored 5 quick points in 7 minutes. But this wasn’t about just offense, he provided energy on both ends of the floor grabbing 2 rebounds and swiping a couple of steals. The cheering from the bench shows how hard his work in practice is appreciated. After the game, AD stated that J.R. Smith has mentored him and helped him to be game ready.

The Lakers should be able to wrap this series up on Saturday in Game 5 as long as they show the defense that got them through the previous two games and three-and-a-half quarters in this one.

A game of sleepwalking as they did down the stretch of this game and the Lakers fans will have another Lake Show Life Lessons post-game on Monday, Ya dig.