Los Angeles Lakers: Goodbye Rockets, bring on L.A. Clippers! 3 Lessons

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 12: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the first quarter against the Houston Rockets in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 12, 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 Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 12: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the first quarter against the Houston Rockets in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 12, 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 Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers took care of the Houston Rockets in five games

The Los Angeles Lakers punched their ticket to the Western Conference Finals by dismissing the Houston Rockets in Game 5. The Lakers jumped on them early and coasted the rest of the way. Lake Show Life starts the party with Lake Show Life Lessons! The Los Angeles Lakers post-game report with video analysis!

The Los Angeles Lakers are going back to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in 10 years. We are going to say it again. The Los Angeles Lakers are going back to the Western Conference Finals and this is not a ice cream dream.

It’s not a practice drill nor one of those nightmares watching players like Carlos Boozer, Jeremy Lin, Nick Young and Robert Sacre surround Kobe Bryant in blowouts under Byron Scott’s leadership.

Holy Ryan Kelly, Batman! The Los Angeles Lakers are one series away from the NBA Finals!

Usually this Lake Show Life post-game series is about providing information and analysis about the games and where improvement is needed. Lakers Nation, really what is there to really learn. The staff basically canceled “Micro Ball” in Game 4. We plainly stated that unless the Houston Rockets grow six inches in 48 hours there was no chance of the series being extended.

So we here at Lake Show Life are going to set a party theme with music you can listen to while reading the information. It’s a party, right?

Lake Show Life presents: The Lake Show Life Party Jam with music to set the theme of the topics we talk about.

First cut: I love L.A.! by Randy Newman  

The Los Angeles Lakers smoked the Houston Rockets like a pack of Kools, running off to a 119-96 beatdown. They now own an 8-2 in the playoffs while waiting for their opponent from the Clippers/Nuggets series. Let’s be clear here, the Lakers played “Debo” ball and took Russell Westbrook chain on the way off the floor (Man, more on that later!).

  • The Los Angeles Lakers ran out to a 33-11 lead in the first quarter.
  • The team set an all-time playoff record knocking down 19 shots from the land of the extra point!
  • Anthony Davis did not take one shot until about 4 minutes left in the second quarter.
  • All five starters scored in double figures. This is how dominant a performance this was. Anthony Davis was the only starter that shot less than 50% and he shot 4-9!
  • The only reason the staff stuck around for the whole game was to see if any extracurricular activity would go down. (More on that later!) 

The game was over here, please don’t let Harden’s 30 points fool you. He checked out of the game early and this play exposed him.

  • LeBron James takes off coast to coast hitting Russell Westbrook with a behind the back dribble.
  • James Harden takes us back to 2014 with his bullfighting “Olay!” defensive technique!
  • LeBron dunks on his head for a 13-2 lead at that point. Game over!!!!

This game was all about the Lakers’ outstanding shooting from the field and the 3 point line. The Lakers shot an absurd 19-37 from distance for 51.4%. They shot 52.4% from the field overall. Even free throws weren’t a problem. They shot 75.9% from the line and it would have been higher if Dwight Howard hadn’t missed three of them late.

The Los Angeles Lakers broke the mystique of James Harden. His legacy will take a downturn after this series. The entire NBA got a blueprint of how to contain him without allowing him to explode on big nights.

If you send double teams from different angles, don’t reach and contest his 3 point shots without fouling, he will break. He scored 30 points on 12-20 shooting, but got to the free-throw line 4 times. Plus you pretty much saw his defensive prowess in the game courtesy of LeBron James.

His teammates? If you want an analysis of their play, just close your eyes real tight. What you see  is what they pretty much did. To quote Randy Newman…I love L.A.!

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.

Usually, over the next several pages we provide highlights of certain players and coaches. Afterward, the comment section is loaded with knowledgeable fans adding their basketball knowledge.

Outside of the Houston Rockets not growing, there’s nothing to analyze. We changed the theme to a party jam atmosphere. While you read, click on the song related to the subject. We usually start with the stars.

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