For the entire 2025-26 regular season, the Los Angeles Lakers frontcourt tandem of Jaxson Hayes and Deandre Ayton was a real topic of discussion, and that isn't going away this postseason. With a first round matchup set against the Houston Rockets, the type of play that LA gets from their big tandem, particularly on the glass, will be crucial.
When you think of the Rockets, a few things likely come to mind: size, grit, toughness, physicality, a desire to score in the post, and a team that crashes the glass hard. All season long, Ime Udoka has implemented an offensive scheme that prioritizes offensive rebounding and finishing at the rim.
This has resulted in the Rockets leading the league in severl key categories. Among them are team rebounds, averaging the most offensive rebounds, and giving up the second-fewest rebounds per game.
For the Lakers, this presents a massive challenge, as not only have Hayes and Ayton been incredibly inconsistent and streaky this season, but, in general, rebounding isn't a margin LA has thrived in. This season, the Lakers are the fourth-worst rebounding team.
The question now becomes, can Udoka and Houston exploit this massive advantage they have on paper?
It's do-or-die time for Lakers' Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes
When Steven Adams' season came to an end, the Rockets' rebounding did take a hit, but with Clint Capela as the third-stringer, the drop-off hasn't been drastic. Houston has done an excellent job all season, dragging out defensive possessions and then closing them out, using size to secure defensive rebounds.
That's where the pressure starts to set in for Hayes and Ayton. Every single possession matters in the postseason, and if the Lakers' frontcourt isn't physical, well-positioned, and consistent, this series could get out of hand.
Teams like Houston don't give opponents a second chance. They turn extra opportunities and offensive rebounds into points, which is why they are third in second-chance points per game this season.
Between the terror twins (Tari Eason and Amen Thompson), Alperen Sengun, Kevin Durant, and Capela, this Rockets team has elite paint scorers. That makes second-chance scoring easy.
In Ayton, the Lakers have a seven-footer with good instincts. The problem is his motor has been inconsistent, especially in physical matchups on the glass.
As far as Hayes goes, the Lakers have a bounce athlete who can out-leap anyone for rebounds, but doesn't have the traditional box-out rebounding skills needed against the Rockets. Between DA and Hayes, in theory, the Lakers have enough to at least somewhat neutralize Houston' on the glass—it's just a matter of whether they can put it together.
Even though the Lakers have an overwhelming advantage from beyond the arc, sometimes playoff series are won in the trenches. If LA can limit the Rockets' second chances and close out defensive possessions on the glass, round one is very winnable.
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