Lakers suddenly have overwhelming evidence an upset of the Rockets is coming

32-0 — that is the record for a team featuring LeBron James when going up 2-0 in a playoff series. Luckily for the Los Angeles Lakers, they did just that after a competitive 101-94 win over the Houston Rockets in Game 2 of their first-round matchup.

The Lakers got what they needed to claw out an ugly game against the Rockets. LeBron James looked like just enough of his vintage self to lead the way for Los Angeles. Marcus Smart enjoyed the positive end of his oft-streaky shooting. Luke Kennard continued his incredible heroics since the injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

For the second game in a row, the Lakers' deep ball was dropping while the Rockets' was nowhere to be found. Even Kevin Durant pointed out that much after his team lost.

The Lakers were supposed to be the team everyone wanted to play in the first round. Most experts and pundits picked the Rockets to win the series. That much is not quite off the table just yet, but Los Angeles should be feeling pretty good about where they are heading into Game 3.

Lakers are not the crumbling cookie everyone expected to digest with ease

Game 2 had a lot of uneasy moments for the Lakers. While they were in the driver's seat for the majority of the matchup, the Rockets hung around just long enough to never truly let them get comfortable. Los Angeles persevered and squeezed out the win.

Perseverance has been the theme of the postseason thus far in Hollywood.

No Luka, no Austin, and apparently, no excuses. The Lakers have successfully rallied around LeBron and fought hard to find ways to win.

11 out of 12 ESPN experts chose the Rockets to win the series over the Lakers. Marc Spears was the lone holdout keeping it from being unanimous. He's got to be feeling pretty good about himself right about now.

As should Lake Show Life's own Tyler Watts, who identified the Rockets as the perfect matchup for the Lakers to potentially bank on seeing Doncic suit up for postseason basketball. That much looks promising.

The job's not finished, as Kobe Bryant would say. The Lakers still have two more victories to secure. However, they will have (at most) five opportunities to do so.

James' teams being undefeated in these scenarios should invite plenty of confidence for Los Angeles. As should the general record of teams who went up 2-0 in their series throughout playoff history. As things stand, those franchises are 433-34 historically.

It is too early to be thinking about the second round just yet. However, it is quickly coming in sight for the Lakers.

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