Lakers and Rockets Regular Season Matchups: Insights and Adjustments

Looking back at the Christmas game between the Lakers and the Rockets, it’s clear that Steven Adams had a big impact on the offensive boards, playing a crucial role in the Rockets’ win that day.

Replaying the Lakers’ recent victory over the Rockets in Houston from a month ago, you can see Luka Doncic shining with his offensive plays, while Austin Reeves also made significant contributions on both sides of the court.

This makes analyzing their previous matchups a bit tricky. The Lakers edged out the Rockets 2-1 during the regular season, but understanding those games isn’t straightforward as they head into the playoffs.

Each encounter between these two teams felt different for the Lakers.

• On December 25, the Rockets were nearly at full strength, missing only Fred VanVleet, who had a season-ending injury.
• Fast forward to March 16, and the Rockets played without Adams and their star big man, Alperen Sengun.
• Then, just two days later, the Lakers faced a Houston team again missing Adams and Ja’Sean Tate, closely resembling what they’ll see in Game 1 at Crypto.com Arena.

In contrast, the Lakers consistently had Doncic, Reeves, and LeBron James in their lineup during those games. However, that dynamic has changed. Both Doncic and Reeves suffered injuries at the end of the regular season and will be out for an indefinite period.

So, what would the Rockets have to defend against that offense centered around Doncic and Reeves? Well, that strategy shifted to relying more on off-ball screens for creating scoring opportunities.

In their matchups, Doncic and Reeves combined for impressive averages—47.4 points and 11.7 assists—against the Rockets. With their absence, those offensive numbers are now spread among the rest of the team, including significant contributions from others after Reeves left a game earlier this season due to injury.

Marcus Smart shared his thoughts on the upcoming games, emphasizing the need for a team effort: “It’s going to be balanced. We’re going to lean on players like Deandre Ayton and LeBron, along with Louis [Hachimura] and Luke [Kennard]. It’s a different style of play now.” He noted that the Rockets might not be prepared for this new look, as they’ve always faced the Lakers with their star players present.

Indeed, the Lakers might be less skilled without Doncic and Reeves, but the Game 1 scenario presents unpredictability.

In their previous games, James had limited attempts, putting up efficient numbers without being the main focus, as Doncic carried the offensive burden. That contrasts sharply with the last few games of the regular season, where James had increased opportunities.

Kennard’s contributions notably decreased during those encounters with the Rockets, but he saw an uptick in his performance during the season’s closing games.

Without their stars, the Lakers’ style has also shifted significantly. They went from allowing one of the lowest average passes per game to ranking among the top passers in the league, showing a marked change in their strategy.

While it’s certainly a tougher situation for the Lakers without Doncic and Reeves, the unfamiliar territory might actually play to their benefit during critical moments of the match.

Kevin Durant pointed out that the Lakers do still have players capable of stepping up, but acknowledged the significant challenge of losing key players. “It’s tough to fill those shoes, but there are others who can have an impact,” he said.

As they head into this playoff series, the Lakers must tackle both known and new challenges.

One big question hangs over them: how will they handle the defensive rebounds against a Rockets team that excels in that area? And with the absences of Doncic and Reeves, how will they craft an offensive strategy against a Houston defense that may not rely as heavily on their previous tactics?

The regular season provided some hints, but it’s clear that both teams will be venturing into uncharted waters in this playoff matchup.