Rockets Build Confidence After Game 4 Win

Following a significant victory in Game 4 of their playoff series against the Lakers, the Rockets’ confidence surged.

Some players from the Lakers noted that there was quite a bit of trash talk exchanged during and after the game, despite their 3-1 lead in the series.

After a practice session in Los Angeles on Tuesday morning, Rockets players kept the banter going.

“I’m ready,” said Rockets center Alperen Sengun when asked about the physicality expected in Game 5. “We know they’re going to hit us, but we’ll hit back too. We’re younger and probably recover faster than them. We’ll just keep hitting each other and see how it plays out.”

There may be something to what Sengun is saying. The Lakers, as it turns out, have one of the oldest rosters in the playoffs, averaging 29.8 years old. The team’s cornerstone is none other than 41-year-old LeBron James.

Interestingly, while talking about the potential for increased physical play in Game 5, Sengun added he’s ready for whatever comes his way, noting, “If I were younger, I think I would have recovered quicker from those hits.”

In this playoff series, the average age of the Rockets is about 26.3 years. However, their starting lineup, minus Kevin Durant, is an astonishingly youthful 22.6 years old, the youngest among playoff starters. This group has managed to outscore the Lakers by an impressive +18 when on the court together.

If there was any doubt about the Rockets’ bravado, Jabari Smith Jr. added his voice to the mix. He echoed sentiments about Kevin Durant’s message to keep being aggressive and play freely, saying, “We’re definitely a better team than we feel.” When pressed for details, he hesitated a bit: “I just feel like…”

Smith boldly claimed, “Obviously we’re the better team,” reinforcing that belief from top to bottom.

These remarks come as the Rockets gear up for Game 5, a crucial match where they’re facing elimination. Perhaps that Game 4 win opened a new door for them.

Meanwhile, the veteran Lakers are looking to leverage their experience in the postseason to finish off the series on their home turf and send the youthful Rockets back to Houston for a lengthy offseason.