HOUSTON — Lakers’ Playoff Mentality Visible Against Rockets

The Lakers have made it clear they’re approaching the end of the regular season with a “playoff mentality,” and that was on full display during their latest win over the Rockets, part of a six-game winning streak.

Since the All-Star break, the team has largely had a healthy roster, illuminating the players likely to be in the playoff rotation.

As the NBA postseason looms, Luka Doncic’s stellar performances have vaulted the Lakers into third place in the Western Conference.

Projected Starters

Luka Doncic

Austin Reeves

Marcus Smart

LeBron James

Deandre Ayton

This lineup has shown great promise now that they’re all healthy, so there’s really no reason to change it before the playoffs. According to Cleaning The Glass, this starting group features the third-best net rating (plus-9.9) among Lakers lineups that have played at least 100 possessions, making it one of the most balanced teams on the court.

Last season, Doncic, Reeves, and James all averaged over 39 minutes across five games, even during a first-round loss to the Timberwolves. If the Lakers make it past the first round, or at least push the series longer than five games, you can expect Doncic and Reeves to be around 40 minutes per game, with James playing high 30s.

Smart, on the other hand, can likely settle into about 32-34 minutes per game.

Among the starters, Ayton is the biggest wildcard regarding minutes. His playing time might range from 25 to 35 minutes depending on the matchup and how he’s performing. Typically, his average aligns with his regular-season minutes of around 28.

Bench Players

Rui Hachimura: Hachimura has taken on the role of sixth man in 2026, and he often clocked more minutes off the bench than Ayton earlier this season. As one of the Lakers’ top 3-point shooters, along with Luke Kennard, Hachimura is also versatile enough to defend multiple positions.

He’s expected to log the most minutes among the bench players, and if Ayton slips, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Hachimura finish out games.

Luke Kennard: Kennard stands out this season as the player with the best 3-point shooting percentage, significantly boosting the Lakers’ offensive game. Statistically, he appears to elevate the team’s offensive potential more than any other player on the roster.

However, his time on the court has coincided with some defensive struggles. Kennard could see 24 to 26 minutes in games where he’s hitting shots, but in other matchups, he might only play 14 to 16 minutes as part of a second substitution.

Jackson Hayes: Hayes, at 7 feet tall, has consistently been a bench player since the season began, usually playing at least 10 minutes as long as he’s healthy. He has the ability to enhance his performance with more minutes, particularly if Ayton isn’t performing well or if the Lakers go small in their lineups.

Jake LaRavia: LaRavia and Hayes have established themselves as the eighth and ninth players in the Lakers’ rotation since the break. LaRavia’s chance for increased playing time largely comes from the team’s choice to go with smaller lineups or should his 3-point shooting fade.

Closing Lineup

Doncic

Reeves

Smart

James

Ayton

Ayton has become an essential X-factor for the team. If he plays to his potential, his unique combination of skills and physicality is unmatched on the roster. However, if he underperforms, don’t be surprised if the Lakers opt to finish games without a center and use Hayes as the closing big man instead.