The Lakers (11-9) return home after a 4-game trip to face the Houston Rockets (8-8) for the third time this season. The game kicks off at 7:30 PM PT on Spectrum SportsNet.
Here are three things to know before the game:
Health updates
As we head into the offseason, the Lakers were given the gift of good health news upon their return to Los Angeles, where several players had their status upgraded ahead of Saturday’s matchup with Houston.
Here is the current injury report:
- Anthony Davis (left adductor/hip cramp), Jackson Hayes (left elbow soreness), Cam Reddish (right hip soreness): Possible
- LeBron James (left calf contusion): Doubtful
- Gabe Vincent (left knee effusion): Out
Note that neither Rui Hachimura nor Jared Vanderbilt appear on the injury report at all, meaning both are available and will play — with Vanderbilt set to make his first appearance of the season after dealing with bursitis in his left heel since the Lakers’ season opener on Oct. 7. .
The Lakers are now as healthy as they have been all season, and if LeBron plays, a full frontcourt rotation will be available for the first time all season. It remains to be seen how this could impact the starting lineup or overall rotation, but this is the kind of good problem that coach Hamm would certainly prefer to the challenges of being shorthanded as was the case with the team during its recent road trip.
It’s time to communicate
While the return of an almost full roster is overall great news and the hope is that the entire team will hit the ground running, the reality is that it will take some time for all the players and coaching staff to find their footing. As they try to get together.
While most of these players have trained together in training camp this year, and even done some reps together either this season or last season, they have been working on how all the skill sets intertwine while re-establishing the nuances of timing and teamwork that can only enhance Same as through countless in-game experiences, common experiences don’t happen on day one.
Coaches will also need time to sort out what groups work best together, and how the different three, four and five player groups communicate and execute well on the ground in practical ways rather than as ideas on paper. History tells us that even the best laid plans and best intentions have obstacles along the way to overcome, and sometimes require revisions in order to get on track toward the ultimate goal.
However, all of this must be balanced against the relentless nature of time and season that doesn’t wait for anyone to become the best version of themselves. The Lakers have survived this first 20-game stretch with a record above .500 while dealing with countless injuries and illnesses. With a quarter of the season gone, finding their stride quickly may not be the easiest task, but it should be ambitious nonetheless.
Lakers vs. Rockets, third round
The Lakers and Rockets split their previous two games, the first being a huge loss in a game in which Anthony Davis was absent, and the second a one-point win in which LeBron, Austin Reeves and AD led the Lakers to victory as Houston outscored them from deep, but the Lakers were hanging on down the stretch to get the win.
If these first two games have taught us anything, it’s that the Rockets have grit on both ends of the floor and the ability to stay in the game because of balance on both sides of the ball. Offensively, they have enough talent to make shots, but they still rely heavily on big man Albrin Shingon to create good offense for them outside the post while also serving as a catalyst in the pick-and-roll by dunking to the rim. .
On the other side, they play strict perimeter defense with Dillon Brooks and Fred VanVleet serving as disruptive spots on the offense, but with Shinjun and second-year forward Jabari Smith Jr. using their combined size and length to disrupt the paint. . If the Lakers settle too much for outside shots, they will play into the Rockets’ plans to limit their touches in the paint, so finding ways to create post-AD opportunities and driving lanes for LeBron and other players on the team is important.
However, the Lakers can’t give up the arc and will need to make shots from outside to balance out their offense. In the last matchup between these two teams, the Lakers connected on just six of their 29 attempts from behind the arc, which required late-game heroics from LeBron and Reeves to clinch the win. The Lakers’ shooters will need to be better in this matchup if the team hopes to find better offensive balance and make progress against the sixth-ranked defense in the NBA.
