Saturday, September 5, 2020

Lakers fail to match the energy, speed of revved up Rockets in Game 1

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — So much fatigue. So much for playing tiny lineups. So much for an entire organization feeling crushing pressure to advance.

The Lakers won the tip-off against the small-ball Houston Rockets in Game 1 of their second-round series Friday, and then every perceived advantage they had entering the night vanished.

The Rockets had sharper stars, with James Harden and Russell Westbrook primed and scoring 60 points combined to 45 from LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The Rockets had a more cohesive defense, which forced the Lakers to lose 15 turnovers and shoot under 43 percent.

The Rockets had more energy, even though the Lakers had nearly a week to rest and plan and prepare — they were the ones who looked dead on their feet, hands on their hips as the Rockets led by as much as 19 in a slow, plodding march to a 112-97 Game 1 loss for the favored Lakers.

 

  • Houston Rockets’ Jeff Green (32) tries to block a shot by Los Angeles Lakers’ Markieff Morris, right, during the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

  • Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis (3) drives to the basket during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Houston Rockets Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  • Houston Rockets’ Eric Gordon drives to the basket ahead of Los Angeles Lakers’ Danny Green, right, during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

  • Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (23) celebrates with teammate Los Angeles Kyle Kuzma (0) during the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Houston Rockets Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

  • Houston Rockets’ James Harden (13) looks to pass over Los Angeles Lakers’ Dwight Howard (39) during the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

  • Los Angeles Lakers’ Dwight Howard (39) fights for a rebound with Houston Rockets’ Danuel House Jr., right, during the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

  • Houston Rockets’ Russell Westbrook (0) shoots over Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis (3) during the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

  • Houston Rockets’ Russell Westbrook, left, drives around Los Angeles Lakers’ Alex Caruso (4) during the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

  • Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James drives up court during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Houston Rockets Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

  • Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (23) celebrates with teammate Markieff Morris (88) during the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Houston Rockets Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

  • Houston Rockets’ Russell Westbrook (0) loses the ball in front of Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis (3) during the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

  • Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel directs his team during the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Houston Rockets Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

  • Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (23) reacts during the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Houston Rockets Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

  • LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

  • LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers react during the second quarter against the Houston Rockets in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

  • Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (23) grabs a rebound in front of Houston Rockets’ Russell Westbrook during the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

  • Houston Rockets’ Russell Westbrook, left, fights for a rebound with Los Angeles Lakers’ Markieff Morris during the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

  • Rajon Rondo of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

  • Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (23) celebrates with teammate Kyle Kuzma, right, after making a basket during the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Houston Rockets Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

  • Houston Rockets’ James Harden (13) drives to the basket over Los Angeles Lakers’ Danny Green (14) during the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

  • LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

  • James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets with a slam dunk as LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers defends during the third quarter in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

  • LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers on the court against the Houston Rockets in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

  • Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives the ball against James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets during the second quarter in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

  • LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers with a slam dunk during the second quarter against the Houston Rockets in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

  • Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (23) drives to the basket ahead of Houston Rockets’ P.J. Tucker (17) during the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

  • Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers and coaching team during the second quarter against the Houston Rockets in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

  • Mike D’Antoni of the Houston Rockets reacts to James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets during the second quarter in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

  • LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes up for a lay-up against the Houston Rockets during the second quarter in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

  • LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives the ball against Danuel House Jr. #4 of the Houston Rockets during the first quarter in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

  • Russell Westbrook #0 of the Houston Rockets drives the ball during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

  • James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets dribbles the ball against LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

  • LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the first quarter against the Houston Rockets in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

  • Houston Rockets’ James Harden (13) drives to the basket during the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

  • Alex Caruso #4 of the Los Angeles Lakers passes the ball under pressure from P.J. Tucker #17 of the Houston Rockets during the first quarter in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

  • JaVale McGee #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Robert Covington #33 of the Houston Rockets go up for the ball during tip-off during the first quarter in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

  • Alex Caruso #4 of the Los Angeles Lakers lays-up the ball during the first quarter against the Houston Rockets in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

  • Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots the ball during the first quarter against the Houston Rockets in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

  • James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets drives to the basket against Danny Green #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

  • Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots the ball during the first quarter against the Houston Rockets in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

  • James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets dribbles the ball during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Lakersin Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

  • The Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets kneel during the National Anthem in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

  • James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets drives to the basket during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

  • LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers on the court against the Houston Rockets in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

  • LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts with teammates prior to the start of the game against the Houston Rockets in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

  • LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers along with Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers kneel during the National Anthem against the Houston Rockets in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

  • The Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets kneel during the National Anthem in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

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James compared the difficulty of preparing for their speed to lining up on the gridiron against the “Greatest Show on Turf” Rams teams: It’s one thing to scout it, and another thing to line up against it.

“It’s like, ‘OK, we need to play them again,’” James said. “There’s no way you can simulate that speed, so getting out on the floor and having a Game 1, you get a good feel for it.”

The enormity of the challenge the shortest lineup in the NBA will present was apparent early, as the Lakers struggled to find the groove they hit in the last four wins against the Portland Trail Blazers in Round 1. They couldn’t find the lanes to the rim as fleet-footed Houston covered them up, and their stocky frames were able to take the pounding from the Lakers’ big men.

There were shades of the Portland series Game 1, when the Lakers fell to the Blazers in a game in which their offense had all kinds of kinks with 3-pointers bouncing out and their stars looking tentative on their drives to the rim. But in losing to the Rockets, the Lakers looked a step slow on defense, too, where they failed to stop Harden (36 points, 12 for 20 shooting) and were outscored by 15 points during the 32 minutes when Westbrook was on the floor.

The Lakers pushed back on their perceived edges: They claimed that not playing in days had pulled them out a rhythm, and that not knowing who their opponent was until the final seconds of Wednesday night’s Game 7 made them hedge.

“I’ve always felt the team that played a Game 7 has a slight advantage, but we can’t look at that as any type of excuse,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. “We’re not an excuse team and we’ve gotta come out and compete to win a game.”

The initial sequences played out like fighters cautiously circling, with neither team pulling ahead very far. It was tied at 52 late in the second quarter before the Rockets scored nine unanswered points going into the intermission, including three straight baskets from Westbrook and Harden.

The Lakers also lamented that they let Harden get to the line early: The NBA’s scoring champ had 25 points by halftime.

The 35-year-old James (20 points) had moments that seemed to turn back the clock: a second-quarter towering dunk over Westbrook cut a fearsome silhouette, and a chase down block of Westbrook in the third was capped by an end-to-end dash for his own contested finish off the glass.

But even James needs help these days. Aside from Alex Caruso (14 points), no one scored more than Danny Green’s 10 points among the supporting cast. And the Lakers’ mistakes hurt the most: The mistakes came on careless tosses on the perimeter and inside, as James and Rajon Rondo each had four turnovers, and Davis had three. The Rockets defense was spring-loaded and ready to run back for a total of 27 points off Lakers turnovers.

Davis led the Lakers in scoring with 25 points found some midrange rhythm on 10 for 16 shooting, but it was work: He couldn’t make the cruising cuts to the rim that have been the foundation of his game this season. P.J. Tucker stationed himself like a double-wide trailer in the paint to deter him from spinning to the basket.

But ultimately beyond schematic tweaks, the Lakers felt they could have brought more energy themselves, especially on defensive possessions where they struggled to rotate as fast as the Rockets pinged the ball around the court.

“I don’t think we played as hard as we could,” Caruso said. “I think that falls on nobody’s shoulders but our own, the five guys that are out there, and everybody else that’s around them.”

Even though the Lakers brought back Rondo after a lengthy absence dating to March, they were still down a man: Jason Kidd suffered what Vogel described as “severe back spasms” leaving the coaching staff down two with Lionel Hollins watching from home.

The Lakers had more fans than they’ve ever had in the bubble: Many of their wives and girlfriends sat a few feet back from the sideline as a handful of their children danced to pregame music. But losing is losing, and soon the Lakers’ loved ones mirrored their own serious expressions.

There’s a lot of series left in a best-of-seven, and the Lakers have come back before. But Game 1 served to say there are few advantages for the Lakers: They’ll have to earn every inch of the way.

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