Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. NBA Playoff Basketball is going on!
The Lakers have taken a 3-1 lead in their series against the Rockets.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Reaves/Getty Images.)
This game seemed even worse than Game 4 of Clippers/Nuggets on Wednesday. The Lakers controlled the game for most part with their defense and rebounding. I had mentioned that the Rockets players on the court probably had an average height of like 2’8″ with a wingspan of like 2’9″. L.A. just bullied them the entire time. It was almost like they were playing around when they put in rookie Talen Horton-Tucker, who actually played really good minutes for them. The Rockets looked so listless for extended periods of time that it seemed like they’d rather be back in H-Town so they can go knockin’ da boots.
The Rockets were down by as many as 23 points. Finally, in the closing minutes of the game, the Rockets started making threes and getting some stops. It got to the point where the deficit went down to 5 points. But LeBron James kicked it to Alex Caruso and he converted a three to stop the bleeding. It was followed by a stop and a Rajon Rondo off-the-glass pass that was full of douchebaggery before LeBron caught it for a one-handed jam.
So there’s really not much to say. The Lakers are one win away from their first conference final since 2010. The Rockets have actually done the almost-improbable twice and that’s to come back from a 3-1 series deficit. They actually have done it fairly recently when they were down 3-1 to the Clippers in the West semifinals in 2015. So it can be done but I don’t like their chances.
Either way, this is why LeBron and Davis were brought into L.A. They want to raise another championship banner at Staples Center.
Bullet Passes
I don’t got much to say other than the Clippers can close it out against the Nuggets on Friday and the Raptors/Celtics game will close out a series that same night. Really excited for that Game 7.
There’s kind of a reason the Lakers were the #1 seed, right? Caruso is just not some meme; I’ve said in the past that his defense is elite but he probably didn’t play enough minutes to be included in the all-defensive teams. People are certainly silent about Kyle Kuzma, who has improved his defense and increased his hustle.
People are certainly surprised about Rajon Rondo but he’s played really well, at times, in the last few years. There are pundits who thought he was a washout when he was in Sacramento but he actually played pretty well in Chicago. Anyway, he’s doing his thing now.
I don’t know. Maybe the Rockets should counter with some size. After all, they were doubled on the boards, 52-26. This is how it should have been for the start from the Lakers.
NBA Playoff Scoreboard
Game 4: #1 LAL 110 vs #4 HOU 100 (LAL leads series, 3-1)
Watch This Play
Look at these jerks. Rajon off the glass to Bron.
Rondo went off the glass for the oop to Lebron to close out the game 😱
The Lakers take a 3-1 lead on the Rockets. pic.twitter.com/jg661RdsQL
— ESPN (@espn) September 11, 2020
Back to two games on Friday. Probably for the final time in the bubble. Take care, everyone in the bubble!
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
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