NBA regular season continued with the Lakers losing 115-119 to the Rockets on the road, ending their two-game winning streak. In this game, the Lakers started with low intensity and were quickly overwhelmed by a 5-21 run in the first quarter, trailing by nearly 15 points. In the second quarter, the Lakers' defensive intensity only lasted for the first half, and when they managed to close the gap to about 10 points, they were again hit by two three-pointers, leaving them trailing by nearly 20 points at halftime. In the second half, the Lakers made adjustments, with DFS replacing Hachimura as the starter. This change had an immediate impact, as the Lakers quickly narrowed the gap and held off the Rockets' offense. By the start of the fourth quarter, the Lakers were only down by 2 points. In the final quarter, both teams exchanged blows, but the Lakers were unable to reverse their downward trend. At a critical moment, the Lakers had a chance to close the gap, but James committed an offensive foul, and Christie made a turnover on the inbound pass, wasting their opportunity. After the loss, the Lakers' record stands at 20 wins and 15 losses. So where exactly did they lose this game? Perhaps the data can provide us with some answers.
James shot 8 for 16 from the field, 4 for 6 from beyond the arc, and 1 for 2 from the free-throw line, scoring 21 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, dishing out 9 assists, making 1 steal, and committing 2 turnovers. Today, James was in great form, especially in the third quarter, where he scored 14 points efficiently with 2 rebounds and 3 assists, almost single-handedly leading the Lakers' offense and helping the team close the gap. However, during the early stages when James was conserving energy, it was clear that the Lakers' defensive intensity was lacking, and with no one else stepping up to lead the offense, the Lakers fell into a passive position. Overall, James' performance today was not problematic, as the 40-year-old veteran still took on the role of the offensive leader.
Davis shot 10 for 18 from the field, 2 for 4 from three-point range, and 8 for 8 from the free-throw line, scoring 30 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, dishing out 2 assists, blocking 5 shots, and committing 3 turnovers. There's no denying his defensive impact, which remains significant. However, Davis' offense is indeed too inconsistent. He started the game with consecutive turnovers while holding the ball, and the Lakers' offense stalled when they relied on him to lead the attack. Facing Shen Jing and Dillon Brooks, Davis couldn't gain any advantage, and even against substitute Steven Adams, Davis struggled to secure rebounds. It's clear that the Lakers should find a legitimate starting-level center to relieve the pressure on Davis in the paint.
Reeves shot 6 for 13 from the field, 3 for 6 from three-point range, and 6 for 7 from the free-throw line, scoring 21 points and dishing out 10 assists. His offense remained stable and efficient, and he was able to hit crucial three-pointers in times of crisis to stabilize the Lakers' situation. However, his defense was a real challenge for Reeves, as most of the Rockets' players got excited when facing him. Jalen Green's explosion in the first quarter and Amon Thompson's forced drives when seeing Reeves in front of him were uncontrollable. His defensive weaknesses are often exploited when facing younger teams.
Christie shot 4 for 8 from the field, 2 for 5 from three-point range, and 2 for 2 from the free-throw line, contributing 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. Today, Christie's performance was outstanding, as he seized every opportunity on the offensive end. On the defensive end, after increasing his intensity, he managed to somewhat contain Green's scoring momentum. It was only after he left the court that Green exploded, making Christie an indispensable defensive force on the Lakers' perimeter.
Hachimura shot 5 for 9 from the field, 3 for 6 from three-point range, and 0 for 2 from the free-throw line, scoring 13 points with 1 rebound and 1 turnover. Offensively, Hachimura's state was good today, but against weaker teams, he was fine; against stronger teams, his defensive footwork and awareness were disastrous. The key to the Lakers being able to turn the tide in the second half was taking Hachimura out of the starting lineup, and he also couldn't help Davis on the boards, making his role on the court quite redundant.
Among the bench players, Finney-Smith shot 5 for 9 from the field, 2 for 6 from three-point range, and 1 for 1 from the free-throw line, contributing 13 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. He played well on both ends of the court, delivering what the Lakers wanted to see. However, when he came off the bench, the team was already trailing by a large margin. DFS should solidify his starting position moving forward.
The remaining bench players, including Knickert, Hayes, Milton, and others, made minimal contributions. The positional battle showed who among the Lakers' bench players could truly make a difference.