The game between the Lakers and the Rockets is truly a focal battle that should not be missed.
The competition for ranking in the West is becoming increasingly fierce, and this game can be said to directly determine the fate of both teams in the coming weeks.
The Lakers are now only two wins behind the Rockets, theoretically speaking, if they can defeat the Rockets in this game, they will not only be able to close the gap but also have the possibility to overtake and directly challenge the top two positions in the West.
To be honest, the influence of this game is comparable to a final, determining the pattern of the strong teams in the West, it really is the epitome of a "positioning battle."
Looking at the predictions from the outside world, especially the win rate given by ESPN, it's really confusing.
They actually gave the Lakers a win rate of 29.2%, while the Rockets are seen as having a greater chance of winning, exceeding 70%.
This view is really a bit unreasonable.
Think about it, the Lakers have been in an unbeatable state recently, even when James and Davis were rested, they still managed to win consecutive victories against strong opponents like the Warriors, Kings, Trail Blazers, and Hawks.
Furthermore, although they lost to the Cavaliers, they were not completely crushed, performing much stronger than predicted.
The Lakers' recent performance has proven that they are fully capable of withstanding pressure and winning games when facing some strong opponents.
Especially in back-to-back schedules, the Lakers were able to win consecutively, which requires a high level of physical fitness and team depth. Being able to achieve this shows that their state is not bad, but rather better than many people imagined.
On the other hand, looking at the situation of the Rockets, it's a bit worrying.
Although they are currently ranked second in the West, the state of the Rockets is not as stable as it appears.
In recent games, the Rockets have only won one, and that victory came against an opponent who was missing several key players, making the win seem somewhat勉强。
Moreover, in the losses to the Timberwolves, Heat, and Celtics, the Rockets' performance was truly worrisome.
Especially in the game against the Celtics, they almost got beaten, ending up 23 points behind, with hardly any ability to fight back.
Some netizens expressed: "Recently, the Lakers have been in such a strong state, even with James and Davis resting, the other players have more motivation and can win several games in a row, which is quite impressive. Even though the Rockets are currently ranked second in the West, I feel that their injury problems and unstable state may cause them to slip down."
In fact, the Lakers' state of "winning easily" is very competitive, especially in the upcoming schedule where their opponents are not particularly strong, they have a good chance to take advantage and close the gap with the Rockets.
The injury problem of the Rockets is really a big hidden danger.
The absence of Smith and Ison has greatly reduced the overall strength of the Rockets.
Look at the Rockets' recent games, except for the win against the short-handed Mavericks, the other games were far from ideal.
Facing the Timberwolves and the Heat, the Rockets were simply beaten to a daze, with obvious gaps.
If the Rockets continue like this, they may find it difficult to maintain their position even if they are currently ranked second in the West.
There are also fans with different opinions. A netizen commented: "Honestly, if the Rockets can handle their injury problems well and improve their state, they still have a chance. After all, their lineup depth is not bad, and young players can bring surprises." This is not without reason, after all, the Rockets' overall lineup has an advantage in terms of the energy of young players, especially if Smith and Ison can return as soon as possible, their strength is still not to be underestimated.
Returning to the Lakers, although they have been in good form recently, this game is after all on the Rockets' home court, and the home court advantage of the Rockets cannot be ignored.
Especially the core players behind the Rockets, like Green and Shen Jing, their performance may determine the final trend of the game.
Many people believe that the Rockets have a more complete offensive and defensive system, especially the control of the inside and the firepower of the outside, which can put great pressure on the Lakers.
On the contrary, if the Lakers can limit the outside offense of the Rockets, reduce mistakes, and play out the advantages of team basketball, then they still have a great chance.
Some netizens pointed out: "Whether the Rockets can win this game really depends on whether their inside can withstand the Lakers. The Lakers have been resting recently, and the performance of other players is also quite competitive. Especially Davis, his performance in these games is really eye-catching. Whether the Rockets' defense can hold him, needs to be carefully considered." The defensive intensity and cooperation between the Lakers' players may become the biggest problem for the Rockets.
As long as the Lakers maintain their defensive intensity and make reasonable use of the advantages of fast breaks and transition offense, they can take the initiative in this game.
No matter what the result of this game is, it will have a profound impact on the Western rankings.
The Lakers' state is gradually warming up, while the Rockets' injuries and state issues have become stumbling blocks for them.
If the Lakers can withstand the pressure and maintain their winning streak, they really have a good chance to catch up and even overtake the Rockets in the next few games.
On the other hand, if the Rockets fail to solve their injury problems and continue to be in an unstable state, their second place in the West may soon be overtaken by the Lakers.
This "positioning battle" is destined to make fans watch with excitement, no matter what the result is, it will become a key battle in the Western ranking race.
Whoever seizes the opportunity will be able to occupy a favorable position in the future season and challenge higher goals.