LAKE GOOD VIEW, Fla. – Just as the Los Angeles Lakers needed a scorer, LeBron James headed for the hoop. Just as the Lakers needed a defense, Anthony Davis arrived and erected barricades in some places on the field. The Lakers needed to make some X and O adjustments, coach Frank Vogel completed the description of his task.
The Lakers ended Sunday with a 117-109 win over the Houston Rockets, who tied the series at the time at 1-1 and proved that the Lakers are still capable of two things.
They can constantly rely on Davis (34 points, 10 rebounds) and James (28, 11 rebounds, nine assists, 4 steals) while doing so. They can also make changes so that the load doesn’t just go on the stars.
“We build the team so we can play in other ways,” James said. “We have to play big in opposition to the teams, and we have to play in a small way. And we have to play between the two of us. We’ve built it from the start and had it in our toolbox. “
The Lakers perfected the team in Game 2 and the Lakers to know exactly when to use the right instrument.
An adjustment meant making adjustments.
Despite primary oxidation in the first game after staying out of the NBA season with first a surgically repaired thumb and then back spasms, veteran Rajon Rondo inspired the Lakers with 10 points, nine assists and a competitive defense in rocket guard James Harden As Vogel said, “its effect on his team is measured in terms of the loot and confidence it brings to our group. “
The other adjustment is how to counter the Rockets’ positional versatility.
RESTER TO THE HOUSE: LeBron Explains Why His Kids Couldn’t Make A Stopover In The NBA Bubble
AMAZING BUBBLE: Daily interactions start to get a little strange
PLAYOFFS EST: Middleton intensifies Giannis, Bucks avoids sweeping
The Lakers have gone big since middle JaVale McGee as they occasionally do, but then the Lakers closed the first quarter with an lineup that included James, Rondo, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma and Markieff Morris, who lit three triples in the final 1:11. This small squad not only helped the Lakers shoot nine out of 17 out of 3 problems in the first half, but also helped the Lakers stay Russell Westbrook and Harden 3 out of 14 in the first half.
While McGee later suffered a left ankle pain that required an MRI, Vogel chose to play Dwight Howard in the middle, but instead, Vogel chose a smaller education to follow Houston’s.
“Our centers will have a role in this series,” Vogel said. “The plan is to move on with Dwight, as well as the paintings with those guys and how to play against this team is unique. But we made an incredible race, towards the end of the first with Markieef in the fifth. “
The Lakers’ streak was at the end of the day. The Rockets beat the Lakers 41-23 in the third quarter after they nevertheless connecting from the intensity (9 out of 15) and forcing five ball losses. first game, allowing the rockets’ smallest team to outperdo them (11-6) with a greater physical presence.
However, when the Lakers entered the last quarter, they maintained that they were afraid of losing control. As Davis recalled, “we were thinking about what awaited us: our task is to win the last quarter. “
So the Lakers turned to James, less than two minutes later, James forced a roll and Alex Caruso rewarded him with a balloon. In the next two plays, James crushed Westbrook in the hoop and prepared Caruso for a simple basket. As Vogel said, “we are more productive when he is in attack mode. “
“My teammates turned to me to see if I was aggressive,” James said. “I’m shooting or shooting my teammates. “
However, the Lakers have demonstrated their ability to thrive even without James. Vogel had him sit down at 8:17 for a counterattack before the critical moment. He then inserted another line of small balls that included Rondo, Caruso, Caldwell-Pope, Danny Green and Davis in fifth place.
Davis pledged to “stay as close to the basket as possible” when he played 4 and 5 places. In defense, however, Davis played as a perimeter defender and as a hoop protector. The Lakers still held the lead once James returned. 5:51 a. m.
“He’s in my brain as the defensive player of the year,” Vogel said of Davis, who lost to Giannis Antetokounmpo of Milwaukee. “Without disrespecting Giannis, however, he only canopis both the floor and all the other boys around him. More floor. Our centers still have a role in this series. But when we put it there, we’re much faster. Defensive side. We get advantages from both sides. “
All of this makes the Lakers feel more equipped to take care of Houston’s speed and positional versatility. Not only do Lakers have the most productive ability to do so, but they also have the intelligence of the game and the education to put other pieces of the puzzle together. .
Follow USA TODAY NBA Mark Medina on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.