NBA Season 2025-26

[Who]

I was wondering what the Lakers lineup looks like without Luka or A Reaves. I haven't watched them since Luka got hurt.

G: L Kennard
G: LeBron
F: LaRavia
F: Rui Hachimura
C: D Ayton

That is a strange starting lineup. One slow wing in Kennard. 3 slow forwards in LeBron, LaRavia and Rui. A defensively vulnerable group to any speed. Rockets are a slow team too although they may be quicker without Durant. Lots of size and muscle though SG through PF. That will help them switch on defense and deal with Sengun.

Their bench is odd. No real backup wings. The rookie A Thiero is their main backup wing. Or Knecht. Dodgy backup combo guards in Bronny & Nick Smith Jr. Plenty of backup big men in Jaxson Hayes, Kleber, Drew Timme, Vanderbilt.

LAL will need their starters PG through PF to play a lot of minutes. Dodgy depth there.

Rockets guards might get some joy attacking those slower wings.

[Phantom255x]

How do you play most of the season, are healthy going into the playoffs and then just "collide knees" with a teammate in practice and you're out for a playoff game. Just seems like ominous vibes for the Rockets, a lot of people aren't high on them to begin with and even without Luka/Reaves, they weren't favored by a ton.

[SparzWizard]

How do you play most of the season, are healthy going into the playoffs and then just "collide knees" with a teammate in practice and you're out for a playoff game. Just seems like ominous vibes for the Rockets, a lot of people aren't high on them to begin with and even without Luka/Reaves, they weren't favored by a ton.

Still thinks LAL has the slight edge this series even with Durant. I have them in 6. They played the Rockets well this season. The Rockets look lost. Feels like their team locker's been imploded

Though it'll be great if they lose

[Phantom255x]

Smart actually looks like a great playmaker so far in this game. Making the right passes and decisions and orchestrating some things.

Meanwhile Ime's Rockets are letting the Lakers shoot 73% from the field near halftime. They are gonna get wiped off the floor by the 3rd if that doesn't improve

[RMO]

Shooting 65%, you're opponent shooting 37% and only being up two isn't great for the lakers

[Who]

I expect Amen Thompson to have a big series defensively on LeBron James with LeBron struggling to score efficiently against him.

Similar to Iggy in the 2015 Finals when LeBron also had a team hit by injuries and a lack of scoring around him. So GSW were able to hone in on him and make his life miserable and in Iggy had a great man defender to check him. Houston have the same situation with Amen in the Iggy role.

[SparzWizard]

Giannis: I think LA is superficial. I don't like LA.

His comments on his preferred vacation spots.

Guess LAL fans can stop dreaming of a Luka + Giannis tandem

[DefenseWinsChamps]

The Knicks-Hawks game and this Lakers-Rockets game have been two of the worst officiated playoff games I've seen in a long time.

[Phantom255x]

I'm tempted to change my Lakers-Rockets pick. I know Durant is out but their offense just looks rough and Ime looks clueless on the sidelines too. The Lakers are missing Reaves and Doncic yet they've got guys stepping up on both ends more so than the Rockets

[Goldstar88]

I'm tempted to change my Lakers-Rockets pick. I know Durant is out but their offense just looks rough and Ime looks clueless on the sidelines too. The Lakers are missing Reaves and Doncic yet they've got guys stepping up on both ends more so than the Rockets

Ime is really bad when it comes to offense. Houston should not be losing to the Lakers. They still have Thompson, Smith Jr and Sengun. Couldn?t even score 100 points.

[Phantom255x]

I'm tempted to change my Lakers-Rockets pick. I know Durant is out but their offense just looks rough and Ime looks clueless on the sidelines too. The Lakers are missing Reaves and Doncic yet they've got guys stepping up on both ends more so than the Rockets

Ime is really bad when it comes to offense. Houston should not be losing to the Lakers. They still have Thompson, Smith Jr and Sengun. Couldn?t even score 100 points.

Just watch them play, it looks like a struggle for them to even generate plays or get guys open. Occasionally there's an open guy like Eason in the corner, but besides that it's a lot of contested shots or fadeaways with the shotclock running down.

What's more baffling is, they lost FVV to injury before the season yet never made a move for a true facilitating PG despite many opportunities too. For reference, the Lakers got Kennard for a 2nd round pick and he's been balling lately. Rockets barely did anything. Hell CP3 has been on the couch this whole time, couldn't he offer some minutes at PG?

If Houston doesn't win this series, I think something's gotta give there. Might be Ime. Or maybe they even explore trading Sengun or others alike to try another iteration

Sengun to me is kind of like Bam, both all-star talents who came on to the scene but have mostly stagnated and not really taken that leap. They average good numbers but it's not really translating to high-level championship impact

[Moranis]

I picked LA to win the series before I knew KD was out.  I just don't like them at all.  Poorly constructed roster. Without KD they can't score at all.  It might be a sweep if he can't play. 

[radiohead]

So is Ime just another Doc Rivers? Great at motivation and getting players to play hard but lacking in x?s and o?s?

[Goldstar88]

So is Ime just another Doc Rivers? Great at motivation and getting players to play hard but lacking in x?s and o?s?

I think Doc is a better coach.

[Goldstar88]

I don?t understand how Ingram only had 9 shot attempts for Toronto in game 1. He?s their leading scorer averaging 22ppg.

Pretty crazy that Murray had 16 free throw attempts. Minny had 19 as a team. 

Luke Kenard was the game high scorer with 27pts. He was 5-5 from 3pt. Also shot 48% from deep on the season which is insane.