2026 West 1st Round Playoffs: (4) Los Angeles Lakers Vs. (5) Houston Rockets

Reed Sheppard, Aaron Holiday, Clint Capela, Josh Okogie really need to step up.

 

Let's get past the Lakers first.

Our team took a massive s**t in last year's playoffs, so I'm still traumatized. Sure, now we have KD and no Jalen "I'm nervous" Green, but also a lack of (useful) depth, the same meathead coach and the same old habits---worse, in fact: losing to bad teams, blowing huge leads in the 4th (and overtime). Probably because "the plan" is to allow KD and (begrudgingly) Reed to score and the rest of the team to feign defense.

I'll worry about the Thunder handcuffing the Rockets to a urinal and dick-slapping them if or when we get there.

 

With Luka and Reaves out, the Rockets should win in a sweep or five games, but this will likely go 6 due to Ime, and the NBA love for LA.

 

The Rockets players play with more motivation in LA where the Hollywood Stars are watching Courtside compared to empty seats in Toyota Center.

 

Kinda agree with this lol

 

Hope some of these games are scheduled near my town, so I can attend. Thank you. SF.

 

Baddie crush are courtside, play hard so she notices me and I can slide in her Instagram DM.
That is how basketball players think.

 

Amen needs easy buckets inside and Jabari has to produce 15+ points every game and be active on the glass.

 

Smart = Amen (similar defender but Smart can shoot better)
LeBron = KD
Jabari = Rui (Rui is stronger but Jabari is taller)
Kennard >>> Okogie
Ayton = Sengun

This series is gonna tougher than most people think

 

There’s no universe where Ayton is on Sengun’s level. Sengun has played inconsistent but if he’s locked in this series like his first playoff series then we should take them out fairly quick.

 

Four boring wins!

 

Jabari will have a few good games. If Tari could do the same, then Im calling it a gentleman's sweep.

 

Anybody putting Smart and Amen in the same stratosphere is absolutely clueless. Sengun is much better than Ayton individually, but Ime’s ridiculous offense will allow too many turnovers on the perimeter which will allow Ayton to run which is his only advantage over Sengun. LA doesn’t have an answer for KD. The Rockets won’t match KD on Lebron enough to make them equal. Reed and Tari are better than anyone on the Lakers bench. The Rockets talent is miles better than the Lakers without Doncic and Reeves, but coaching and the refs will even the odds somewhat. Rockets sweep this series and lose in five in the next.

 

How the EPM website (dunksandthrees.com) predicts the 4 confirmed playoff series: Rockets with an 89.9% chance against the Lakers, Knicks with an 82.8% chance against the Hawks, Cavs with a 71.5% chance against the Raptors, Nuggets with a 69.5% chance against the Wolves

 

With Sengun Rockets in 3

 

Marcus Smart is not equal to Amen Thompson nor is DeAndre Ayton equal to Alperen Sengun. Rui Hachimura is not equal to Jabari Smith Jr., either. The Rockets have significant advantages at all three positions.

 

Book it.