2026 Playoffs: (4) Lakers Vs (5) Rockets - Discussion

I just heard what Jabari Smith Jr. said about KD. What a passive aggressive statement. IMO, that just means you have to blow it up. It's obvious the younger dudes don't respect KD and KD doesn't know how to lead them.

KD works best when you have a leader and a system in place and you can just plug him in and go.

He is horrible when you have to rely on him to lead your team and be the focal point of your offense.

Rockets have to trade him at this point. Jabari Smith Jr. telling KD he has to figure out how to solve the double teams is crazy lol

 

^^^^ I wouldn't play with a guy who talks s*** about me with a burner account . Would have asked a team vote to force the FO to trade him or asked for a trade .

 

I agree with this. The following may be a hot take that I get push back on, but this just means that KD is not a #1. Maybe the best #2 OAT, but not a #1. At best, he's a 1B who still requires a 1A. (Which is a nicer way of saying that he's a #2.) He did not lead the Warriors, and the only reason he was able to do what he did there was bc of Steph. Remove Steph, and it didnt work. Remove KD, and it still worked. One might say, they were built around Steph, so that's not a fair comparison. Which is fine, but it didnt work at any of KD's other stops, even with loads of talent.

It's not what a teammate is supposed to do, but it's true. KD can't pass out early, relocate, get the ball back, and shoot? Steph couldn't solve these double teams?

KD has been terrible in 3 games vs Lakers, outside of one half where JJ was playing rope and dope and then dropped the hammer in the 2nd half. (And where the Lakers led the entire 2Q, even with KD going off.)

 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXcbKkNDN9v/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Up 2-0 but job not finished

 

Right, but you shouldn't be calling out your teammates like that. That just shows they have no respect for KD.

 

KD is still the undefeated Softest of All Time.
The dude is the polar opposite of a leader and this should ALWAYS be brought up when someone blabbers on about just how “great” he is.
Scoring machine?
Yes- one of the best.
Should be considered one of the All Time Greats?
Heck No. Basketball is a TEAM sport and you can’t be just a player who scores to be considered “great.” You have to be able to not only play well with others, but have the ability to elevate those around you.
KD does the opposite.

 

Really enjoying this Rockets implosion - *pulls out lawn chair meme*

Couldn’t happen to a more deserved star in KD.

 

WTH is it with how they divi up these games now with the networks and streaming services?? Game one was ABC. Two was NBC. Tonight is Amazon Prime. Same series! Not one network gets EC and the other the WC playoffs in simpler times. You can't time shift with Prime, but at least, unlike when one game this season I recall was on Paramount streaming only, where you could NOT do it, you can pause the game and walk away indefinitely and then come back and it will ask if you want real time or where you left off. And you then can use it like time shift and reverse it to wherever you started or fast forward up to wherever real time is. And soon as game over then it's up in the replay on demand section.

 

Out.

No excuses not to take a 3-0 lead tonight

 

Technically, but I could see Houston upping their game with KD out. Not just because of the typical trend of guys stepping up, but it seems like a hate:hate relationship with KD and the rest of the squad so they may perform out of spite.

 

This dynamic seems underrated to me in the history of sports. OTOH, say Lakers are up 12 midway through the 3rd. A lot of times the other team just lies down, basically says "uncle." Again, if some Reed Sheppard guy hits 8 3s, jit can get real.

How sure are we about HOU's hate-hate relationship w/KD? To the extent this is well documented, they're in for it: KD recently signed an extension w/player option for 2027-28.

 

beat me to it.

they clearly hate that guy (largely because he hates them all, too). they'd love to win without him, imo. no matter what happens the next few games, that team is cooked, imo.

 

Yeah, DA talked about this yesterday



I don't see Bron, Smart, or JJ letting the group not meet the moment tonight.

Plus they're going to see AR during warm ups doing everything he can to make himself available for the game.

Time to go for the jugular.

 

I was wondering the same thing, LT LF. ABC/ESPN would be my preference because, while NBC looks really good on the screen, too much trivial yakking by jagoffs like Austin Rivers during play; while Prime is clunky, at least for me. Their coverage starts about 30 mins before the actual game and the FFWD only advances in increments of 10 seconds. Also, Prime will "freeze" every now and then, at least my feed/interface. Also: no playoff games after today are listed for Prime? Good riddance.

 

Workout is over. Decision coming.

Update: no go tonight

 

only semi-related, but every time i watch ayton talk to the press, i get more concerned about relying on him for any reason. that dude is just a full-on space cadet. he's done some good things for us in this series and in the regular season, but man...i don't know...

 

Word! I dare anyone to just watch Ayton on offense some games: what is he doing out of the paint on the weak side? Why did he float out toward the arc, looking like he was going to set a pick, but decided against it? Why does he telegraph his post moves so often?

Then there's the times when he's on defense and gets the board, only to not protect the ball and it gets knocked away. He's not a great passer, though every now and then he makes a fantastic pass; usually not.I know he's done some good for us, but I also know we can do way better.

He just doesn't bring it every game, and those with eyes can see it pretty much in the first 3 minutes of the game: which Ayton we gettin' tonight?