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After losing the first game of their series against the Houston Rockets, the Los Angeles Lakers have won two consecutive games, the last of which was won by a 10-point margin. If the Lakers win again on Thursday, they will take a dominant 3-1 lead in the series and be one game closer to securing their first place in the Western Conference Finals since the 2009-10 season.
It’s an exciting prospect to think about, no doubt, but it’s not one you’re thinking about as a team, not because you don’t think it’s something you’re capable of, but because you don’t want to go too far. head of themselves.
The Rockets led the Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games in the first round and held on to win by just two points in Game 7. They are a talented and feisty team, and Lakers head coach Frank Vogel knows that only they will get more rudimentary now that they are behind in the series.
“Every time you lose a game in the playoffs, your group is super desperate,” Vogel said. “And if you lose two in a row, it increases even more. So we know that they are going to come out with a ‘back to the wall’ mentality and they will really execute and play extremely hard on both ends of the court and play desperately. And we have to make sure we match that.
“What happened in the series so far has been left behind. They have an offense and some players on their team and a system that will never allow us to be comfortable, so we have to bring the same desperation.
The Lakers obviously don’t lack the talent to compete with the Rockets with LeBron James and Anthony Davis leading the way for them, but their energy and effort has waned in Orlando, particularly to start games. Whether it’s because they don’t play in a packed stadium or because they feel confident their talent will carry them to the finish line, they can’t afford to walk out of the locker room on their feet on Thursday.
The Lakers and Rockets will begin at 4 pm PT on TNT.
Notes and updates
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