IZTOK FRANCO: LAKERS UP 3-1 BUT GAME 5 IS BIG ONE!

April 29, 2026 at 8:48 am

FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

The series returns to Los Angeles for Game 5, with the Lakers still in control and holding a 3–1 lead.

After two days of rest, the older Lakers got an extra window to recover from the Game 4 beatdown in Houston. The younger Rockets are ready to bring the same physicality again, just ask Alperen Sengun.

Game 5 should tell us a lot. Was Game 4 just a blip, a rare off night? Or did it expose trends that were masked by the Lakers’ hot shooting early in the series?

There is some very encouraging news for the Lakers. The team is optimistic Austin Reaves will return, listed as a game-time decision, which could give this group much-needed relief after heavy minutes from the starters. Kevin Durant, on the other hand, remains out with a left ankle injury.

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There are plenty of questions heading into Game 5. Can Luke Kennard break out of the shackles Amen Thompson put on him over the last two games? Can Marcus Smart and LeBron James deliver another above-their-norm shooting night like we saw earlier in the series? Can the Lakers clean up a very worrying turnover trend and regain control of the game? Will Deandre Ayton and co. be able to contain Sengun again after he found his rhythm and confidence in the last two games in Houston?

All valid questions that will decide this game. But I’ve written plenty about the past games and the trends we’ve seen, so instead of going through all of that again, I want to highlight two players I’ll be watching closely tonight, one on each side. Both are not only key for this game, but could also factor into a crucial upcoming Lakers offseason.

Lakers player I’m watching: Austin Reaves

This one is a no-brainer, assuming Reaves makes his highly anticipated return. Here’s what I’ll be watching for:

Minutes: I expect Reaves to come off the bench, as he did in previous instances when returning from a longer layoff this year. But more than filling a starting spot, the Lakers need as many good Reaves minutes as they can get. When he returned in February after missing 19 games with a left calf strain, he played 21, 25, 24, 29, and 28 minutes in his first five games before ramping up to his usual mid-thirties. If he can give them 20 to 25 minutes, it allows JJ Redick to buy extra rest for Kennard, LeBron, and Smart, while keeping two ball-handlers on the floor at all times.

Comfort on ball: The Lakers’ biggest issue in this series has been turnovers.

They have the highest turnover rate among all 16 playoff teams and hit a series high of 27.4% in Game 4, the highest mark in any playoff game so far. For comparison, Portland led the regular season at 16.8%. The Lakers have posted a turnover rate of 20% or higher in three of the four games against the Rockets.

Can Reaves, in his first game back, being thrown into the lions’ den of ball pressure from Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, and co., adjust to playoff intensity on the fly? The Lakers need him to handle 15–20 on-ball possessions to ease the load on LeBron and Smart, and allow Kennard to play more in his natural off-ball, connector role.

Downhill juice: Paint pressure, and especially downhill speed, is one of Reaves’ best qualities and something the Lakers have missed most. LeBron’s game and approach is more methodical, picking matchups and controlling tempo, which has worked well for this group. But Reaves brings a different gear. He has the speed to put Sengun in uncomfortable spots, and the strength and driving ability to go right at Reed Sheppard. How much burst Reaves has after a long layoff is definitely something to watch.

Pull-up three: The Lakers are tied with Toronto for the lowest three-point frequency among all playoff teams. Only 28.9% of their shots come from beyond the arc. At his best, and with Dončić sidelined, Reaves is the team’s top off-the-dribble three-point threat. He averaged 6.4 attempts per game in the regular season, and the Lakers could desperately use a few of his makes.

Rockets player I’m watching: Tari Eason

Eason, who will be a restricted free agent and a potential Lakers target, is the Rockets player I’m most intrigued by in this series. Like many of his teammates, his play has been up and down, and here are some of my observations so far:

Positional size: This is one of Eason’s biggest strengths, and something that becomes even more valuable in the playoffs. He not only has the length, but also the bulk. That’s why he’s looked like the best LeBron matchup in this series.

Possession battle categories: With Steven Adams out, Thompson and Eason are the main drivers of the Rockets’ push to dominate the possession battle. Eason is averaging nearly three offensive rebounds and three steals per game, so the box score impact has been impressive. However, the eye test, especially when he’s matched up with Kennard, hasn’t been nearly as convincing.

Scoring threat: The Rockets’ biggest issue in the first three games was making open shots, and Eason was the only player who could consistently convert, going 7-for-7 from the field in Game 1. He followed that up with another efficient night in Game 4, finishing 7-for-10. Games 2 and 3 were a different story, where he shot a combined 6-for-23. His shooting has been up and down all season, and it doesn’t look like the Lakers view him as a true spacer, someone they need to close out hard on beyond the three-point line. Still, statistically, he has been the Rockets’ second most efficient player, and arguably the most efficient if we disregard Durant’s Game 2 cameo, though that says more about the Rockets’ shooting struggles overall.

Decision-making and playoff-ready game: These playoffs have been tough for defense-first wings who can’t shoot, or can’t dribble and make sound decisions on the move. To be clear, Eason is not just a stationary spot-up threat. He can attack closeouts, drive, and finish at the rim, often using sidesteps or eurosteps. But he’s not an explosive leaper, not a strong finisher at the rim, and not a particularly good passer or decision-maker. He also lacks a midrange pull-up game. He is, however, very good in transition.

So, what are my thoughts on Eason after watching him closely in this series? Is he a $20+ million player and a potential starter on a contending team?

I must say I’m still torn. Advanced metrics have always loved Eason. Eason’s block, steal, and offensive rebound rates have been elite for most of his career, though they regressed slightly this season. By some metrics, especially on the defensive end, he grades out close to, or even on par with, the kind of ideal modern power forwards you think of, like Aaron Gordon, OG Anunoby, or Jaden McDaniels.

Source: dunksandthrees

But offensively, watching him in this series, he looks more like Jarred Vanderbilt with a more reliable, but still not fully trustworthy, outside shot. Or a bigger, peak Dorian Finney-Smith who can attack off the dribble a bit, but isn’t as consistent as a corner threat. He’s certainly not as versatile or potent offensively as Aaron Gordon, Jaden McDaniels, or OG Anunoby.

Eason is still relatively young. He’ll turn 25 in a couple of days, so there’s room for development. His role could also be simplified and made more efficient next to a primary playmaker like Luka Dončić.

Comments

LakerTom says

April 29, 2026 at 8:48 am

FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

The series returns to Los Angeles for Game 5, with the Lakers still in control and holding a 3–1 lead.

After two days of rest, the older Lakers got an extra window to recover from the Game 4 beatdown in Houston. The younger Rockets are ready to bring the same physicality again, just ask Alperen Sengun.

Game 5 should tell us a lot. Was Game 4 just a blip, a rare off night? Or did it expose trends that were masked by the Lakers’ hot shooting early in the series?

There is some very encouraging news for the Lakers. The team is optimistic Austin Reaves will return, listed as a game-time decision, which could give this group much-needed relief after heavy minutes from the starters. Kevin Durant, on the other hand, remains out with a left ankle injury.

digginbasketball is a reader-supported publication. Join now for full playoff coverage and complete offseason access.

There are plenty of questions heading into Game 5. Can Luke Kennard break out of the shackles Amen Thompson put on him over the last two games? Can Marcus Smart and LeBron James deliver another above-their-norm shooting night like we saw earlier in the series? Can the Lakers clean up a very worrying turnover trend and regain control of the game? Will Deandre Ayton and co. be able to contain Sengun again after he found his rhythm and confidence in the last two games in Houston?

All valid questions that will decide this game. But I’ve written plenty about the past games and the trends we’ve seen, so instead of going through all of that again, I want to highlight two players I’ll be watching closely tonight, one on each side. Both are not only key for this game, but could also factor into a crucial upcoming Lakers offseason.

Lakers player I’m watching: Austin Reaves

This one is a no-brainer, assuming Reaves makes his highly anticipated return. Here’s what I’ll be watching for:

Minutes: I expect Reaves to come off the bench, as he did in previous instances when returning from a longer layoff this year. But more than filling a starting spot, the Lakers need as many good Reaves minutes as they can get. When he returned in February after missing 19 games with a left calf strain, he played 21, 25, 24, 29, and 28 minutes in his first five games before ramping up to his usual mid-thirties. If he can give them 20 to 25 minutes, it allows JJ Redick to buy extra rest for Kennard, LeBron, and Smart, while keeping two ball-handlers on the floor at all times.

Comfort on ball: The Lakers’ biggest issue in this series has been turnovers.

They have the highest turnover rate among all 16 playoff teams and hit a series high of 27.4% in Game 4, the highest mark in any playoff game so far. For comparison, Portland led the regular season at 16.8%. The Lakers have posted a turnover rate of 20% or higher in three of the four games against the Rockets.

Can Reaves, in his first game back, being thrown into the lions’ den of ball pressure from Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, and co., adjust to playoff intensity on the fly? The Lakers need him to handle 15–20 on-ball possessions to ease the load on LeBron and Smart, and allow Kennard to play more in his natural off-ball, connector role.

Downhill juice: Paint pressure, and especially downhill speed, is one of Reaves’ best qualities and something the Lakers have missed most. LeBron’s game and approach is more methodical, picking matchups and controlling tempo, which has worked well for this group. But Reaves brings a different gear. He has the speed to put Sengun in uncomfortable spots, and the strength and driving ability to go right at Reed Sheppard. How much burst Reaves has after a long layoff is definitely something to watch.

Pull-up three: The Lakers are tied with Toronto for the lowest three-point frequency among all playoff teams. Only 28.9% of their shots come from beyond the arc. At his best, and with Dončić sidelined, Reaves is the team’s top off-the-dribble three-point threat. He averaged 6.4 attempts per game in the regular season, and the Lakers could desperately use a few of his makes.

Rockets player I’m watching: Tari Eason

Eason, who will be a restricted free agent and a potential Lakers target, is the Rockets player I’m most intrigued by in this series. Like many of his teammates, his play has been up and down, and here are some of my observations so far:

Positional size: This is one of Eason’s biggest strengths, and something that becomes even more valuable in the playoffs. He not only has the length, but also the bulk. That’s why he’s looked like the best LeBron matchup in this series.

Possession battle categories: With Steven Adams out, Thompson and Eason are the main drivers of the Rockets’ push to dominate the possession battle. Eason is averaging nearly three offensive rebounds and three steals per game, so the box score impact has been impressive. However, the eye test, especially when he’s matched up with Kennard, hasn’t been nearly as convincing.

Scoring threat: The Rockets’ biggest issue in the first three games was making open shots, and Eason was the only player who could consistently convert, going 7-for-7 from the field in Game 1. He followed that up with another efficient night in Game 4, finishing 7-for-10. Games 2 and 3 were a different story, where he shot a combined 6-for-23. His shooting has been up and down all season, and it doesn’t look like the Lakers view him as a true spacer, someone they need to close out hard on beyond the three-point line. Still, statistically, he has been the Rockets’ second most efficient player, and arguably the most efficient if we disregard Durant’s Game 2 cameo, though that says more about the Rockets’ shooting struggles overall.

Decision-making and playoff-ready game: These playoffs have been tough for defense-first wings who can’t shoot, or can’t dribble and make sound decisions on the move. To be clear, Eason is not just a stationary spot-up threat. He can attack closeouts, drive, and finish at the rim, often using sidesteps or eurosteps. But he’s not an explosive leaper, not a strong finisher at the rim, and not a particularly good passer or decision-maker. He also lacks a midrange pull-up game. He is, however, very good in transition.

So, what are my thoughts on Eason after watching him closely in this series? Is he a $20+ million player and a potential starter on a contending team?

I must say I’m still torn. Advanced metrics have always loved Eason. Eason’s block, steal, and offensive rebound rates have been elite for most of his career, though they regressed slightly this season. By some metrics, especially on the defensive end, he grades out close to, or even on par with, the kind of ideal modern power forwards you think of, like Aaron Gordon, OG Anunoby, or Jaden McDaniels.

Source: dunksandthrees

But offensively, watching him in this series, he looks more like Jarred Vanderbilt with a more reliable, but still not fully trustworthy, outside shot. Or a bigger, peak Dorian Finney-Smith who can attack off the dribble a bit, but isn’t as consistent as a corner threat. He’s certainly not as versatile or potent offensively as Aaron Gordon, Jaden McDaniels, or OG Anunoby.

Eason is still relatively young. He’ll turn 25 in a couple of days, so there’s room for development. His role could also be simplified and made more efficient next to a primary playmaker like Luka Dončić.

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