IZTOK FRANKO: LAKERS PLAYOFF OBSERVATIONS: GAME 6 VS ROCKETS!

May 2, 2026 at 8:04 am

FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

Lakers close it out with a professional beatdown.

Third time’s the charm.

After two failed attempts, the Lakers finally took care of business, closing the series 4–2 with a convincing 98–78, end-to-end win over the Rockets. What briefly looked like a shift in momentum after Games 4 and 5 quickly flipped back. The Lakers once again looked like the more experienced, composed, and better-prepared team, while Ime Udoka’s group ran out of ideas against a locked-in defense.

Before getting into the details of the game or the next series, let me pause for a moment. No matter how the Rockets looked in this matchup, this was a meaningful win for the Lakers, a strong exclamation point on a successful season. One that many saw as a gap year, a transitional season. Instead, despite injuries and constant turmoil, JJ Redick and his team won 53 games and now a playoff series.

For Redick especially, as one of the rare long-term building blocks, getting his first career playoff series win matters, and hopefully it is the first of many.

Mike Trudell
@LakersReporter
This is the first playoff series win for JJ Redick, who said his word of choice would be “Gratitude.”

He said he’s thankful for the Lakers organization, for the players, for his coaching staff and the larger staff, all of whom contributed so much.

9:35 PM · May 1, 2026 · 28.7K Views
12 Replies · 137 Reposts · 1.52K Likes

Now, if this is the first of many for Redick, it could be one of the last in a career full of them for LeBron James. Seeing him lead the team to postseason success at this stage of his career is special, no matter how small this step might seem in the grand scheme of his illustrious career.

The Lakers caught another break last night when RJ Barrett hit a game-winner with a lucky bounce, forcing a Game 7 between the Raptors and the Cavaliers on Sunday. That means two extra days of rest before the second round, where the Lakers open against the reigning champions, in Oklahoma City on Tuesday. They will need every extra day they can get. A Shai Gilgeous-Alexander-led offense is light years apart from anything Reed Sheppard, Alperen Sengun and the Rockets could throw at them.

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

Today’s notes:

Prologue: Determined to finish the job

LeBron leading the early, decisive charge (VIDEO)

Board man gets paid: Deandre Ayton’s resurrection (VIDEO)

Another Marcus Smart defensive playmaking masterclass (VIDEO)

Rui Hachimura as THE shooting edge (VIDEO)

Austin Reaves brings downhill pressure (VIDEO)

Bonus notes: on Kennard, Hayes and LaRavia

Prologue: Determined to finish the job

Before Game 5, Redick talked about how difficult the final “kill” in a series can be. He also noted that his team lacked the necessary attention to detail in the previous two games, especially Game 5. Last night, they responded with their most complete performance of the series, in focus, effort, and execution.

The Lakers fixed the two problems that had them losing the possession battle for most of the series. They took care of the ball, posting their lowest turnover rate of the series, and then gave the Rockets a taste of their own medicine by dominating the glass on both ends.

Source: Cleaning the Glass

The Lakers played with laser-like focus and won in the two areas that are the bread and butter of the Rockets. Add some clear individual brilliance, and it results in a decisive closeout win.

Iztok Franko
@iztok_franko

So Jabari Smith Jr. said Rockets are clearly the better team…well the Lakers had best player (LeBron), defender (Smart), shooter (Rui), rebounder (Ayton) and coach in the series.

12:30 AM · May 2, 2026 · 2.04K Views
3 Replies · 15 Reposts · 119 Likes

1-LeBron leading the early, decisive charge (VIDEO)

I said this after what most, at the time, felt was an upset in Game 1: the Rockets missed Kevin Durant much more than the Lakers missed Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. Without Durant, the young Rockets group did not have a proven playoff scorer, a player who could force opponents into uncomfortable adjustments and provide structure, the backbone of the offense. The Lakers had that in James, who was clearly the best player in this series.

At 41, LeBron James might not have enough in the tank to be the engine of the offense for a full game or an extended series. His shotmaking is also not at the level required to be the primary option against a team that will demand far more efficient offense than the Rockets.

However, he is still great in transition, an elite decision-maker and passer, a high-level cutter and driver when attacking advantages, and can manipulate matchups, especially as a bully-ball threat at the elbow or on the block. Last night, LeBron set the tone early. He scored on several possessions on the block against Tari Eason, who had defended him well in the series, and was aggressive in transition. He scored 18 of his 28 in the first half and led the run early in the second quarter that essentially decided the game.

2-Board man gets paid: Deandre Ayton’s resurrection (VIDEO)

Early in his career, Kawhi Leonard made the phrase “board man gets paid” famous. For Deandre Ayton, that phrase might turn into “the biggest dude goes out and gets every damn rebound.” Whatever got into Ayton, who pulled down 16, 17, and 10 rebounds in the last three games of the series, might just earn him a bigger paycheck this summer.

The Lakers did a great job collectively boxing out last night, but Ayton’s dominance on the glass was the key to completely neutralizing the Rockets’ edge on the offensive boards from earlier in the series.

Source: Cleaning the Glass

All series long, Ayton did a great job containing Sengun on his isolation drives and post-ups on the block. In Game 6, the Lakers made a concentrated effort to send fewer doubles, and Ayton was key with his one-on-one defense against the Turkish big man. Sengun shot just 13 of 35 with Ayton as the closest defender over the six-game series.

3-Another Marcus Smart defensive playmaking masterclass (VIDEO)

Marcus Smart had a rare off performance in Game 5, and you could see the 32-year-old couldn’t wait to get back on the court and show what he has been doing all season long, making winning plays and having a huge impact with his defensive playmaking.

Smart was the epitome of attention to detail, locked in on every rotation and often adding an extra layer with late switches and help contests, either at the rim or on the ground with his trademark charges. Smart delivered another defensive masterclass with two blocks, two steals, and three charges, plus several other hustle plays.

Smart showed he can take his already high intensity to another level in the playoffs, reminiscent of his best Celtics days.

4-Rui Hachimura as THE shooting edge (VIDEO)

I’ve been talking about the Lakers’ shooting advantage all series long. At first, it was a collective edge, fueled by hot shotmaking from Smart, LeBron, and Luke Kennard. But once that cooled off, it came down to one constant, the one player who kept making shots no matter what: the Japanese marksman, Rui Hachimura.

Last night, when the Rockets could not make a jump shot to save their lives, shooting 6 of 37 on attempts outside the paint, Hachimura was the glaring difference, shooting the lights out and making five of his seven three-point attempts.

Rui Hachimura went 17 of 29 from three, an astonishing 59 percent in this series, further cementing himself as the most efficient three-point shooter in playoff history.

Source: statmuse

Rough offense and inconsistent shotmaking have defined most first-round series so far. The Lakers having one of the most reliable, almost automatic shooters from the outside has been a huge advantage.

5-Austin Reaves brings downhill pressure (VIDEO)

In his second game back, Austin Reaves looked more in control and more in rhythm. In the previous game, he took on the primary ball-handling role almost immediately after checking in. In Game 6, back as a starter, he was more patient, playing off James as the primary creator, working off advantages and picking his spots.

Reaves got his first shot blocked on a drive out of a pick-and-roll, with Amen Thompson in pursuit, recovering and denying him in the paint. After that, the Lakers and Reaves made a clear adjustment. They focused on getting Thompson off him with a screen, usually from Hachimura or Jake LaRavia, and then attacked Sengun in drop coverage with a follow-up pick. That allowed Reaves to use his downhill speed and attack the paint, taking full advantage of the slower-footed Sengun. All seven of Reaves’ makes came in the paint, mostly attacking Sengun.

Reaves is still searching for rhythm on his outside shot. He went 0 of 4 last night on attempts outside the paint and is just 2 of 15 in his two games since returning.

Seeing him get to the rim is a great sign after the injury layoff, but those opportunities will be much harder to come by against OKC, so Reaves will need his pull-up game from the outside as well.

Bonus notes:

Kennard, LaRavia, and Hayes bench minutes: Bench play has been a sore spot for the Lakers all series. Kennard’s move to a sixth man role with Reaves’ return helped, although his shotmaking struggles with less space and time continued. Even without making shots, Kennard still provides value as a spacer, decision-maker, and secondary ball-handler. LaRavia and Hayes both had solid first stints. They are mistake-prone players and both made a few, but they made up for it with hustle on the offensive glass and defensive effort, giving the starters much-needed relief. LaRavia even knocked down a three and was part of the Lakers’ dominance in transition, contributing to four of their 19 fast-break points.

Comments

LakerTom says

May 2, 2026 at 8:04 am

FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

Lakers close it out with a professional beatdown.

Third time’s the charm.

After two failed attempts, the Lakers finally took care of business, closing the series 4–2 with a convincing 98–78, end-to-end win over the Rockets. What briefly looked like a shift in momentum after Games 4 and 5 quickly flipped back. The Lakers once again looked like the more experienced, composed, and better-prepared team, while Ime Udoka’s group ran out of ideas against a locked-in defense.

Before getting into the details of the game or the next series, let me pause for a moment. No matter how the Rockets looked in this matchup, this was a meaningful win for the Lakers, a strong exclamation point on a successful season. One that many saw as a gap year, a transitional season. Instead, despite injuries and constant turmoil, JJ Redick and his team won 53 games and now a playoff series.

For Redick especially, as one of the rare long-term building blocks, getting his first career playoff series win matters, and hopefully it is the first of many.

Mike Trudell
@LakersReporter
This is the first playoff series win for JJ Redick, who said his word of choice would be “Gratitude.”

He said he’s thankful for the Lakers organization, for the players, for his coaching staff and the larger staff, all of whom contributed so much.

9:35 PM · May 1, 2026 · 28.7K Views
12 Replies · 137 Reposts · 1.52K Likes

Now, if this is the first of many for Redick, it could be one of the last in a career full of them for LeBron James. Seeing him lead the team to postseason success at this stage of his career is special, no matter how small this step might seem in the grand scheme of his illustrious career.

The Lakers caught another break last night when RJ Barrett hit a game-winner with a lucky bounce, forcing a Game 7 between the Raptors and the Cavaliers on Sunday. That means two extra days of rest before the second round, where the Lakers open against the reigning champions, in Oklahoma City on Tuesday. They will need every extra day they can get. A Shai Gilgeous-Alexander-led offense is light years apart from anything Reed Sheppard, Alperen Sengun and the Rockets could throw at them.

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

Today’s notes:

Prologue: Determined to finish the job

LeBron leading the early, decisive charge (VIDEO)

Board man gets paid: Deandre Ayton’s resurrection (VIDEO)

Another Marcus Smart defensive playmaking masterclass (VIDEO)

Rui Hachimura as THE shooting edge (VIDEO)

Austin Reaves brings downhill pressure (VIDEO)

Bonus notes: on Kennard, Hayes and LaRavia

Prologue: Determined to finish the job

Before Game 5, Redick talked about how difficult the final “kill” in a series can be. He also noted that his team lacked the necessary attention to detail in the previous two games, especially Game 5. Last night, they responded with their most complete performance of the series, in focus, effort, and execution.

The Lakers fixed the two problems that had them losing the possession battle for most of the series. They took care of the ball, posting their lowest turnover rate of the series, and then gave the Rockets a taste of their own medicine by dominating the glass on both ends.

Source: Cleaning the Glass

The Lakers played with laser-like focus and won in the two areas that are the bread and butter of the Rockets. Add some clear individual brilliance, and it results in a decisive closeout win.

Iztok Franko
@iztok_franko

So Jabari Smith Jr. said Rockets are clearly the better team…well the Lakers had best player (LeBron), defender (Smart), shooter (Rui), rebounder (Ayton) and coach in the series.

12:30 AM · May 2, 2026 · 2.04K Views
3 Replies · 15 Reposts · 119 Likes

1-LeBron leading the early, decisive charge (VIDEO)

I said this after what most, at the time, felt was an upset in Game 1: the Rockets missed Kevin Durant much more than the Lakers missed Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. Without Durant, the young Rockets group did not have a proven playoff scorer, a player who could force opponents into uncomfortable adjustments and provide structure, the backbone of the offense. The Lakers had that in James, who was clearly the best player in this series.

At 41, LeBron James might not have enough in the tank to be the engine of the offense for a full game or an extended series. His shotmaking is also not at the level required to be the primary option against a team that will demand far more efficient offense than the Rockets.

However, he is still great in transition, an elite decision-maker and passer, a high-level cutter and driver when attacking advantages, and can manipulate matchups, especially as a bully-ball threat at the elbow or on the block. Last night, LeBron set the tone early. He scored on several possessions on the block against Tari Eason, who had defended him well in the series, and was aggressive in transition. He scored 18 of his 28 in the first half and led the run early in the second quarter that essentially decided the game.

2-Board man gets paid: Deandre Ayton’s resurrection (VIDEO)

Early in his career, Kawhi Leonard made the phrase “board man gets paid” famous. For Deandre Ayton, that phrase might turn into “the biggest dude goes out and gets every damn rebound.” Whatever got into Ayton, who pulled down 16, 17, and 10 rebounds in the last three games of the series, might just earn him a bigger paycheck this summer.

The Lakers did a great job collectively boxing out last night, but Ayton’s dominance on the glass was the key to completely neutralizing the Rockets’ edge on the offensive boards from earlier in the series.

Source: Cleaning the Glass

All series long, Ayton did a great job containing Sengun on his isolation drives and post-ups on the block. In Game 6, the Lakers made a concentrated effort to send fewer doubles, and Ayton was key with his one-on-one defense against the Turkish big man. Sengun shot just 13 of 35 with Ayton as the closest defender over the six-game series.

3-Another Marcus Smart defensive playmaking masterclass (VIDEO)

Marcus Smart had a rare off performance in Game 5, and you could see the 32-year-old couldn’t wait to get back on the court and show what he has been doing all season long, making winning plays and having a huge impact with his defensive playmaking.

Smart was the epitome of attention to detail, locked in on every rotation and often adding an extra layer with late switches and help contests, either at the rim or on the ground with his trademark charges. Smart delivered another defensive masterclass with two blocks, two steals, and three charges, plus several other hustle plays.

Smart showed he can take his already high intensity to another level in the playoffs, reminiscent of his best Celtics days.

4-Rui Hachimura as THE shooting edge (VIDEO)

I’ve been talking about the Lakers’ shooting advantage all series long. At first, it was a collective edge, fueled by hot shotmaking from Smart, LeBron, and Luke Kennard. But once that cooled off, it came down to one constant, the one player who kept making shots no matter what: the Japanese marksman, Rui Hachimura.

Last night, when the Rockets could not make a jump shot to save their lives, shooting 6 of 37 on attempts outside the paint, Hachimura was the glaring difference, shooting the lights out and making five of his seven three-point attempts.

Rui Hachimura went 17 of 29 from three, an astonishing 59 percent in this series, further cementing himself as the most efficient three-point shooter in playoff history.

Source: statmuse

Rough offense and inconsistent shotmaking have defined most first-round series so far. The Lakers having one of the most reliable, almost automatic shooters from the outside has been a huge advantage.

5-Austin Reaves brings downhill pressure (VIDEO)

In his second game back, Austin Reaves looked more in control and more in rhythm. In the previous game, he took on the primary ball-handling role almost immediately after checking in. In Game 6, back as a starter, he was more patient, playing off James as the primary creator, working off advantages and picking his spots.

Reaves got his first shot blocked on a drive out of a pick-and-roll, with Amen Thompson in pursuit, recovering and denying him in the paint. After that, the Lakers and Reaves made a clear adjustment. They focused on getting Thompson off him with a screen, usually from Hachimura or Jake LaRavia, and then attacked Sengun in drop coverage with a follow-up pick. That allowed Reaves to use his downhill speed and attack the paint, taking full advantage of the slower-footed Sengun. All seven of Reaves’ makes came in the paint, mostly attacking Sengun.

Reaves is still searching for rhythm on his outside shot. He went 0 of 4 last night on attempts outside the paint and is just 2 of 15 in his two games since returning.

Seeing him get to the rim is a great sign after the injury layoff, but those opportunities will be much harder to come by against OKC, so Reaves will need his pull-up game from the outside as well.

Bonus notes:

Kennard, LaRavia, and Hayes bench minutes: Bench play has been a sore spot for the Lakers all series. Kennard’s move to a sixth man role with Reaves’ return helped, although his shotmaking struggles with less space and time continued. Even without making shots, Kennard still provides value as a spacer, decision-maker, and secondary ball-handler. LaRavia and Hayes both had solid first stints. They are mistake-prone players and both made a few, but they made up for it with hustle on the offensive glass and defensive effort, giving the starters much-needed relief. LaRavia even knocked down a three and was part of the Lakers’ dominance in transition, contributing to four of their 19 fast-break points.

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