Houston suffocated the Lakers with suffocating defense and timely offense, forcing turnovers and converting them into relentless fast breaks to snatch a Game 4 victory.
Houston walked into Game 4 desperate- and played like it. It’s about time.
The Lakers were sloppy from the jump with eight quick turnovers in the first quarter turned into easy points, and it never stopped. By the end of the night, it was 23 giveaways and a steady stream of runouts the other way.
LeBron’s offense, specifically his eight turnovers, was reminiscent of Game 2 Kevin Durant, who racked up nine turnovers last week.
Thirty points off that alone.
There’s nothing complicated about it. When a team is that loose with the ball, you either punish it or you let them settle in. Houston made the choice early to take full advantage, and didn’t let up for 48 minutes.
What I appreciated was how aggressive it felt- and seeing everyone not only prove that they belong there, but earning their spots as starters. Eason took full advantage of mismatches and Reed got to his spots, all while Amen pushed the pace and got downhill before defense could set up.
The majority of this first unit was sharp and confident across the board. Add 17 steals, and the Rockets seem to be back in full swing, firing on all cylinders as a unit.
The Lakers lacked rhythm, communication, and connectedness- much like what we’ve been seeing from Houston this series. Just about every mistake just fed into the next one.
We haven’t seen that version of Houston much in this series. Not this consistent, connected or locked in.
We know what worked. Ime at last corrected course. If the Lakers fail to do the same, Game 5 could and should play out similarly. I guess we’ll find out Wednesday.