Why Are the Lakers Controlling the Series Against Houston? Can the Rockets Come Back?

Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers · Apr 23, 2026 · 38m

Before things kicked off in their series against the Houston Rockets, the hosts of this space were confident in one thing: The Lakers would set a bar and make the Rockets clear it to beat them. LA is too resilient and composed to fall apart and fold.

The expectation, though, was that the Rockets would have enough talent on hand to put down those plucky Lakers in five or six.

Well... not so far! The Lakers have indeed set an admirably high bar, but the Rockets haven't even come close to coming over it. In fact, Houston has been borderline inept on the offensive end, leaving them down 2-0…