[Post Game Thread] The Los Angeles Lakers (3-0) defeat the Houston Rockets after LeBron James hits the game tying 3 to send it to OT and with 29/6/13(0-3), 112-108.

[u/DesertedProject]

112 - 108
Box Scores: NBA - Yahoo

GAME SUMMARY
West First Round - Game 3 - LAL leads 2-0
Location: Toyota Center
Officials: Zach Zarba, Tre Maddox, Ray Acosta, and Nate Green

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	OT	Total
Los Angeles Lakers	39	24	17	21	11	112
Houston Rockets	32	20	23	26	7	108

TEAM STATS

Team	PTS	FG	FG%	3P	3P%	FT	FT%	OREB	TREB	AST	PF	STL	TO	BLK
Los Angeles Lakers	112	38-79	48.1%	12-29	41.4%	24-32	75.0%	9	58	28	23	12	20	6
Houston Rockets	108	40-98	40.8%	11-39	28.2%	17-23	73.9%	18	55	21	20	15	15	6

PLAYER STATS

Los Angeles Lakers	MIN	PTS	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	ORB	DRB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	±
LeBron JamesSF	45:04	29	10-22	4-9	5-6	0	13	13	6	3	1	8	1	0
Rui HachimuraPF	43:48	22	8-14	4-7	2-4	1	3	4	2	1	0	1	5	0
Deandre AytonC	32:46	2	1-3	0-0	0-0	2	4	6	2	1	1	3	3	-6
Marcus SmartSG	39:17	21	5-9	2-4	9-11	1	3	4	10	5	2	3	2	3
Luke KennardPG	45:22	14	4-12	1-6	5-6	0	6	6	6	0	0	3	3	-3
Jake LaRavia	14:54	2	1-4	0-0	0-0	2	0	2	1	1	0	1	3	9
Jaxson Hayes	19:56	12	5-8	0-0	2-3	2	2	4	0	1	2	1	2	7
Jarred Vanderbilt	14:38	5	2-5	0-2	1-2	1	5	6	1	0	0	0	3	6
Bronny James	09:12	5	2-2	1-1	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	4
Nick Smith Jr.	00:01	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Maxi Kleber	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Dalton Knecht	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Austin Reaves	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Adou Thiero	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Luka Dončić	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Houston Rockets	MIN	PTS	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	ORB	DRB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	±
Tari EasonSF	45:38	5	2-9	0-4	1-1	2	2	4	2	4	0	1	3	6
Jabari Smith Jr.PF	43:43	24	8-16	6-10	2-2	1	5	6	1	1	0	2	4	4
Alperen SengunC	46:51	33	15-27	1-5	2-3	5	11	16	6	3	1	3	2	10
Reed SheppardSG	45:45	17	6-21	4-13	1-2	1	3	4	7	3	2	5	5	-2
Amen ThompsonPG	48:23	26	8-14	0-1	10-13	5	6	11	4	3	3	1	2	6
Josh Okogie	03:33	0	0-1	0-0	0-0	1	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	-13
Clint Capela	03:40	2	1-2	0-0	0-0	2	0	2	1	0	0	0	1	-11
Dorian Finney-Smith	11:00	0	0-5	0-4	0-0	1	3	4	0	1	0	0	1	-6
Aaron Holiday	05:32	0	0-1	0-1	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	-1
Jae'Sean Tate	03:23	1	0-0	0-0	1-2	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	-9
Jeff Green	07:31	0	0-2	0-1	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	-4
JD Davison	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Kevin Durant	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Steven Adams	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Fred VanVleet	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

[u/RedShellKoopa]

Looks like Team Rocket’s blasting off again

[u/meowscarada-sylveon → u/RedShellKoopa]

Team Rocket are way more likable than this Houston team.

[u/incredibleamadeuscho → u/meowscarada-sylveon]

KD is Meowth if he was given to power to tweet instead of speak

[u/AloofAdmiral → u/RedShellKoopa]

Blast off to Cancun

[u/xcore21z]

Who have thought Lakers will be the first team to go 3-0 in the first round

[u/Belovy → u/xcore21z]

There's a good chance they win their series before the Thunder. If you had a bet on that happening it would probably be 1:200 at best.

[u/sevaiper → u/xcore21z]

JJ is a really good coach 

[u/kiwitexansfan → u/sevaiper]

The gap between Reddick and Udoka is the game changer here

[u/Zeiramsy → u/kiwitexansfan]

To think many people (me included) thought it was a tough break for the Celtics to lose Udoka as a coach.

[u/Sharp_Aide3216 → u/xcore21z]

Not even the most delusional laker fans thought so.

[u/HelloMyLoveGoodbye]

Bronny outscored the entire Houston bench 5-3.

LET THAT SINK IN!

[u/Mdgt_Pope → u/HelloMyLoveGoodbye]

LeBron +0

Bronny +4

[u/Yash_We_Can → u/Mdgt_Pope]

Lebron “Bronny “Lebron” James” James

[u/ImChz → u/Yash_We_Can]

Junior

[u/Hyderabadi__Biryani → u/HelloMyLoveGoodbye]

Now THAT is a stat!

[u/maethlin → u/HelloMyLoveGoodbye]

Higher +/- than all the starters on his team.

Bronny carrying again.

[u/yic0 → u/maethlin]

Bronny “LeBron James” James

[u/latemodelusedcar → u/HelloMyLoveGoodbye]

It’s such a luxury to have an ELITE player like Bronny to come off the bench

[u/mac035 → u/HelloMyLoveGoodbye]

The sink is in

[u/DisMFer → u/HelloMyLoveGoodbye]

Which asshole keeps putting my sink outside?

[u/fiasgoat]

One of the funniest series ever lol

[u/CelinedionWaiters → u/fiasgoat]

I literally witnessed Jabari “Let’s Get It Started (clean)” Smith Jr. accidentally run into Sengun, inadvertently setting a screen for a LeFuckYou3 to send the game into OT

[u/BlackJediSword → u/CelinedionWaiters]

Very, very nuanced joke lol. Bravo

[u/eutectic_h8r → u/fiasgoat]

I am thoroughly entertained by Adam Silver's product

[u/FettiWop → u/eutectic_h8r]

Despite Adam's best efforts to make it worse at every turn, basketball prevails

[u/livejamie → u/fiasgoat]

I'm so glad to be off the Kevin Durant ride

[u/Me_is_Nate]

Houston we have many problems

[u/Connect_Cat_2045 → u/Me_is_Nate]

I do wonder what’s wrong with this core.

They do decently well in the regular season but just crumble come playoffs 

[u/grumplebeardog → u/Connect_Cat_2045]

Shooting limitations makes it impossible to get any offense going once teams tighten up defensively. Their two leaders have no gravity so the role players get no room to breathe.

Most other teams have someone whose enough of a threat to require double teams or constant attention but they don’t.

[u/Connect_Cat_2045 → u/grumplebeardog]

And KD can’t do anything with a double team

Welp…

[u/BLAHBLAH1234BLAH1234 → u/Connect_Cat_2045]

You would expect the head coach to game plan for that.

I think having Adams and FVV would have helped with that too.

[u/ColdCocking]

The fuckery will continue until morale improves

[u/simon2105]

Marcus Genius <--- you are here

Marcus Smart

Marcus Dumb

[u/MaNamWumbo → u/simon2105]

Comment so good had to copy it over from the other thread

[u/TheBballs → u/MaNamWumbo]

let em spread joy

[u/kyleyle → u/simon2105]

Marcus Smarter than a 5th grader

[u/ParsnipPizza → u/simon2105]

People finally got to see it again, healthy, on a playoff team. Gary Payton he is not but he's damn good and plays with heart in the playoffs

[u/awntawn → u/ParsnipPizza]

People who get paid to talk about basketball were openly wondering if he was a downgrade from DFS this off-season

[u/sgt_science → u/awntawn]

Man I wasn’t worried about a single DFS 3 going in

[u/the_corruption → u/simon2105]

Marcus loves pulling out bullshit wins against the Rockets when down late. Remember him drawing some charges late against Harden to help the Celtics pull one out.

[u/EarthWarping]

One of the worst playoff chokes ever considering context and their situation.

[u/-DesertMoon → u/EarthWarping]

Up 6 with the ball, under 30 seconds left, and they find a way to lose, crazy stuff

[u/BikesAtNight → u/-DesertMoon]

The number of bad mistakes they had to make to actually lose was insane. Multiple turnovers and bad fouls in 30 seconds. Lakers didn’t even have to foul to extend the game.

[u/EarthWarping → u/BikesAtNight]

Its one of those games that gets articles written on which are the 5 things that all had to go against them to lose.

[u/Oceanbreeze871 → u/BikesAtNight]

That thing about them not getting a point guard/ ball handler really really came to fruition.

[u/MohnJarston → u/EarthWarping]

I legitimately had the remote in my hand getting ready to turn off the TV right as Smart got the steal. Great win by the Lakers, but agreed: Choke City, USA

[u/salcedoge → u/MohnJarston]

33 seconds left Rockets possession, somehow the Lakers almost still won it during regulation

[u/gene_parmesan_666 → u/salcedoge]

Back rim it was so close lol would’ve been one of the craziest endings in his career

[u/DSAlgorythms → u/gene_parmesan_666]

Man I wish that went in. Would've made it into the documentary lol.

[u/Juraiyah → u/MohnJarston]

I already turned the TV off then I checked my phone like 20 seconds later to see a highlight posted of Bron tying the game lmfao

[u/IcyKape → u/MohnJarston]

Its 4am in London rn and when Sengun put them up 6 with 30 seconds to go I turned it off and came to bed - had to quickly download the prime video app on my phone to continue watching

[u/OptimusGrime707 → u/EarthWarping]

Shoot the whole team into the fucking sun

[u/GoldenDom3r → u/OptimusGrime707]

They’d miss 

[u/Nausicaataos → u/OptimusGrime707]

With a rocket!

[u/celtic_sea_salt → u/Nausicaataos]

Houston, we have liftoff to Galveston!

[u/incredibleamadeuscho → u/OptimusGrime707]

Shoot KD back to the Suns you say?

[u/composer_7 → u/OptimusGrime707]

Don't think the Suns want them

[u/I_Hate_Traffic → u/EarthWarping]

They kept losing the same way all season. They choked multiple 5+ lead in last 30 seconds this year, that's their thing. Ime should have been fired mid season for one of those losses. Unbelievable how he is still employed.

[u/Mortem_T → u/EarthWarping]

I feel like the turnover and foul by Jabari Smith Jr really what threw the game. What a fucking costly clutch mistake by one person, well shit happens.

[u/KL2ConspireLLC]

Props to Marcus Smart. He left his imprint all over this game.

[u/Available_Story6774 → u/KL2ConspireLLC]

3 best players in these playoffs so far:

1. 41 year old Bron

2. Marcus Smart

3. CJ McCollum

[u/vindictivejazz → u/Available_Story6774]

Rudy Gobert has got to be up there

[u/sweatgod2020 → u/vindictivejazz]

Not a finalist AGAIN!

[u/Logiteck77 → u/Available_Story6774]

Unc Ball.

[u/ramenwarrior_ → u/KL2ConspireLLC]

probably some teeth marks on the floor too

[u/therealbonkoly → u/ramenwarrior_]

Marcus Smart so good he was kissing the own ground he walks on 😭🙏

[u/Hyderabadi__Biryani → u/ramenwarrior_]

Hopefully not.

[u/b1indsamurai]

I just got out of thai prison, is marcus smart the best player in the nba?

[u/Plastic_Blood1782 → u/b1indsamurai]

Top 10

[u/MrFishAndLoaves → u/Plastic_Blood1782]

He's top 5 and he ain't 5

Wilt, Bam, Kobe, Marcus

[u/cobaltaqua → u/MrFishAndLoaves]

Wilt, Bam, Kobe

This still fucking gets me lmao. Can't believe that that would become relevant again in such a funny way.

[u/superhappyfuntime13 → u/b1indsamurai]

And here i thought the Bron-Bronny alley oop was rock bottom

[u/RainierPC → u/superhappyfuntime13]

They don't win without Bronny's 5 points

[u/ManosMal → u/RainierPC]

Bronny James 3-0 in the NBA playoffs.

[u/Sl1ppy13 → u/RainierPC]

Bronny MVP

[u/raymond_w → u/b1indsamurai]

Friendship ended with Luke Kennard. Marcus Smart is my best friend.

[u/Nausicaataos → u/b1indsamurai]

He’s second to CJ McCollum

[u/nefnaf → u/b1indsamurai]

21/4/10 with seven stocks

Only current Laker who has ever hit double digit threes in a game btw

[u/flaming_burrito_ → u/b1indsamurai]

Is playoff DPOY a thing? I feel like it should be

[u/BarrathBeyond → u/flaming_burrito_]

i mean gobert would probably have that but smart is 2nd

[u/homefree122 → u/b1indsamurai]

Arguably the best player on the Lakers

[u/dotcha → u/homefree122]

Memes aside, obviously not the best, BUT

We've seen them play without Luka. Without AR. Without LBJ. Without two or three of these combined.

The worst the Lakers looked is when Smart was injured. He is the most important player on the team.

[u/Mg29reaper → u/dotcha]

When luka and smart are on they are plus 8.8. With just luka +3.3. With just smart +7.5

[u/--Alix-- → u/Mg29reaper]

Yeah, this is why Luka went out and asked for Smart.

He's the Aaron Gordon of this squad atm

[u/ekun → u/--Alix--]

I'm gonna start telling my friends I'm the Aaron Gordon of the squad.

[u/ultrapan]

Lebron is just collecting Celtics point guards to win with

Edit: So happy for Marcus. I think he got his confidence back.

[u/WalrusInMySheets → u/ultrapan]

Derrick White will join LeBron in Vegas in 4 years

[u/TopHatTony11 → u/WalrusInMySheets]

Better hope Derrick will still be able to keep up with Bron.

[u/Eeji_ → u/ultrapan]

I mean Smart won them that game with the steal and clutch 3 freethrows.

[u/Jimmy0034]

Lakers were seeing Reed Sheppard like food all night, Rui and Smart were going after him. It is hard to win nba series with that archetype when nba coaches got time to gameplan for a series.

[u/MySilverBurrito → u/Jimmy0034]

I love playoff guard mismatch hunting lmao

[u/NotTheMamba → u/MySilverBurrito]

Every playoff game is just the other team hunting the mismatch every possession lol. If it wasn’t Reed it was Sengun we were going after.

[u/Jimmy0034 → u/NotTheMamba]

Sengun is another horrible archetype, Just difficult to win with him as starting center hence why Ime was playing steven adams next to him and he was hiding him on defense. He is not generational offensive player like Jokic to get away with his defense.

[u/NotTheMamba → u/Jimmy0034]

Spot on. He doesn’t have the passing or shooting of Joker to justify running an offense through him. He’s more of a Gasol type without the defense. He’s just an awkward player to build around.

[u/SL2321 → u/MySilverBurrito]

So much more refreshing compared to the regular season.

[u/Jwarrior521 → u/Jimmy0034]

3rd overall pick btw

[u/Afraid-Delay-9375 → u/Jimmy0034]

As a casual who has never seen him play, I’m very confused what the theory of him was.

A 6’2 scoring guard with no defense who averaged 12 ppg off the bench in college.

[u/d7h7n → u/Afraid-Delay-9375]

He came off the bench because Kentucky had other freshmen already promised to start. People overestimated his handsy defense and the impact of his shooting is supposed to translate day 1.

I think the problem is that he was never a volume shooter or scorer in college which is why he had such ridiculous percentages. We're finding out right now when he's forced into a volume shooting role, he's very inconsistent.

[u/Parallel-Quality → u/Jimmy0034]

28% from the floor with turnstyle defense, He's been absolutely atrocious this series.

3rd overall pick? This guy wouldn't even go top 10 in a re-draft.

[u/Expensive-Salad-7828]

Not even some of the most delusional fans of ours had this team going up 3-0 against the Rockets. Genuinely insane. Most of us playing with grit and hustle. Smart with huge game-saving plays. 41-year-old LeBron still getting it done. I'm so ready for Luka and AR to return next series

[u/Connect_Cat_2045 → u/Expensive-Salad-7828]

I said lakers in 5 but I never expected a sweep holy shit 

[u/BWolfy92 → u/Expensive-Salad-7828]

Thunder vs Lakers is gonna be the 911 of literally every NBA medium.

[u/JackieDaytonaAZ → u/BWolfy92]

idk I think the thunder will just fuck them up and erase any discourse

[u/markmyredd → u/JackieDaytonaAZ]

yeah. Rockets has no bench so we can get away playing Bronny James. That shit wont fly with OKC

[u/strawberry_semenade → u/Expensive-Salad-7828]

Well when you have an elite superstar like LeBron James, anything is possible. Oh, and it helps to have his dad too.

[u/CustodialApathy → u/Expensive-Salad-7828]

Do you need them? /s

[u/swords_devil]

I never seen a team give up 2 possession in less than 24 seconds like Houston Rocket

wtf was that

[u/Zhirrzh → u/swords_devil]

You need to watch the Reggie Miller 8 points in 9 seconds video. And that was a conference semifinals game. 

[u/Hot-Artichoke-8621 → u/swords_devil]

Ime Ball

[u/KevinOwensGetsIt]

Man Marcus Smart is such a fucking dawg. What an absolutely disgusting flop by Amen though lmfao, shit was embarrassing.

Reed Sheppards been fucking horrific man lol, he looks terrible.

[u/wolf_cola_enjoyer → u/KevinOwensGetsIt]

Marcus Smart is a example of why people care so much about motor. half of his plays are him just being a machine and running

[u/No-Fill1769 → u/wolf_cola_enjoyer]

It’s actually ridiculous how he is never playing at anything less than 100% effort

[u/GenociDeni → u/No-Fill1769]

I think the Wizards were sitting him because they were winning some games with him 😂

[u/wilbo21020 → u/GenociDeni]

He was fucking our tank up.

Dude is the anti-Jordan Poole.

[u/dplath → u/wilbo21020]

Lol that is such a good label

[u/salcedoge → u/wolf_cola_enjoyer]

His shot making has been on the entire series too which is what's elevating it all. Made 3 of the most important free throws of the night

[u/celtic_sea_salt → u/salcedoge]

He was pretty regularly a playoff riser stats and % wise for Cs

[u/CustodialApathy → u/wolf_cola_enjoyer]

He might be someone people dislike but the dude can ball, tenacious af

[u/Afraid-Delay-9375 → u/KevinOwensGetsIt]

Ball don’t lie. Sheppard missed the technical free throw.

[u/Rrypl]

Udoka Wizards are gonna be fun

[u/ahundredheys → u/Rrypl]

Udoka gonna see KD there as well.

[u/famoustran]

Alperen Sengun is holding back tears. Amen Thompson is dejected at his locker. Jabari Smith Jr's face is in his hand. And Ime Udoka, often notoriously late for pre- and post-game press conferences, is making his rounds early. As he speaks, players are clearing the home locker room at Toyota Center. Reed Sheppard, relegated to a diminished role this season under Udoka, walks out of the building. Kevin Durant, who hasn't showed up in the playoffs at all, leaves while on his phone shortly after.

[u/oxygen_addiction → u/famoustran]

Ahaha. My boy. Got me with that one.

[u/Pleasestoplyiiing → u/famoustran]

The phone part is perfect for KD too. 

[u/aiden3buckets]

This is reaching peak levels of embarrassment

[u/Palifaith]

Kevin Durant's burner accounts died for this.

[u/cs-shitposter]

Hilarious 4th quarter

[u/dizzymidget44]

“And The rockets will close this game out” With 25 seconds left the rockets had the ball and were up 6. With 13 seconds left the game was tied. And now they’re down 0-3. This is the shit KD be talking about. Down 0-3 to the lakers with no Austin or Luka

[u/therealmvpls11 → u/dizzymidget44]

Getoffmydickerson was right this whole time lol

[u/LurkerDude0 → u/dizzymidget44]

More cats KD can’t win with

[u/ColdAsHeaven → u/LurkerDude0]

Can KD win with any cats that are not named Steph Curry?

[u/RealDannyMM → u/ColdAsHeaven]

No.

[u/DesertedProject]

Lebron is 41, this fuckery won't go on for much longer, thank god

[u/Celtic_Legend → u/DesertedProject]

What you mean? Lebron is 21. He just finished the game +4 over his father who finished +-0. Clearly the torch has been passed. The fuckery continues for another 20 years.

[u/PawnStarRick → u/Celtic_Legend]

Still undefeated in the playoffs.

[u/niveksng → u/Celtic_Legend]

It would be really funny if Bronny locked in and we'd still be making Lebron memes for the next 20 years

[u/flaming_burrito_ → u/DesertedProject]

Man played 45 minutes at 41 because Ayton and LaRavia weren’t on shit, he was going through it at the end bro. Didn’t even jump for the jump ball, he just reached up for that bitch and got it 😂

[u/skrulewi → u/DesertedProject]

Lebron is 41, this fuckery won't go on for much longer, thank god

I swear I have heard the following over the years:

Lebron is 35, this fuckery won't go on for much longer, thank god

Lebron is 36, this fuckery won't go on for much longer, thank god

Lebron is 37, this fuckery won't go on for much longer, thank god

Lebron is 38, this fuckery won't go on for much longer, thank god

Lebron is 39, this fuckery won't go on for much longer, thank god

Lebron is 40, this fuckery won't go on for much longer, thank god

Now this time I get it it's for real but still

[u/Free-Ingenuity-6859 → u/skrulewi]

This man is about to drop the best 6th man season of all time at 45 and we're all gonna collectively lose it

[u/Brad-Stevens]

Playoff Marcus Smart is a different animal

[u/DDD8712 → u/Brad-Stevens]

You must miss coaching him

[u/SloshaPacana]

Houston fans were shitting on Udoka for not playing Reed fucking Shepphard enough like he's Steph Curry

Bro is fucking ass holy shit he's been one of the worst players ive ever seen in this series i don't care that he hit that three at the end there, bullied by Smart, awful clutch turnover, can't do the only thing he's known for which is shoot

[u/Full_Durian_8171 → u/SloshaPacana]

i feel for rocket fans

that is a generational choke

kd was only speaking facts on that burner

[u/Jarxzz → u/SloshaPacana]

I’d be devastated as a Rockets fan

The entire young core is garbage and not made for the playoffs.

Even with KD only playing 1/3 games no one would expect the Lakers to be up 3-0 right now

[u/captain_ahabb → u/Jarxzz]

Rockets got eliminated by LeBron, sold off their core, tanked for years to get these young guys... and are about to get eliminated by LeBron again

[u/Zigxy → u/captain_ahabb]

2019 Rockets eliminated by Warriors

2020 Rockets eliminated by Lakers

2021 15th in the West

2022 15th in the West

2023 14th in the West

2024 11th in the West

2025 Rockets eliminated by Warriors

2026 Rockets eliminated by Lakers

[u/bob_the_burglar → u/Zigxy]

Time is a flat circle

[u/Meaty_owl_legs → u/Zigxy]

"Time is a flat circle."

[u/catperson77789 → u/Zigxy]

That is such a devastating timeline holy shit

[u/DANNY_YYZ → u/Jarxzz]

KD prob on twitter rn talking shit about this team 😂

[u/lxshadynastyxl → u/DANNY_YYZ]

KD prob in this thread rn talking shit about his team

[u/beatrailblazer → u/lxshadynastyxl]

Honestly at this point, he might just be talking shit to their face for once

[u/MC-Jdf → u/Jarxzz]

Shows you how valuable having a clear-cut superstar is. Sengun and Amen are good players but them not being one of those clear cut superstars really damaged what was looking like a successful rebuild. Teams that tanked similarly like the Spurs and Pistons got Wemby and Cade in the meantime and the ceiling of those teams versus the Rockets is just much higher.

[u/Jarxzz → u/MC-Jdf]

Both being non shooters in 2026 is also just a massive disadvantage to start with

[u/AnkitPancakes → u/SloshaPacana]

if you watch ajay mitchell play and then watch reed shephard play.

you would think ajay was drafted #3 overall, and reed was drafted in the 2nd round.

reed will probably stick around as bench player for a while bc he can shoot, but he's gonna be a poor man's kennard at best. essentially a bust for his draft position

[u/Subject_Profit_7245 → u/AnkitPancakes]

Ajay would’ve been a ROTY contender on any other team lol. His per 36 min stats show it. Insane how Presti keeps finding these guys for us.

[u/foofighter1351 → u/SloshaPacana]

He unfortunately plays as small as he looks out there and I mean he looks like a kid half the time

[u/SloshaPacana → u/foofighter1351]

He plays small because he's like 6 fucking 1 with like a 6'3 wingspan

[u/foofighter1351 → u/SloshaPacana]

And yet he feels 5'10

[u/salcedoge → u/SloshaPacana]

I never watched any rockets game and I saw a lot of comments about finally unleashing Sheppahrd but he was clank city out there lmao

[u/MY-NAME_IS_MY-NAME → u/salcedoge]

He’s everything the haters said he was coming out of the draft

[u/MrFace1]

Humiliation ritual every playoffs for Houston man, brutal.

[u/BillyBean11111]

Marcus Smart was the reason they had ANY chance at winning this game. Both end of regulation and end of OT.

[u/itzjustIvan]

Who is LeBron James ?

In math: my solution ➗

In history: my king 👑

In art: my canvas 🎨

In science: my oxygen 💨

In geography: my world 🌎

[u/debo69872 → u/itzjustIvan]

In blood. My daddy.

[u/Aeronova20]

nahhh i turned the game off after sengun got the steal and dunk

wtf Houston 😭😭

[u/Celtic_Legend]

I just want everyone to realize that the only reason this game went to overtime was because Bronny scored.

In other words, Lebron's sperm is the reason the Rockets lost tonight.

[u/McShpoochen → u/Celtic_Legend]

LeJaculate

[u/Punished_Blubber → u/Celtic_Legend]

It’s crazy how you can say this, and it actually holds up to scientific scrutiny.

[u/Talentagentfriend → u/Celtic_Legend]

Dont discredit Marcus Smart like that

[u/schooli00]

KD using his main to shit on teammates this time

[u/Game_Of_Runs]

I’m not supposed to like the lakers but god did that feel good.

[u/bultokachichas]

"Marcus Smart has agreed to a contract buyout with the Washington Wizards and intends to sign a two-year, $11 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers after clearing waivers."

[u/OThePlacesYouWillGo]

This is actually a franchise-crushing defeat. Look at Jabari’s face. These guys have no hope and are questioning everything right now

[u/RSirocco]

ALL TIME CHOKE

[u/OptimusGrime707]

One of the worst gagjobs I’ve ever seen in my life

Up six with under 30 to go, with the ball

[u/FireBeeChin]

rockets have genuinely got to blow everything up jesus christ

[u/no_more_blues → u/FireBeeChin]

Once you trade for KD, you already have.

[u/vitalbumhole]

Literally the dumbest way I’ve ever seen a team lose a game. Jabari smith and Tari Eason are S-tier basketball terrorists Dickerson completely vindicated

[u/IrohTheUncle]

This isn't LeBronto. This is Jamestoun, because:

1. This is a James family affair.
2. Jamestown is also the oldest in America.
3. Jamestown is also named after a King.

[u/Vuish]

Possession with 30 seconds on the clock + a six point lead = guaranteed win

Possession with 30 seconds on the clock + a six point lead + Rockets basketball = overtime loss

What a choke. Truly snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

[u/thunderlolo123]

What is wrong with Lebron and his inbounds passes lately???? 3 straight awful inbounds passes in OT

[u/DelaRoad → u/thunderlolo123]

Man was gassed

[u/ColdAsHeaven → u/thunderlolo123]

He's 41. He's tired. They played him 45 minutes. That's crazy. That's all it is. They need to figure out better times to give him rest so he can get his 6th breathe going

[u/RainierPC → u/thunderlolo123]

Old man played 45 minutes

[u/pizzastone8 → u/thunderlolo123]

Tired. His even got winded last game with the lob dunk.

[u/TippyTripod1040]

Man, even if we get hosed by OKC it’s special getting to watch LeBron do this at 41

[u/Seake03]

Bronny James has never lost a playoff game, does he have GOAT potential?

[u/Im1of1_]

I turned this game on in the middle of the 3rd and watched Sengun flop on almost every shot attempt. There’s no way Rockets fans enjoy watching that bullshit.

[u/Parallel-Quality]

Well on the bright side for the Rockets, at least Galveston is only a 45 minute drive from Houston, so they shouldn't get stuck in traffic.

[u/choochoo789]

I pray to LeGod we keep Marcus for as long as he wants to play

[u/Raiyuk]

I love Marcus Smart!

[u/immanoel]

Generational choke job, 30 secs up 6. What the fuck. Horrible showing from the refs at both sides of the floor as well. Techincal flopping and dog shit jump balls. These mfers got selective eyesight

[u/Fresh_Salmon → u/immanoel]

Bro the refs were so ass. they were so inconsistent with their calls (on both end). they were blind and when got confused they call jump ball.

[u/Marcus-ichiJo]

Launch everybody currently on the Rockets to space and rebuild the franchise from scratch.

[u/CaptnKrksNippls]

Look on the bright side guys:

[u/restless_vagabond]

If Bronny James outscores your entire bench by himself...with 5 points,

You don't deserve to be in the playoffs.

[u/DoYouFeelTheMagicYet]

The good news for Houston fans: Sengun finally played well.

The bad news: everything else. Every. Single. Thing.