LeBron James: 'They'll Embarrass You!' Rockets Crush NBA-Worst Los Angeles Lakers, 128-94
After the game, LeBron James cited a lack of "cohesion'' due to injured as the source of what ails the Los Angeles Lakeresa, who through the first quarter of this NBA season are the league's worst team.
And before the game? LeBron had a warning that in a sense foreshadowed the Houston Rockets' stunning 128-94 home win on Wednesday.
Said LeBron at shootaround, turning his attention from the previous game to Houston: "You have to compete ... you have to play hard or they will embarrass you. How do we match that or bottle that energy or that intensity and bring it into the next couple road games left on this trip?”
Answer against the Rockets? They don't.
The Lakers, playing without the injured Anthony Davis, are now 3-5, and yes, the NBA West standings look a bit upside-down as Houston is 4-3. And while the struggles of the regal Lakers are a viable national story, the Rockets' success deserves some headlines as well.
“We’re taking the right steps,” said first-year coach Ime Udoka, now overseeing a four-game win streak for the Rockets. “We’re confident in what we’re doing and it’s gelling quicker than probably some thought already.”
Said Lakers coach Darvin Ham of the Rockets, who with the intense help of Dillon Brooks held James to 18 points while riding Jalen Green's 28 points on the offensive end: “They're going to be a handful to deal with this year. If they keep up at this rate, they'll be a handful not just for us, but the other 28 teams besides us.”
