Last season’s NBA playoffs weren’t very memorable for the Los Angeles Lakers. They were knocked out in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves, and it raised a lot of questions about the team’s direction.
Now, they have another tough series on tap as they prepare to face the Houston Rockets on Saturday evening. But just before the series began, seven-time NBA champion Robert Horry shared an interesting take that garnered attention.
Robert Horry Predicts the Lakers Will Upset the Rockets
In a recent interview with Ratings, Horry said that the upcoming playoff series between the Lakers and the Rockets is going to be very even. According to the former Laker and Rocket, neither team has a clear advantage right now.
“The matchup is a pretty even matchup, if you put it on paper. I don’t think no one has the advantage at any position,” Horry said. “So it’s going to be about who’s hot, who plays well, and who executes. I think for me, it’s going to boil down to if the Lakers can keep home-court advantage, then they’ll be all right.”
The Lakers are dealing with major injuries. Austin Reaves has been ruled out for Game 1 with a Grade 2 left oblique strain, and the team is targeting early May for his return. That means he is expected to miss the entire first-round series.
On top of that, Luka Dončić is also sidelined with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain that he suffered on April 2. Horry said that if Dončić and Reaves were healthy, he’d say “the Lakers would definitely have the advantage.”
“But with them being out, they lose a lot of offensive firepower,” Horry noted. “But with the way Luke Kennard and Rui [Hachimura] have been playing, they’ve been playing really well.”
However, the Rockets are not fully healthy either. Kevin Durant has been ruled out for Game 1 due to a right knee contusion. While Houston still has a solid roster, his absence will give the Lakers a slight edge in the opening game.
Horry pointed out that aside from Durant and Sengun, nobody on the Rockets’ roster scares him, which certainly factored into his prediction.
“[Alperen] Şengün is going to get his 20 and 10. So you need someone to negate that. But if you look at the Rockets’ roster, they’re all good players. Kevin Durant is going to get his 23 [points]. But there is nobody else that scares you,” Horry said. “Shaq scares you. Kobe [Bryant] scares you. Dream [Hakeem Olajuwon] scares you. Clyde [Drexler] scares you. All of those people scare you. But KD is only one that scares you. Nobody else worries you.”
Durant averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game this season. Meanwhile, Şengün posted 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game. They form a dangerous frontcourt combination, but Horry isn’t too worried about their supporting cast. Meanwhile, he talked up the Lakers’ role players Luke Kennard, Rui Hachimura, and Deandre Ayton.
“With the way Luke Kennard and Rui have been playing, they’ve been playing really well. If the Lakers’ game plan involves DA, they’ll be fine,” Horry said. “It has to be direct possessions. If they don’t do direct possessions with DA, they lose him. But hopefully they’re smart enough to understand that he can get them 20 [points] and 10 [rebounds]. That’s exactly what they need to beat the Rockets.”
Kennard shot 47.8% from three this season and averaged 8.4 points per game, while Hachimura averaged 11.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.
Without Dončić and Reaves, the Lakers will lean heavily on LeBron James. At 41 years old, James still averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game during the regular season, so he clearly still has what it takes to perform at a high level.
“Each year, your body gets a little bit more fatigued. I thought last season in the playoffs, they played LeBron too many minutes,” Horry said. “You could tell he was fatigued. I always watch guys’ body language. But this year, he hasn’t really looked that fatigued as far as him huffing and puffing when he’s giving it his all. So I think he’ll be fine. He’s figured it out. You watch Luke Kennard bring the ball up. You watch Marcus Smart bring the ball up. I know they’re not AR and Luka. But LeBron knows he can still get off the ball. He doesn’t have to be on the ball all the time.
“That’s the one thing that he’s learned. I think it’s the dumbest thing ever to say that LeBron is the third option. He was never a third option. He just always plays basketball the right way. He’s fine with that. I really like the way that Luke Kennard has organized the offense. He can take some of that pressure off of LeBron. Also, it helps that Marcus Smart is back.”
Horry believes the key to Los Angeles winning this series is taking Game 1. With Durant out, it becomes even more important for Los Angeles to start the series strong.
“I think the Lakers will get it in six. But if they don’t get Game 1, it’s going to be tough. The playoffs are always a chess match,” Horry said. “Knowing Ime Udoka, he’s going to be saying a couple of words to LeBron to try to get him thrown out or get him off his kilter.
“One time, he said something to ‘Bron, and they were about to go at it. I know Ime. He’s always trying to play a chess game. If the Rockets win Game 1, it’ll be hard for the Lakers to overcome that. Then, it becomes a confidence thing instead of a home-court thing.”
Game 1 between the Lakers and Rockets is set to tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET. If Horry is right, this matchup might be closer than many expect.
