Rajon Rondo turned in an up-and-down performance in Game 1 of the Lakers‘ second-round series against Houston, but head coach Frank Vogel expressed confidence after that game that Rondo would be an important contributor for L.A. in the series. On Sunday, the veteran point guard proved Vogel right.
As ESPN’s Dave McMenamin details, Rondo contributed 10 points, nine assists, and five steals in the Lakers’ Game 2 win, with the team outscoring the Rockets by 28 points during his 29 minutes. While Rondo is on a minimum-salary contract and ranked eighth on the team this season in minutes per game, he’s viewed as a leader on and off the court for the Lakers.
“He has such an impact,” Vogel said of Rondo. “His impact on our team is measured in swag and just the confidence that he brings to our group.”
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- Lakers center JaVale McGee left Sunday’s game due to left ankle pain and didn’t return, per McMenamin. Vogel said after the game that McGee would be undergoing an MRI on his sore ankle.
- Within the same story, McMenamin notes that shooting guard Dion Waiters also left the game with an injury and didn’t play the rest of the night. Waiters was diagnosed with a strained groin, and his status going forward remains up in the air.
- Within a notebook piece on the Lakers/Rockets series, Kyle Goon of The Orange County Register explores how the two clubs have been using “scout teams” in practices to try to prepare for their opponent’s star players.
- Asked on Sunday why his children haven’t joined him in the NBA’s bubble, Lakers star LeBron James explained that – despite being located within Walt Disney World – the campus isn’t especially kid-friendly. “My kids are too adventurous and they love to do so much stuff,” James said, according to Mark Medina of USA Today. “There’s nothing for them to do here. Go outside, come back in, go outside, come back in. They can stay in L.A. They’re great.”
Dwight Howard DNP
Why？
Vogel needed to adjust his game plan to counter Houston’s run and gun attack. It worked, as Morris and Kuzma were incredibly efficient off the bench as both shooters and defenders. Howard simply wasn’t taking advantage of his size and he’ll need to earn his minutes back. Perhaps he’ll play a larger role if McGee’s injury proves to be lingering
Westbrook contract 228 million
Rondo contract 3 million
Westbrook 33 minutes 10 pts 4 assts
Rondo 28 minutes 10 pts 9 assts
We should really redo contracts game to game.
Harden was limping after the game. When he got hit in the knee they should have taken him out immediately even if it was for a minute or 2. He did not have the same energy after being hit in the knee. The game was close at that point always look at the big picture.
Lakers in 5
Rockets too scrappy to lose in 5.
Hahaha. I told you the Lakers were good. Why didn’t you listen?
Curtis the real test is clippers.
Rockets and Lakers both know this is there only shot at a title. Next year the warriors will be back and it’s back to irrelevance for senior flop and queen James.
Imagine thinking the Warriors replacing KD with Wiggins makes them the unstoppable force they were. They will be. back in the playoffs but not as the super power they once were. Warriors are now just a slighlty better verison of the Rockets.
so the rockets are the second best team in the league. jk
Imagine forgetting the Warriors had the best regular season team ever and won a championship before Durant arrived. Yes they got a few more years on them but if Curry and Thompson are healthy how can you just assume they won’t be a super power again? Those two changed the game and I’d bet my money on them coming back with a vengeance next year. Wiggins will prove to be a solid contributor but he doesn’t need to be Durant, just a complimentary player to the Splash Bro’s.
Imagine thinking klay is gonna be the same player coming back from an injury as serious as he did and thinking the warriors will compete. They have no bench depth like they used to have and aging guards that haven’t shown the ability to stay healthy in years. Adding the 2nd pick in a weak draft add little.
Add 4 players to bench
Example may not be real
2nd pick for John Collins
17 million TE for LaVert
6 million MLE for Marc Gasol
Trade Wolves pick for a player
2015-16 is going to be FIVE YEARS separated from the “Warriors vengance” season. Its flat out not the same team anymore. No one cares that they broke the regular season wins record, without the ring. They were pushed to 7 games in the conference finals and lost the finals. It took them 6 games the year before to beat a Cleveland team without Kyrie and Love. They are not a powerhouse without KD and its funny how much denial Bay Area homers are in. They are just another team in the west at this point. Anywhere from a 3-6 seed.
I think Rondo should be capped around 14 mins-
Lakers rotation too big right now, with the extra rest and no travel the rotation should be 8 right now max
Brow plays the 5 the entire series-
Bron obv at 38-40 mins
Then KCp green Kuz Caruso as mainstay wings who are better equipped to defend the rockets get as much burn as they can handle-
Morris Rondo get vet minutes an offer small breathers when needed
Every one else grab their pom-poms
If Lakers and Rockets are not able to win the championship this year，they both are done
Neither of them will not win the West next year
No one is interested in their future draft picks
They both can’t improve the supporting cast
Lakers payroll will go way up this year and Rockets have a lot of old players. Both teams will need to find some hidden gems.
Ridiculous narrative. Who is going to leapfrog the Lakers by a big margin next season? No one.
LeBron is getting older and is waiting for rebounding
Green is getting slower
KCP is not good
McGee is almost done
Replace replace replace
Nothing look like Dynasty
Where are the first round picks？
So if neither of them will not win the West, I guess that means they both will? Seems unlikely.
Rondo played a solid PG game. Found good shots for his mates. Played good D. He’s been here plenty times before. Still think Lakers should be posting more. Kuzma had a good gm too. Lakers bench comes thru. They should win. I don’t get why Lakers don’t play pick n roll. They only use pick to get mismatch. Pick n roll is a good way to get your bigs in middle, post.