The Los Angeles Lakers have a tough task ahead of them in the playoffs as they are set to face the Houston Rockets in the first round. Being without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves for at least the start of the series means the team will have to rely on others to step up and one player who they will need a big series from is Deandre Ayton.
The Lakers did win the season series between the two teams, taking back-to-back contests on the road against the Rockets just a month ago. And one thing Ayton definitely remembers about those games was the playoff atmosphere that was present in Houston.
“I would say those were intense games. They gave us playoff atmosphere, the fans and the crowd,” Ayton said. “But just different concepts and strategies on how they attacked us. I felt like it was a defensive game for us and a second effort type of game where we had to turn up the level of intensity quite a bit playing against their type of versatility.”
The games between these teams were intense and physical without a doubt. That has been the Rockets’ reputation over the past couple of seasons, but Ayton is looking forward to that increased physicality.
“They’ve been known as a physical team from since I gotten into the league,” Ayton added. “It’s something that they play hard and they play physical, and that’s the fun part about the postseason. The physicality turns up a little bit, and they let us play and I like that. Good to get a little anger out.”
Even without Steven Adams, the Rockets still have All-Star big man Alperen Sengun, as well as Clint Capela, whom Ayton infamously mentioned by name earlier this season while frustrated at the role the Lakers were asking him to play. Facing off with him in the postseason now gives Ayton an opportunity to show that he is indeed a level above.
The Lakers need everyone to step up if they want to have any chance at taking down the Rockets, but that especially goes for Ayton against a team as physical as this one. Cleaning the glass, controlling the paint and being a force defensively is a must for the big man and Ayton has plenty of postseason experience going against some of the best in the NBA so he will need to tap into that to help lift this team.
Lakers’ LeBron James excited about 2026 NBA playoffs
With Reaves and Doncic out it will be LeBron James leading the way for the Lakers and he is excited about what the 2026 NBA playoffs will bring.
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