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Lakers Nation > Blog > Gameday > Lakers Vs. Rockets Preview & TV Info: LeBron James’ Intensity Level ‘Activated’ As L.A. Begins Playoff Push
Gameday

Lakers Vs. Rockets Preview & TV Info: LeBron James’ Intensity Level ‘Activated’ As L.A. Begins Playoff Push

Dan Duangdao
Published: 02/21/2019
3 Min Read
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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With 25 games remaining in the 2018-19 NBA season, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are making one final push to end their five-year playoff drought.

“It’s been quite a while for me that I’ve been under .500 going into the All-Star break. I don’t remember the last time,” James said following Wednesday’s practice.

“My level of intensity has to be [higher], unfortunately for me, because I don’t like to do it at such an early time. But it’s been activated.”

While the Anthony Davis trade rumors are behind them, the Lakers are still working on getting back to full strength. As there is currently no update on Lonzo Ball’s recovery from a Grade 3 ankle sprain, the team’s defense has struggled mightily without him.

And in their first game back from the 2019 NBA All-Star Weekend, James Harden and the Rockets present a major challenge defensively.

As Chris Paul recently returned and Clint Capela is expected to return, all of the attention remains on Harden. He is looking to score 30+ points for the 32nd consecutive game, which actually started against the Lakers on Dec. 13.

When healthy, James and the Lakers can compete with most teams but they need to get back to their top-10 defense to make a legitimate playoff push.

Los Angeles Lakers (28-29) vs. Houston Rockets (33-24)

7:30 P.M. PT, Feb. 21, 2019
Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
TV: TNT
Radio: 710 AM (ESPN)/1330 KWKW (Spanish)

Projected Lakers Starting Lineup:

PG: Brandon Ingram
SG: Reggie Bullock
SF: LeBron James
PF: Kyle Kuzma
C: JaVale McGee

Key Reserves: Rajon Rondo, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Josh Hart, Lance Stephenson

Projected Rockets Starting Lineup:

PG: Chris Paul
SG: James Harden
SF: Eric Gordon
PF: PJ Tucker
C: Clint Capela

Key Reserves: Kenneth Faried, Gerald Green, Austin Rivers

Reminder: Vivid Seats is the Official Ticket Reseller of LakersNation.com. New Customers use “LAKERSNATION” (all CAPS) in the Vivid Seats App on your phone and get 10% off any Lakers home game ticket order for the remainder of the season.

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TAGGED:Houston RocketsLos Angeles Lakers
ByDan Duangdao
Follow:
Dan Duangdao was the managing editor at Lakers Nation (2013-16, 2018-20). He is currently the founder at LA Sports Media, Lake Show, Raiders Nation, Rams Nation, Kings Nation, Galaxy Nation, and MMA Rumors. Born and raised in Southern California and a lifelong Los Angeles sports and mixed martial arts fan, his first NBA game was Kobe Bryant and the Lakers against the Golden State Warriors with Michael Jordan in attendance during the 1998-99 NBA season. He was previously a contributor at HOOPSWORLD (now Basketball Insiders) and an NBA editor at ClutchPoints. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @DanDuangdao.
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