Lakers Bring Defense, Energy In Game 7 Rout Of Rockets

It’s been clear all season that the Lakers would go as far as their defense would take them. When it mattered most this season on Sunday the Lakers defense showed up as a dominant force, led by their big men.

The result was a rout -- the Lakers raced to an 11 point lead and never looked back, winning 89-70 in front of an energized Staples crowd that was as much relieved to see the good Lakers show up as they were excited about the win.

“I think there is relief, but there is something to look at, something to learn from,” Andrew Bynum said.

This is a Lakers team that allegedly has learned a lot of lessons that seemingly have yet to sink in, dating back to the game six against Boston last Finals. Everyone will see if finally things have changed starting Tuesday night, when the Lakers take on a very confident Nuggets team in the Western Conference Finals with little time to prepare.

If Pau Gasol and Bynum bring the defensive energy they did Sunday, the Lakers should be fine. After six games of allowing Rockets guard Aaron Brooks to go where he wanted to go and do what he wanted to do, the Lakers extended their defensive pressure out, forced him baseline then Gasol and Bynum did a good job shutting him off. The result was a Rockets offense that reduced to shooting jump shots (their first dozen shots were jumpers and they went 1-11) and without Yao Ming, didn’t have a good Plan B.

That defense held the Rockets scoreless for the first five minutes as the Lakers raced out to an 8-0 run. The only reason they broke that streak was a sloppy turnover by Gasol that forced Trevor Ariza to foul Brook on a fast break.

It was Ariza with the hot hand early for the Lakers, with two early threes and 9 first quarter points. Throw in a couple baskets by the previously cold Derek Fisher and the Lakers led by as much as 13 early. Through the second the Lakers kept extending their lead despite some moments of inconsistent offense thanks to the defense -- the Rockets score just 31 first half points on 32.5% shooting and 11% from three.

The third quarter started out much the same, punctuated by an Ariza ally-oop to Bynum. The Rockets, desperate for an answer, tried to go with an even smaller lineup but it didn’t work. Overall the play got sloppy -- the Lakers had eight third quarter turnovers, the Rockets 5 -- and while the Rockets made some mini-runs they never got the lead below 15. The fourth quarter was much of the same.

Gasol did more than just play defense, he finished with 21 points and 18 rebounds.

After the game, the Lakers all talked about lessons learned and applying them to future games. The Lakers dominated the boards all night, out rebounding the Rockets by 22. Kobe Bryant had a quiet 14 points on 4 of 12 shooting as his teammates took the limelight.

After the game, the Lakers players were again saying all the right things.

“I think that having an understanding  and appreciation for how difficult it is to advance in the postseason,” Fisher said of the lessons. “It’s not something you just kinda show up and do. I don’t think at any time we consciously went on to the floor without that mindset, but I think we learned that if you aren’t conscious of that when you come out and start games aggressive and physical and ready to play you get yourself in a lot of trouble.”

Lakers fans will see Tuesday night.