To the Lakers Russell Westbrook’s 30 points and LeBron James’ triple double of 23 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists were not enough to avoid the 37th defeat of the season (compared to only 28 successes). TO Houston the yellow-violet are collapsed in overtime, undergoing a partial of 19-10. Decisive for the Rockets Jalen Greenwho reported his career maximum of 32 points, shooting 13/21 from the field with 4/7 from the arc. At the end of the game, the second choice in the last Draft explained what the game plan against the yellow-violet. “We wanted to attack Carmelo Anthony – he said bluntly -, put him in conditions of isolation in defense. My teammates continued to pass me the ball, and I knew what to do. “The solution was evident – and winning – in the additionalin which Green scored 10 of his 32 points. With the rookie initially marked by Austin Reaves, Houston systematically played a pick’n’roll to force the switch and allow him to attack Melo. Thus came the first five points of the overtime that paved the way for Houston’s 139-130 victory. THE Anthony’s defensive limits – who had also failed the shot of the possible victory on the siren at the end of the regulations – are one of the problems of the Lakers in this so far disappointing year. When defending the ball carrier in the pick and roll Melo this season concedes 1,375 points per possessionthus being in the 12% percentile (with 88% of the players in the league doing better than him). It is just one of the many weaknesses of the Lakers on which coach Vogel will have to work in view of the playoffs (provided that the yellow and purple manage to get there).
