The grudge showdown between James and Dillon in the eyes of the Chronicles: Restore the real collision between the Lakers and the Rockets

Originally compiled from: The Athletic

者:Kelly Iko and Jovan Buha

原标题：LeBron James vs. Dillion Brooks, Part 2: A running diary of a Lakers-Rockets thriller

On Sunday night, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 105-104 at the Crypto Center. To keep an eye on the much-anticipated matchup, reporters Kelly Iko and Jovan Buha stayed connected during the match.

Kelly Iko: Anthony Davis didn't feature in the first game of this "series" (the two teams will meet again in early December), so the Dillon Brooks/LeBron James farce gained traction last month. But both the Rockets and Lakers have had to add some new players to their rosters and rotations. What has the Lakers been through so far?

Jovan Buha: As their record shows, they're going through an up-and-down process. (The Lakers' record before this game was seven wins and six losses).

The Lakers have some notable injuries to deal with, including two of their three best outside defenders (Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent), which has slowed their progress and affected their performance against faster, more athletic teams. That's one of the reasons they struggled so much in Game 1 against the Rockets.

As for how well their new players fit in, Cam Reddish has been outstanding since coming into the starting lineup earlier this month. In November, he led the league in steals and developed into a fixed-point pitcher and transition threat in a simplified offensive role. Christian Wood has surprisingly excelled in areas where he is expected to struggle (as a defender and rebounder), while for the most part, he has not adapted well to his role as a fourth choice on offense.

Torrien Prince struggled on the offensive end after a hot opening shot--- To be honest, I was surprised that he was still in the starting lineup. Jaxson Hayes is a tempo-changing rebounder who can use his energy to impact an entire quarter of the game, but can't get away with foul trouble. Vincent only played four games, shooting 1-of-14 from three-point range, but his value as a 3-D guard was well recognized. When he comes back, he'll help the team at least in a few weeks.

What did you see from the Rockets' new signings and how did they adapt?

Kelly Iko: It's fitting to start with Brooks, given that he's been able to add physicality and aggression to the Houston Rockets' defense, and the Rockets have been quick to embrace his style. That impact doesn't always show up in the stats--- the Rockets play better when he's on the floor, but it's not a staggering gap--- but he makes it easier for the Rockets to switch defenses and give them someone to top up in tough matchups. He also made some adjustments to his shooting posture and adopted a more efficient shooting style, which allowed him to shoot his three-point shooting percentage to an all-time high (50%).

Fred VanVleet also played a positive role, bringing consistent power that allowed the Rockets to control the situation at half-court, while also being a solid attack-point defender. Jock Landale has struggled to maintain consistency in the face of a shrinking role, while Jeff Green has become the much-needed player for the Rockets to open up space on the court and a defensive finisher late in the game (the Rockets have a 7.2-point net advantage when he's on the floor). Aaron Holiday also stepped up to fill the void left by rookie Amen Thompson's earlier ankle injury.

Speaking of Davis, as much as I believe he will be a key figure in this game, how can he address his instability? He is one of the players in the league who can provide impact on both the offensive and defensive ends. But to outsiders, he seems to have struggled to find his sweet spot in Darwin Ham's plan, which is a strange statement for a player who has been with the Lakers for five seasons.

"He's changed a lot," Rockets forward Tari Eason said of Davis before the game to The Athletic. "He's a former All-Star, one of the best players in the league when he's healthy. Defensively he's definitely changed a lot, but our principles remain the same. We're just going to go on the pitch and defend him. ”

Jovan Buha: What I want to clarify is that Davis' inconsistency is only on the offensive end, not on the defensive end, and his dominance on the defensive end is still not fully discussed. There are several reasons for this: the Lakers' inconsistent offense (they ranked 22nd in points per 100 possessions prior to this game), the increased offensive roles of D'Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves, Davis' massive defensive load, and his recently injured hip.

I expect him to play hard tonight against Alperen Shinkyung, one of the league's best young big men and an inside monster. Shin Kyung is the kind of skilled, physically strong center--- similar to Nikola Jokic and Domantas Sabonis, two of his most frequently compared opponents--- Shin Kyung has caused Davis a lot of problems this season.

Section I

Kelly Iko: The Lakers gave the first few rounds to Davis, and it's no surprise that Shin Kyung could have a long night. As soon as Davis got on the court, he became a nightmare for his opponents. He has six points, three rebounds and one assist. Ahead of tonight's game, the Rockets were in the bottom 10 for rebounding protection, and I expect the Lakers to capitalize on that weakness.

At the other end of the court, when Shin Kyung was holding the ball in the low post, Davis' size took up a lot of space, forcing Shin Kyung to use his push and throw. Considering Shin Kyung's good start to the season and the difference in style with Davis, it's a fascinating matchup. It's also a reminder that the center isn't dead yet.

Jovan Buha: I think the two biggest differences between these two teams in the early stages of the game are their pacing and three-point shooting. The Rockets run and get into offense early even after the Lakers shoot, while the Lakers often dribble on the court and slowly get into the groove. This led to the Rockets finding their strengths and misalignments, while the Lakers could only make controversial shots before the countdown was over.

Then, when attacking in the half, the Rockets had plenty of capable shooters who could pull the Lakers' defense apart and force them to make tough decisions. On the other end, the Rockets don't take the Lakers' shot — which is currently the fifth-lowest team in three-point shooting percentage — which allows them to wrap up the paint and wrap up James and Davis.

Kelly Iko: I thought the Rockets were going to struggle as a three-point team, but so far, they've been in the middle of the pack in three-point shooting and efficiency. I'm not sure how many people think Brooks is the Rockets' top scorer in the first ten games of the year, though.

Brooks was heavily booed during the player introduction, but he got off to a relatively quiet start tonight (which means no farce yet). Is there expected to be more than five "clashes" with James tonight?

Jovan Buha: I think it should be less than five, but I'm not confident in that.

Kelly Iko: Houston's style of play has been impressive lately. They seem to be trying to move the ball non-stop and trade good chances for better ones.

I don't know if you (JB) saw it because you're recovering from an Achilles tendon injury at home, but Brooks made the first three-pointer of the game and gave the crowd a passionate kiss. JB underwent Achilles tendon surgery earlier this month.

Jovan Buha: They replayed it on TV. The villain Dillon is a true performance artist--- he is very involved in acting.

Kelly Iko: Jalen Green noticed Tari Ethan's opening in the bottom corner, but he didn't pass the ball out, resulting in a turnover. I know Rockets head coach Amy Udoka wasn't happy about that on the sidelines. This season, he has repeatedly accused the third-year guard of poor decision-making. He repeatedly stressed that "being young is not an excuse. ”

In the final round, James attacked, and Brooks followed back. Brooks defended James with a solid defensive stance, causing the latter to miss a layup. Frustrated, James let the referees know about his displeasure with Brooks' physical confrontation. The Rockets led by eight points.

Section II

Kelly Iko: The Lakers went on a 6-0 run in 90 seconds and Udoka jumped up to call a timeout. The Rockets used Jabari Smith Jr. and Jeff Green to form a small frontcourt lineup against the Lakers' long-term --- Wood, James and Hachimura. The Houston Rockets want to switch defenses with their lineup, but James knows how to break down the tightest defenses, as we've seen here. To what extent can the Lakers rely on their size and weaponize it?

Jovan Buha: That's usually when the Lakers come out on — these bench lineups led by James. They play with rhythm and speed, and they have a fairly large roster, with Reaves at point guard and James, Hachimura and Reddish on the wings. Unlike the first quarter, the Lakers started the offense in transitions and hit the basket to attack the Rockets' weakness of lack of size and rebounding protection on the court.

Kelly Iko: There was the first clash on the court. Brooks bumped and nudged James before getting the ball, but James scored on a layup and he bent his shoulders while looking in Brooks' direction. On the other end, Brooks hit the second three-pointer of the game in a boo. I love this stupid alliance.

Jovan Buha: Brooks is a great defender and a strong defender, but when James puts his head down and rushes to the basket in a bulldozer fashion, there is nothing he or anyone can do about it. At the end of the first quarter, the Lakers upset Brooks by believing that Brooks had clearly committed a foul on James on a layup. After this failed attempt, James decided not to be at the mercy of the referee and took the initiative to make contact with the opposition to create easier offensive opportunities.

Kelly Iko: The Rockets went back to their traditional lineup because the small-ball lineup didn't have success. The duo of VanVleet/Shin Kyung immediately split the Lakers' midfield. Shin's ability to grab attention in his third season is a different gravitational pull than a shooter like Stephen Curry, but his style of play keeps the rotation in the half-court offense continuous. Smith scored with ease and he looked energetic tonight.

Jovan Buha: James exited midway through the second quarter while his longtime trainer Mike Mancias was working on his left calf. Since last week's game in Phoenix, James has been included in the injury list due to a calf contusion. Although James has the ability to fight with injuries like a robot, his injuries are still worth paying attention to.

Kelly Iko: When VanVleet made a technical free-throw, Udoka called Smith and Green into the middle court to talk to him. I think he wanted them to pull the Lakers' defense apart with Green with the ball. In the rest of the game, the duo of Green and Smith looked interesting until Davis made a save. All right. Davis looked fantastic tonight, dominating on both ends of the floor.

James was ready to return to the court, and Brooks was already waiting for him at the scoring table, just like an older brother picking up his younger brother from school. If they can play on the same team, they will definitely love each other.

Jovan Buha: The Lakers defused the crisis for the time being. Still, I wonder if James will opt for a jumper and/or play more as an assister than a scorer in the second half. (Update: James immediately began attacking the paint area).

Kelly Iko: Shin Kyung took an interesting defensive stance against Davis in the backcourt (Michael Pina of The Ringer wrote a great story about him this week, mentioning that the Turkish big man was able to do a complete cut-and-roll), but forced Davis to foul offensively. Can you do slitting and dismantling, old Jowan?

Jovan Buha: I can't--- especially considering my current physical condition. I could barely walk.

Kelly Iko: James is playing with Brooks right now, and he's scored back-to-back offenses to score 14 points in the half. Brooks may have won the first round, but the second was definitely the one won by "The King."

As I typed, Brooks hit another three-pointer. He shot 4-of-12 from three-point range but scored 11 points, the highest scorer on the Houston team, and made three three-pointers. The Rockets led 55-49 at halftime.

Section III

Kelly Iko: Second clash! Brooks got a little too close to James, and James got a technical foul after pushing Brooks away. During the official timeout, James walked over to chat with the referees.

Jovan Buha: My lower body is starting to feel wrong. The competition is getting more and more intense. James was tying his fingers, and the two continued to fight.

Kelly Iko: The Lakers are back to their form, and Davis is going to work on Shin Kyung. Kudos to Shin Kyung, he's trying something different to face Davis.

Unfortunately, Shin Kyung had just picked up his fourth foul. We saw Jock Landale for the first time tonight, and Davis hit a dummy jumper right away from him. Oh my God.

Jovan Buha: The Rockets can no longer defend Davis alone. He's dealing one-on-one with Shin Kyung and Landale. The Lakers were smart enough to put their best three-point shooter on the court, D'Angelo Russell, on the same side as Davis, allowing him to make just one pass with the Rockets in a two-man package with his defender (VanVleet).

After Shin Kyung exited the game due to foul trouble, the game has changed.

Kelly Iko: The worrying X-factor in Houston: Shin Kyung's absence. Landale didn't look comfortable on the court. He doesn't catch the ball in the right area, appears hesitant to protect rebounds, and isn't a floor open player.

Brooks slammed the backcourt rebound after a dunk. He didn't get a technical foul.

Jovan Buha: James and AD took over the quarter, and with 5:24 left in the game, the Lakers led by four points at 68-64. Together, they scored 16 of the Lakers' 19 points, played hard, drew fouls, and earned free throws. The Lakers didn't have anyone else attacking tonight, but so far it doesn't matter.

Kelly Iko: Uncle Jeff quietly scored 13 points tonight, which is an encouragement for Houston considering Landale doesn't do much for Houston. Green also didn't capsize in the confrontation with Davis, which is reminiscent of their playoff matchup on the Orlando campus. His legs still have some vitality. However, the Rockets need Jalen Green to work hard. The explosive guard scored just six points tonight. He struggled with the Lakers' physicality and height.

That sound was Brooks' fourth three-pointer of the night. He scored 18 points and was their top scorer. I don't understand.

Jovan Buha: The Lakers continued their strategy against Memphis in the playoff series, which was to press Brooks and let small players mark him in an attempt to lure him into making unreliable shots. That strategy, while reasonable, didn't work tonight, as Brooks not only made a three-pointer, but also scored against smaller defenders (mostly Russell) in the pick-and-roll.

Kelly Iko: James continues to beat Houston to the ground. He used his vision to open up the matchup and continue to win the battle against Brooks. The fourth quarter will be a tough battle.

Jovan Buha: After Brooks scored, James made a gesture that was too small to the Lakers' bench. I must say that this is the third clash tonight. It's not often that you see James trash-talking to opponents like that. At the end of the third quarter, the Lakers led 81-75.

Section IV

Kelly Iko: James scored on another layup in front of Brooks, and the "King" looked at his bench and giggled. Isn't this guy 40?

Jovan Buha: Led by James and Davis, the way the Lakers offense played in the second half completely changed the tone of the game. They were aggressive, forcing the Rockets to play breakouts and the free-throw line (currently 23-10 in free throw attempts).

Kelly Iko: Shin Kyung made an impressive jumper against James, who didn't expect something like this to happen. The Rockets used Shin Kyung several times in the fourth quarter and it paid off. The more VanVleet and Shin Kyung played, the stronger the chemistry between them. Shin Kyung's quirky style of play makes him a tough defender – his footwork, his processor, and his vision. He finished the game with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.

Jovan Buha: I'm pretty sure the Lakers fan tore their Achilles tendon when they tried a half-court shot during the timeout. Los Angeles has a serious injury problem. I wish him all the best.

Kelly Iko: James' miscommunication during Shin Kyung/Brooks switch defenses and being pointed to the bench by opponents was a huge blow to James. The momentum has shifted in the direction of Los Angeles, and Houston is struggling to adapt. With 6 minutes left in the game, the Lakers led 92-85. Can Team Rockets fight back?

Jovan Buha: The Lakers' use of Hayes as center has dropped dramatically due to Anthony Davis' five fouls. The Rockets scored back-to-back points to tie the score at two.

Kelly Iko: Brooks hit a three-pointer, his fifth three-pointer of the night, to keep the Rockets ahead of the game.

Another three-pointer from Brooks, who has hit six tonight. What happened?

Jovan Buha: Two minutes later Davis was back. Without him, the Los Angeles defense would be inadequate.

LeBron hit another shot--- and toward the end of shooting time, he hit a three-pointer from the left wing. The Lakers took a four-point lead with 3:25 left in the game. Houston called a timeout.

Kelly Iko: Brooks fouls hard and LeBron goes to the ground. The referee is checking to see if this meets the criteria for a malicious foul. The Houston trailed by 2 points with 2:25 left in the game, which could have been a key decision.

(Fouls are treated as ordinary fouls)

100 flat. There is only one minute left. At this point, Shin Kyung caused Davis' sixth foul, and the latter was sent off. What a wonderful ball.

Jovan Buha: Davis has had too many fouls, especially if the game goes to overtime. James and Davis were the only two offensive players the Lakers had tonight. If the game goes to overtime, I'm more bullish on Houston.

Kelly Iko: It's another fight in Los Angeles, another big three in the final moments. This time, Austin Reeves is the Big Three. The fans all stood up in anticipation of James' shot, but he made the right choice, just like he has done for decades.

The Rockets had the ball and with 10 seconds left in the game, the Rockets trailed by two points. I want to know who can make the last shot. I'll pass the ball to Shin Kyung and let him draw the defence and see if VanVleet is open on the perimeter. If not, they will believe that he is aggressive enough.

And that's exactly what they did. Shin Kyung got the ball under James' marker and was able to single James with his back. With 4 seconds left in the game, the Lakers tied the score at 104. We all know who's going to get the ball.

Jovan Buha: That's arguably the Lakers' most felt about AD's absence. Shin Kyung took James to the basket, just like he did last time against Hachimura. The Lakers will most likely let James try to win this game.

Kelly Iko: With 1.9 seconds left on James' free throw, everyone on the Houston sideline was screaming loudly, reminding the Rockets on the court that they hadn't timed out after James scored a free throw, and Shin Kyung tossed the ball to Brooks, who threw it high in the half. Didn't hit. The Rockets lost another close game 105-104. A great basketball game.

and a great conversation with my good brother Jovan. Thank you for everything, rest well and see you soon.