The Lakers are limping into the NBA postseason, but even without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves indefinitely, the team still hopes to surprise the Rockets in their first-round series. Here are five major postseason questions for the Lakers, which we posed to California Post sports staffers Khobi Price, Melissa Rohlin and Michael Duarte:
1. What’s the biggest question facing the Lakers in this series?
Price: Can they produce efficient offense without Doncic and Reaves against a stingy Rockets defense? The Lakers, for the most part, held up fine offensively without their star guards for the final five games of the regular season. But that came against the inept Jazz, the Devin Booker-less Suns and Steph Curry-less Warriors. The Rockets, who had the league’s third-best regular-season halfcourt defense, will present a different challenge.
Rohlin: Can the 41-year-old LeBron James carry the Lakers past Kevin Durant and Co.? Durant has help. James doesn’t, unless Doncic (hamstring) or Reaves (oblique) are able to return. If James at this stage in his career can carry this depleted roster past the Rockets, it’ll be his greatest accomplishment yet — and that’s saying a lot considering he’s already arguably the greatest player of all time.
Duarte: Unless you’ve been living under a rock the last two weeks, the biggest question facing the Lakers is whether they can survive long enough for Doncic and Reaves to return. Everything begins and ends with health. Without their top two scorers, this offense feels like a house missing its foundation.
2. Who emerges as the Lakers’ No. 2 option on offense?
Price: Luke Kennard. We’ve gotten a preview of what life could look like for the Lakers with Kennard having an uptick in offensive responsibility, and it’s gone about as well as reasonably expected. He may not be the Lakers’ second-leading scorer for the series, but Kennard’s combination of ball-handling responsibilities, playmaking duties and scoring opportunities will be second to just James within the Lakers’ offense without Doncic and Reaves available.
Rohlin: Kennard, I suppose? (It’s not great that there’s not an obvious answer here.) Kennard has gone from being a 3-point specialist to a playmaker since Doncic and Reaves have been out. And so far, he has handled the role change well. In the team’s four games after losing its two biggest stars, he averaged 14.5 points, 7.7 assists and 5.2 rebounds. Kennard is going to need to do a bit of everything on the offensive end for the Lakers to have a shot at winning this series. He’s the second-most important player now.
Duarte: I went with Kennard at first also, but for the sake of parity — and the next question — I’ll go with Rui Hachimura. In the five games the Lakers played without Doncic and Reaves to end the season, Hachimura stepped into that vacuum and averaged 14.6 ppg. That’s three more points above his season average. He led the team in scoring once and was second in scoring in two of those games. If LeBron commands double-teams in this series, Hachimura will be the release valve to hit corner 3s and second-chance buckets.
3. Which role player are you choosing to step up for the Lakers and become a key player?
Price: Hachimura, who’s shown the ability to step up in the playoffs throughout his career, is developing the reputation as a playoff riser. Remember his performances during the 2023 playoffs en route to the Lakers going to the Western Conference finals? Or the fact he was the only Laker who consistently was in rhythm from 3-point range during last year’s playoffs? Hachimura’s scoring efficiency consistently rises when he’s in the playoffs. The Lakers will need that from him again.
Rohlin: Deandre Ayton, it’s now or never for you. The former No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft has been inconsistent this season. In some games, he plays with force and easily puts up double-doubles. In others, he has been a 7-foot placeholder. Ayton made waves earlier this season when he proclaimed in the locker room that he didn’t want to be compared with Clint Capela. Well, now he’s facing Capela. And it’s up to him whether he’s a star next to him — or a bust.
Duarte: The key to this question is “role player.” Kennard is the swing piece here. His role was a spot-up 3-point shooter off the bench. Now, he will be asked to be one of the primary ball handlers and playmakers without Doncic. He will have to initiate, create and steady possessions when things inevitably stall. Kennard’s offensive rhythm could be the thin line between whether the Lakers can be competitive or simply get overwhelmed by Houston’s defense.
4. Which Laker is under the most pressure?
Price: Ayton. When Ayton has been at his best, the Lakers have been an elite team. He raises their ceiling in a way only their star players do. It’s time for Ayton to tap into a level of production and reliability that he didn’t consistently provide during the regular season. We’ve already seen two teams essentially give up on Ayton despite his clear talents. With an $8.1 million player option for next season, he has a level of security. But this playoff run — however long it lasts — will leave a lasting impression on his reputation.
Rohlin: JJ Redick. The poor guy had to throw out his entire game plan and rethink roles and lineups after losing Doncic and Reaves with just five games left in the regular season. The Lakers went from going on a 16-2 run and being considered championship contenders to imploding in one fateful evening against the Thunder on April 2. Redick has now been forced to find nine guys to use in a playoff rotation. And even tougher? He has to try to make them believe they can win.
Duarte: I agree with Khobi on this one. The answer is DeAndre Ayton. No more hiding behind potential or flashes in the pan. He’s staring at Alperen Sengun and ironically, Clint Capela, who he famously shouted out to us in the media, “I’m not no Clint Capela.” Ayton will be tasked with scoring, rebounding and rim protection. It all has to show up, every possession. That takes effort and focus for the entire game. Houston will test his motor until it breaks or proves real.
5. What will everyone be talking about once this series ends?
Price: James, of course, like usual. Regardless of the outcome. Was he able to help the Lakers overachieve in the playoffs? Will he retire or come back for a record-extending 24th NBA season? If he returns, how will his unrestricted free agency play out? Does he come back to the Lakers or go elsewhere? Doncic may be the Lakers’ centerpiece, but James will continue to be the most discussed player in the league.
Rohlin: James, assuming the Lakers lose. Is he retiring? Or is he coming back for Season 24 with the Lakers or another team? The Lakers’ focus is going to be building around Doncic. But the basketball world’s focus is going to be on arguably the greatest player of all time, who’s about to become an unrestricted free agent. Are we about to lose him? Or is he going to be willing to accept a significant pay cut and play for the Lakers, Cavaliers, Warriors or another team? James has been the face of the league for over two decades. What he decides to do will be the biggest news of the offseason. (Though, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future will be a close second.)
Duarte: We’re all in alignment here. LeBron James’ future will hover over everything like a storm waiting to break. His contract is up. His legacy is secured. At 41 years old, does he want to continue for a 24th season? Or will he retire and ride off into the sunset? If and when the Lakers’ season ends, all eyes in the basketball world will be on King James.
Bonus: Who wins and why?
Price: The Rockets. The only question is how many games. I’ll say 6. James will have a throwback performance to carry the Lakers to one victory. And a hot shooting night [or struggles from the Rockets in the clutch] will lead to the second Lakers’ victory. A bonus prediction: The Lakers win Game 1.
Rohlin: The Rockets in 5. James is going to be vintage James. He’s going to revert to being a megastar. But he just doesn’t have enough help to carry the Lakers past a deep and physical Rockets team. Unless Doncic or Reaves can manage to return soon, this is going to be a quick series.
Duarte: Rockets in 5. They’re healthier, deeper and playing with an identity the Lakers lost the moment injuries hit. Houston crashes the offensive glass, defends with purpose and doesn’t need saving. The Lakers do — and help, in the form of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves — isn’t walking through that door in time to save the season.
