Five things to watch for in Lakers vs. Rockets series

The Los Angeles Lakers huddle before an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Tuesday April 7, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif. JJ Redick enters his second playoff series for the second straight year in his Lakers tenure at the helm, and he goes into Saturday's (5:30 p. m.

) Game 1 against the Houston Rockets without his top scorers, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. The Lakers went 2-1 against the Rockets during the regular season, with back-to-back wins against Houston from March 16 to 18. The difference was having Dončić and Reaves in those games; fast forward now, and the backcourt duo is out indefinitely, according to Redick, all week.

But everyone else on the Lakers squad was a full participant during the week. The bulk of the Lakers' missing production now lands in the hands of 41-year-old LeBron James, who moves from the third option to now the driver's seat in year 23. So here are five things to watch out for in the first round matchup.

REBOUNDING Rebounding has been a huge emphasis in the Lakers' approach and preparation in their week of practice. Why, you might ask? The Rockets are one of the best rebounding teams in the last 25 years, as multiple players have uttered this week; James and Jaxson Hayes were the two players who mentioned it to the media.