Western Conference Finals bound for the Los Angeles Lakers! Crushed the Rockets 119-96.
Lake Buena Vista, Florida-- For the first time in a decade, the Los Angeles Lakers are going to the Western Conference Finals, ending the longest drought in franchise history.
LeBron James scored 29 points and the Lakers wrapped up their first trip to the Western Conference finals since 2010 by crushing the Houston Rockets 119-96 on Saturday night in Game 5 at Walt Disney World.
"I understand the Laker faithful and what they felt or maybe were going through over … the last decade of not being in the postseason, or not competing for championships,” James said. “I took that responsibility as well. I’m happy I’m able to do a little bit of a part of it and the rest of my ballclub and the coaching staff and everybody who’s [made] the sacrifice of trying to get us back, getting this franchise back to competing for a championship, which we’ve done all year.”
James was not messing around in this one, finishing with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists in a dominant performance. The other big story for the Lakers was their 3-point shooting, as they knocked down 19 shots from downtown, setting a new franchise playoff record.
James Harden did his thing, recording 30 points, six rebounds, and five assists, but it wasn't anywhere near enough for the Rockets. He was the only Rockets player to score more than 13 points. Russell Westbrook struggled mightily one again in a close-out game as he finished with 10 points.
Tough season for us," Harden said. "Obviously, it didn't end like we wanted it to. Just got to figure it out."
Houston got off to a terrible start down 33-11 in the first quarter, though Houston came right back with a 17-2 run to get within seven.
After halftime, the Rockets cut it to six points, but a 15-0 run by the Lakers took any question out of the outcome and the Rockets just gave up.
The Lakers led by as many as 30 points, while the Rockets were taunted by Rajon Rondo’s brother in the stands.
“He started talking crazy,” Westbrook said. “I don’t play that game".”
Russell, you need to worry about not losing by 20 points in an elimination game, instead of worrying about Rajon Rondo's brother.
The Rockets shot just 37.1 percent from the floor, 26.5% on three-pointers, and turned the ball over 12 times in the loss.
And now as the offseason reaches for Houston, the speculation about coach Mike D'Antoni's future has already come to fruition as he has informed the franchise that he's becoming a coaching free agent and won't return to the team next season, he told ESPN on Sunday.
"It's with tremendous sadness and gratitude that my wife Laurel and I announce that our incredible journey in Houston has ended for now and that we'll be moving to a new chapter," D'Antoni told ESPN in a statement.
Now the Rockets have a huge void to fill as he was an essential part of developing James Harden's into an MVP candidate the past four years.
Houston won Game 1 of the series and lost the next four. Saturday's finale came a day after Danuel House -- who averaged 11.4 points in nine playoff games this season -- was told to leave the bubble. An NBA probe revealed he had an unauthorized guest in his room for several hours earlier this week, and he missed the last three games of the series.
It affected us," Harden said, who called the situation disappointing. But there is no excuse, you lost fair and square.
Kyle Kuzma scored 17 points, Markieff Morris had 16, Danny Green added 14, and Anthony Davis finished with 13 for the top-seeded Lakers.
"I'm really proud of our whole team," Lakers coach Frank Vogel said.
“James and Russ [Russell Westbrook], both MVP-caliber players, great three-point shooting support system and we really really committed to the defensive end,” “Even though they have a three-point attack, it was a paint-first mind-set. Our verticality and rim protection was just special tonight.”
They will play either the second-seeded Los Angeles Clippers or third-seeded Denver Nuggets for the Western Conference championship in a series that won't begin before Wednesday.
I think the Lakers will enjoy the off time.