Rockets’ Kenny Smith blasts Houston for lack of Game 1 plan vs. Lakers

Following the Houston Rockets’ 107-98 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in their playoff opener Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena, Kenny Smith went off on the team, questioning whether they entered Game 1 with any clear structure on either end of the floor.

The former Rockets guard pointed directly to a lack of execution, arguing that the team failed to follow even a basic strategic approach despite having a full week to prepare.

Houston shot just 35-for-93 from the field, a 37.6% clip, and managed only 33.3% from three-point range. Alperen Sengun went 6-for-19, and Reed Sheppard finished 6-for-20, while Sengun and Amen Thompson combined to shoot 13-for-37 overall. The Rockets took 93 shots compared to the Lakers’ 66, but still ended up losing by nine points, showing how inefficient their offense was.

Smith’s criticism centered on decision-making. He stressed that against a team led by LeBron James, who scored just 19 points but contributed 13 assists, the priority should have been limiting his playmaking rather than allowing him to orchestrate. Instead, Los Angeles capitalized, shooting 60.6% from the field as a team.

“I just don’t think they’re following a game plan or THE game plan,” said Smith on Inside the NBA. “So, for me, if you look at the game plan, I would say we’re going to stay at home on everyone else other than LeBron. We’re not going to make LeBron a great passer. So, the other game plan has to be Luke Kennard, we’re running him off the line, so how does he get open? If you’re staying home with him and running him off the line, you’re going to eliminate some easy looks for Luke Kennard. I’m going to make Luke Kennard put it on the floor, shoot midrange jump shots, and lay the basketball up. LeBron, you’re going to shoot over the top, unless he’s in transition, we run at him. But there was no game plan that was followed.”

"[The Houston Rockets] did not follow a game plan or the game plan… There was no game plan that was followed.”

Kenny Smith speaks on the Rockets' struggles in Game 1

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A major breakdown came in defending Luke Kennard, who scored a career playoff-high 27 points and went a perfect 5-for-5 from beyond the arc. Kennard entered the game as the league’s top three-point shooter at 47.8%, but Houston failed to consistently pressure him off the line.

The Lakers controlled the game from start to finish, leading wire-to-wire and never appearing threatened. Even more concerning for the Rockets was that Los Angeles was without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. DeAndre Ayton added 19 points and 11 rebounds, further exposing the Rockets’ defensive lapses inside. Meanwhile, Houston was missing Kevin Durant due to a knee contusion.

Beyond shooting woes, the Rockets’ offensive structure appeared stagnant. Possessions frequently ended in contested attempts near the rim or late-clock situations, and while Houston generated offensive rebounds, those extra chances rarely translated into efficient scoring. The Rockets will look to rebound in Game 2 on Tuesday night.

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