After the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets on Friday night to secure the Pacific Division title and the third seed in the playoffs, their postgame celebration was both lively and soaked. Cheers and excitement echoed through the locker room, and the water-themed celebration soon became clear when coach JJ Redick emerged with wet hair, sporting a green Philadelphia Eagles sweatshirt, joking about how it was “the only dry item of clothing” he had. He also humorously noted, “Hopefully, in the next nine days, the $17,000 in damage to the carpet can get fixed,” after being drenched by multiple ice buckets.
The Lakers, under the leadership of a rookie head coach and superstar LeBron James, have navigated numerous challenges, including a major midseason trade and a few setbacks, to emerge as a serious contender for a deep playoff run — and potentially an NBA title.
“I feel like we can win a championship, to be honest with you,” said Austin Reaves. “The reason for that is I know everybody in that locker room believes that.”
Although James did not speak to the media after the game, Dallas Mavericks star Luka Dončić agreed with Reaves, affirming the Lakers’ belief in their championship potential. “When everybody is locked in, we’re a hard team to beat, so that’s our goal,” said Dončić, who had a stellar performance, scoring 39 points in three quarters against the Rockets.
This optimism is remarkable, considering this version of the Lakers has only been together for a short time. Dončić joined the team on February 10 after the Lakers acquired him in a trade for Anthony Davis. Since then, the team has posted a 19-12 record, which, while not extraordinary, is impressive given the disruptions they’ve faced.
“We’ve been through every peak and valley,” Redick said of the team’s journey. “I think even this third iteration of this team has gone through a bunch of peaks and valleys. Just incredibly proud of our team. Winning 50 games in the regular season is an accomplishment, especially in this year’s competitive Western Conference.”
The Lakers now have one of the NBA’s best scorers alongside the league’s all-time leading scorer, creating an exciting combination. Dončić and James each had significant contributions in their win against the Rockets, combining for 53 points in 53 minutes.
With the third seed secured, the Lakers can afford to rest their key players on Sunday when they face Portland, ahead of next week’s play-in tournament. This marks a notable improvement, as the Lakers had to battle through play-in games in the previous two seasons after finishing seventh in the Western Conference.
As the Lakers await their first-round matchup, the team reflects on a season full of challenges, but also resilience. Reaves summed up the season, saying, “As much as this group has been through, every time we hit any type of adversity, we bounce right back, and that’s all you can ask of a group.”
