Kirk Goldsberry

Lawler's Law.

But here's the trivia question.

I think you'll get this right, but do you know who the Lakers... When I talked to you about the series before it started, we both picked the Rockets, I think.

And one of my real points was, who do you think the Lakers' second best player is going into the series without Austin Reeves and Luka Doncic?

He said Rui Hachimura.

Do you know who the second leading scorer in this series is for the Los Angeles Lakers right now?

Marcus smart.

And his usage has surged.

One of the things I like to look at in the first round of the playoffs is whose usage rates are soaring relative to the regular season and whose are diminishing.

Spoiler alert, I was looking at that in the context of Cade Cunningham earlier today.

But yeah, Marcus Smart, his usage has surged.

And that's not a great sign.

If you told me that this team was going to depend on Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura and Luke Kennard, that doesn't sound like a second round playoff team to me.

But credit to them, they still have a chance to do it.

Luke Kennard was absolutely invisible last night.

But I think they have a good chance to win one of these next two games.

I don't want to live in a world where I have to endure that.

So I guess I'm rooting for the Lakers.

But I agree.

If Houston, whose young core looks really good right now, and like I said, found a vibe, find some energy, find some velocity and force on both ends.