Jarred Vanderbilt Stresses Team Defense and Rebounding Ahead of Lakers-Rockets Playoff Clash
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LOS ANGELES — With the Los Angeles Lakers preparing for their first-round series against the Houston Rockets, forward Jarred Vanderbilt said the matchup will hinge on collective defense and control of the glass.
Speaking after Friday’s practice, Vanderbilt noted that slowing Houston star Kevin Durant will require contributions from the entire roster. “It takes everybody. It won’t be one guy’s assignment,” he said. “Every time he’s on the floor everybody has to have a head on a swivel. He’s pretty much the most dangerous person on their team, so it’ll be all hands on deck.”
The Lakers, who won the regular-season series against Houston, enter the postseason without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, increasing the need for balanced production. Vanderbilt, regarded as one of the club’s top perimeter defenders, is expected to spend significant minutes on both Durant and rookie guard Amen Thompson.
Rebounding, Vanderbilt added, could decide the series. “It’s something that we’ve been harping on all week,” he said. “Offensive rebounds are momentum swingers, game changers. Everybody out there has to box out and put a body on somebody.”
Vanderbilt outlined several ways for Los Angeles to “set the tone,” including full-court pressure, contesting shots and passes, and eliminating uncontested layups. “The team that sets the tone first and initiates the contact sets the rules for the series,” he said. “For us, going out there and being the one to hit first instead of retaliating — I think that would be a big difference.”
LeBron James echoed Vanderbilt’s emphasis on physical play and rebounding, underscoring the stakes when Game 1 tips off at Crypto.com Arena. Vanderbilt also referenced recent internal discussions focused on unity, following a brief public disagreement with head coach JJ Redick several weeks ago.
Source: LakersNation.com
