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Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura emphasized ball movement, defensive communication, and disciplined execution during his practice availability on Monday ahead of Game 2 of the first-round series against the Houston Rockets.
The Lakers enter Tuesday’s matchup holding a 1–0 series lead after a 107-98 win on April 18, where Los Angeles shot 60.6% from the field and recorded 29-plus assists in a highly efficient offensive performance.
Hachimura pointed to that shared creation as a key factor in the Game 1 result, stating, “The whole team was sharing the ball. I think we had 29 assists, 30 assists. That was great.”
He added that spacing and timing played a direct role in his scoring opportunities, saying, “They just found me in good space, good position so that’s why I was making all those shots.”
Los Angeles distributed scoring across multiple starters in the opener, with Luke Kennard, LeBron James, and Deandre Ayton all producing efficiently, while Hachimura finished as one of five Lakers in double figures.
Defensively, he stressed the playoff standard on every possession, stating, “It’s the playoffs. Every play matters. Every possession matters.”
Hachimura also highlighted his dual responsibility on both ends of the floor, saying, “I was trying to make plays not only on offense but on the defensive side and rebounds and all that. That’s what I was doing.”
Houston generated significant second-chance opportunities in Game 1 with 21 offensive rebounds, something Hachimura acknowledged as a focal point for correction.
He noted the physical nature of the matchup and rebounding responsibility, saying, “We just got to keep on boxing them out. When they send four guys we got to send all five guys back to box out.”
The Rockets’ aggression on the glass and pace remains a key tactical challenge heading into Game 2, especially against a Lakers rotation managing multiple lineup adjustments due to injuries.
Hachimura also addressed preparation against Houston’s perimeter and wing defenders, referencing extensive film work during the series buildup.
“We watched a lot of film about them this last week, the whole week,” he said, adding, “I understand their personnel… I watched a lot of film on them so that’s why I was able to kind of execute what they like, what they don’t like to do.”
On the uncertainty surrounding opposing star availability, Hachimura kept a consistent approach, stating, “It’s whatever happens happens. It’s the NBA so you never know what to expect with guys and injuries.”
He also reflected on Houston forward Kevin Durant’s status uncertainty prior to Game 1, saying, “I really didn’t know until literally before the game started. My mindset was the same.”
With Game 2 approaching, Hachimura underscored that Los Angeles did not deviate from its core approach regardless of roster changes on either side.
“We didn’t change any game plan, anything. We all locked in,” he said.
The Lakers will look to maintain their efficiency and defensive structure when they host the Rockets on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena.
