Lakers need to use Rockets' pressure to sharpen their playoff edge

Let’s get the obvious out of the way: The Los Angeles Lakers should win their Western Conference quarterfinals series with the Houston Rockets at some point. That’s what happens when a team leads 3-0 in a best-of-seven series.The Lakers won’t talk about it, but it is already someone’s job to prepare the team for an upcoming semifinals series against the reigning, defending, undisputed champion and Western Conference top seed, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Obviously, the Lakers have to eliminate the Rockets first.Advertisement