Houston Rockets star challenges Kevin Durant after Game 2 disaster vs. LA Lakers’ double teams

The message reflects the urgency inside Houston’s locker room. Durant is still the focal point of everything the Rockets want to do offensively, and when he’s neutralized, the entire system starts to stall.

Smith’s challenge is not about criticism as much as it is expectation. The Rockets need their star to dictate terms, even when defenses are built entirely to stop him.

LA Lakers’ double teams turned Kevin Durant into Houston’s biggest problem

The Lakers have made Durant uncomfortable by design, sending help early and often to force the ball out of his hands.

After a dominant 20-point first half in Game 2, Durant managed just three points after the break. He finished with 23 points, but the nine turnovers told the real story of how disruptive Los Angeles has been.

The double teams are coming high on the floor, sometimes as soon as Durant crosses half court, and they are backed by disciplined rotations that take away easy passing lanes.

For the Rockets, the adjustment is not just tactical. It is about restoring rhythm. Better spacing, quicker decisions, and more decisive movement without the ball all become critical if they want to ease the pressure on Durant.

But ultimately, this still comes back to their best player. As Smith pointed out, the expectation does not change. If Houston is going to turn this series around, they need Durant to find answers quickly and look like himself again.

Read more:

• How LeBron James is making things ‘easier’ for LA Lakers as compared to Durant’s role for Rockets
• LeBron James weighs in on Kevin Durant duel but highlights another Rockets factor
• Kendrick Perkins says Kevin Durant loss to 41-year-old LeBron James would stain his legacy