“We have a game on Sunday versus Houston, who did a number on us in their place not too long ago, so we look forward to that matchup,” said James after the game.

The Lakers were ripped apart defensively in the first game, and the Rockets finished the final quarter with 128 points on 54% shooting from the field. As for LeBron, it was arguably his worst game of the season. He had just 18 points in 27 minutes, well below his season average. Obviously, LeBron is hoping for a different outcome for the upcoming game, but it won’t be an easy feat. This season, unlike last, the Rockets are actually a pretty good team, and LeBron’s “friend” Dillon Brooks is one of the reasons why.

Dillon Brooks Vs. King James

LeBron James would probably say that he doesn’t have any on-court rivals at this stage of his career, but Rockets swingman Dillon Brooks is probably the closest thing he’s got to one right now. Their dynamic traces back to Brooks’ days in Memphis, when he and Ja Morant had the Grizzlies renowned for their trash-talk. Of course, without the resume or track record to back up their confidence, nobody was taking the Grizzlies seriously and Dillon was growing increasingly hated with each passing game. By the time the playoffs arrived, and the matchup between the Grizzlies and Lakers was set, Brooks took things to another level by personally calling out LeBron and challenging him in in front of the media.

LeBron took the whole thing personally, and he almost single-handedly sent the Grizzlies home in shame.  Brooks went M.I.A. after the series and was blasted by fans after shooting 31.2 percent from the field through six games. Since joining the Rockets, Dillon has been re-making his reputation and he’s slowly earning the respect of King James. Even so, you can bet that James will feel some extra motivation on Sunday, knowing that Brooks will be on the other side.

Lakers Are Moving Up The Standings

Heading into Sunday’s game against Houston, the Lakers are winners of six of their last 10 games and have moved up to 7th place in the West with a 7-6 record through the first 13 games. The Rockets, meanwhile, aren’t too far ahead. At 6-4 on the season, Houston currently has a half-game lead over the Lakers that could be erased with a loss tomorrow. Regardless of the standings, however, the Lakers are certainly better off than they were a year ago when they started the season at 2-10.

With LeBron James looking fresh and Cam Reddish having a breakout season, there is plenty going right for the Lakers and this next stretch of games will be a big test for them as far as where they rank among the top contenders in the West. For whatever it’s worth, LeBron James seems pretty confident that this Lakers team can make a serious push in the playoffs this year.