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LeBron James reacts during a Lakers surge as the team shows renewed life ahead of its series vs the Rockets.

The Los Angeles Lakers may be short-handed, but three-time NBA champion Danny Green has a surprising take ahead of their playoff series against the Houston Rockets.

Green believes the Lakers have a real chance to extend the series against the Rockets.

Speaking on a conference call with NBA reporters, including Heavy Sports, on Friday, Green admitted his initial reaction to the Lakers’ injury situation was pessimistic, particularly given key absences that were impacting their rotation. But after watching their recent stretch, his outlook shifted.

“When I first heard the news, I thought it was over. Lakers are done, they’re cooked, they’re going home,” Green said. “But now they’re showing signs of life… they looked like a good collective.”

Lakers Showing ‘Signs of Life’ Despite Injuries

The Lakers have managed to stay competitive despite missing two of their top playmakers, including Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. After losing their first two games without Doncic and Reaves, Los Angeles won three straight to finish the regular season, beating the Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz.

According to Green, that stretch revealed something more important than just results.

“They showed some togetherness in those last four or five games,” he said. “They looked like a good collective.”

That cohesion has given Green confidence that the Lakers can remain competitive even against a higher-seeded opponent.

Danny Green Questions Rockets’ Consistency

While acknowledging that Houston is the more talented and healthier team, Green did not hesitate to point out areas of concern for the Rockets.

He described Houston as the weakest matchup among the Western Conference contenders in the 3-to-6 seed range, citing roster gaps and inconsistency.

“They’re without Steven Adams, who is their biggest power in offensive rebounding. He’s no longer there,” Green said. “Fred VanVleet has been gone since the beginning of the season. They’ve struggled to have point guard issues all year long.”

Green also noted that Houston failed to address those concerns at the trade deadline, leaving lingering questions about their ability to execute in high-pressure situations.

Clutch-Time Numbers Favor Lakers

One area where the Lakers still hold an edge is late-game execution. Even with injuries, Green pointed to Los Angeles’ strong clutch-time performance as a reason they can push the series.

Houston has gone 22-23 in clutch-time games this season, while the Lakers have been among the league’s best in those situations, posting a 22-8 record when games are decided in the final minutes.

“It’s going to be different without those guys,” Green said. “But Lakers, I think, can extend the series.”

And if they do, they might have the chance to get one of Reaves and Doncic back.

Veteran Presence Could Be X-Factor

GettyLuke Kennard of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates with Deandre Ayton, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Jake LaRavia after scoring a go-ahead three-point-basket in the fourth quarter against the Orlando Magic at the Kia Center on March 21, 2026 in Orlando, Florida.

Green emphasized the importance of experience, particularly in a playoff setting. The Lakers still feature veterans such as LeBron James, along with contributors like Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton — players who have logged meaningful postseason minutes.

“I believe in those guys, the veterans, more than I do the young core of Houston,” said Green, who won his third NBA title with James in 2020.

That experience could prove critical if the series becomes tight or runs longer than expected.

Pressure Shifts to Houston

Despite his confidence in the Lakers’ ability to compete, Green made it clear that Houston remains the favorite — and carries the burden that comes with it.

“All the pressure is on them,” he said. “They need to take care of business and win this series in five games or less.”

However, Green cautioned that if the Rockets allow the series to extend, momentum could shift.

“If they stretch it to six, then it’s trouble,” he warned.