The Los Angeles Lakers have wrestled control of the series away from the Houston Rockets, reeling off three straight wins following their Game 1 loss. In two of those three games, the Rockets have been without a key member of their rotation: Danuel House. House has become the subject of salacious rumors and an official NBA investigation, that has been as transparent as the visibility along most of the West Coast.
The lack of transparency has been a focus of those within the Houston Rockets organization and people close to Danuel House, according to Ben Golliver of the Washington Post.
People with knowledge of the situation, who were granted anonymity to speak candidly about the ongoing investigation, said that the Rockets were “blindsided” by the NBA’s decision and that there had been little direct communication between the league office and team officials and Houston had received no formal presentation of evidence. Instead, communication continues between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association.
“The NBA is treating [House] as guilty until proven innocent for safety reasons,” said one person with knowledge of the situation. “They’re prioritizing their perception of safety over everything else. The NBPA feels its hands are tied. Any time [the union] talks about due process or presumption of guilt, [the NBA] immediately says, ‘Safety, safety, safety.’ There has to be some limit or balance.”
After the Lakers beatdown the Rockets 117-109 in Game 2, the Lakers have won the next two games each by 10 points. Even though House’s absence may not have prevented them from going down 3-1, the investigation and the situation already has them thinking about the many ways it could have gone differently.
The Rockets are now facing elimination and the Lakers have an opportunity to secure a berth in the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2010 on Saturday night.
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