The Lakers look ready to go into the playoffs, focusing on centerless basketball with their own version of a death lineup.

The final home game of the regular season concluded with the Lakers defeating the Houston Rockets on Friday, securing the third seed in the West, and hitting the 50-win mark. Given the Rockets' shorthanded roster, Friday's game offered few playoff predictors.

Still, it showcased the team's recent display of explosive offensive potential and complete acceptance of centerless basketball.

Head coach J.J. Redick has relied heavily on one centerless lineup in particular. The most frequently used five-man combination in the last ten games has been Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Dorian Finney-Smith and Rui Hachimura.

In that, Redick has found his death lineup for the playoffs.

The sole center in the rotation, Jaxson Hayes, starts and is pulled within the first four minutes of each game. In comes Finney-Smith, completing the death unit. They go to it early and often, especially late in the fourth quarter.

Transitioning from Hayes' lob threat to Finney-Smith alters the floor's geometry. Every player in that unit must be defended out to the perimeter, enlarging the floor and making screen actions more complicated to send help from.

In the clip below against Houston on Friday, notice as Reaves sets the down screen for LeBron, with the Rockets' defense stretched corner to corner. There’s no backside help due to Hachimura occupying Jock Landale, the sole big on the floor. Two defenders stay with Reaves, leaving LeBron open for the jumper.