The general expectation across the NBA is that the Los Angeles Lakers don't stand a real chance against the Houston Rockets in their upcoming best-of-seven first-round playoff series, which starts on Saturday. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, their top two scoring options, are out with hamstring and oblique strains, at least to start the series, and the expectation is that both stars will miss the entire series.How bad could it get for the Lakers? The experts at the USA Today network NBA wires sites chimed in about how they feel this series will go.

Spoiler alert: None of them believe LeBron James and crew will emerge victorious.Ben DuBose, Rockets Wire: The Rockets have lost too many games this season versus lesser competition for me to feel confident in predicting a short series. But factoring in the injuries, Houston does have the superior roster, and the Rockets did go 9-1 in their final 10 games of the regular season. So, they could be peaking at the right time.As far as matchups to watch, Amen Thompson has been brilliant in recent weeks, and the Lakers don't have elite rim protection.

There will likely still be bumps along the way, and perhaps a maddening loss in there, but I'll take the Rockets to close out the series at home in Game 6.Prediction: Rockets in sixJustin Quinn - Celtics Wire: If everyone was healthy, this might be one of the more compelling series in the West this postseason. But with Los Angeles as banged up as they are heading into Game 1, I'll grant that Houston should win this sooner than in six games, but for the same reason my colleagues have doubt about a shorter series, I have to give the Lakers a pair of wins.Prediction: Rockets in sixKy Carlin, Sixers Wire: With all due respect to LeBron James, who is still one of the better players in the league, this won't be a very competitive series.

Yes, the Rockets are up and down, but they are healthy. Led by Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., and Alperen Sengun, they should make quick work of the Lakers, who will be missing Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. While LA can turn to its supporting cast and count on players to step up and knock down open 3s, it won't matter over the course of a 7-game series.Prediction: Rockets in fiveHenry Daley, Rockets Wire: For various reasons, the Rockets haven't lived up to their massive preseason hype this season, but none of that should matter against a depleted Lakers team.

LeBron James is still superhuman at 41-years-old, but without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, Los Angeles just doesn't have the talent or the firepower to keep up with a Houston team who went 9-1 in their last 10 games. Expect Kevin Durant and company to take care of business.Prediction: Rockets in fiveClemente Almanza, Thunder Wire: The Lakers' season ended in OKC when Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves sustained strains that'll knock them out a month-plus. And even if they return, they'll be nowhere near their usual selves.

The Rockets are primed to take advantage of that. They have their faults, but Houston should be able to take care of business against a Los Angeles squad that's top-heavy with no real depth. Kevin Durant should lead them to their first playoff series win since The Bubble.Prediction: Rockets in fiveMack Baltes, Warriors Wire: With Los Angeles' injuries, the Rockets are the clear favorite.

That said, there's enough talent in Los Angeles and dysfunction in Houston for the Lakers to win two games. Anything beyond that is pushing it.Prediction: Rockets in sixRobert Marvi, LeBron Wire: I hate to say this as a lifelong Lakers fan, but the Rockets will probably win this series. Could the Lakers win this series?

Sure. But it will take an all-hands-on-deck effort, especially offensively, with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves out indefinitely. We can expect LeBron James to play superstar-level basketball, but they need men such as Deandre Ayton, Rui Hachimura, Luke Kennard and Jake LaRavia to play up to their potential.Ultimately, for the Lakers to have a chance, they will have to limit the Rockets to one shot and speed up the pace of the game. But it seems like in the end, they just won't have enough offense to get the job done.Prediction: Rockets in sixThis article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: USA Today roundtable expert predictions for Lakers vs Rockets series