URGENT UPDATE: The Los Angeles Lakers’ holiday spirit shattered following a devastating 119-96 Christmas Day loss to the Houston Rockets. This marks L.A.’s third consecutive defeat and their sixth loss in the last 10 games, prompting coach JJ Redick to express serious concerns about the team’s level of professionalism and commitment.
Speaking passionately after the game, Redick stated,
“We don’t care enough right now. And that’s the part that bothers you a lot. We don’t care enough to do the things that are necessary. We don’t care enough to be a professional.”
His frustration reflects a mounting urgency to turn the team’s fortunes around before their next matchup against the Sacramento Kings on December 31.
Redick announced that practice will be “uncomfortable” this Saturday, emphasizing the need for accountability. “I’m not doing another 53 games like this,” he declared, highlighting the critical nature of the upcoming training session.
The Lakers’ performance against the Rockets was notably dismal; they fell behind by 14 points within the first quarter and failed to recover. Houston maintained a double-digit lead throughout the second half, dominating both ends of the court. Redick pointed to the team’s lack of effort and execution, stating, “When we’ve done both of those things at a high level, we’ve been a good basketball team; when we haven’t, we’re a terrible basketball team. And tonight we were a terrible basketball team.”
Returning star Luka Doncic struggled, committing three turnovers in the first 2 minutes and 11 seconds of play. Houston capitalized on these mistakes, out-rebounding L.A. 48-25 overall, with a staggering 17 offensive rebounds contributing to their commanding victory.
Despite Doncic leading the Lakers with 25 points and 7 assists, he expressed concern about the team’s trajectory: “I don’t know what has to change, but definitely something needs to change. We got to figure out… Everybody has got to talk about it.” Redick’s upcoming meetings are expected to address these critical issues head-on.
Meanwhile, the Lakers faced further setbacks as role player Austin Reaves exited the game at halftime due to calf soreness, an injury that has plagued him in recent weeks. Reaves is set to undergo an MRI on Friday, leaving his status uncertain for the upcoming game.
In a game where LeBron James also struggled, scoring just 18 points and registering a career low in plus-minus, the atmosphere in the locker room remains tense. Players like Jake LaRavia and Jarred Vanderbilt spoke candidly about the team’s disconnect. LaRavia remarked, “It might be a disconnect right now… we just have to be able to reel it back in and get back on the right track.”
Vanderbilt echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for open communication. “Ultimately, certain stuff just needs to be said… we got to have those hard conversations,” he said, underscoring the critical junction the Lakers face as they look to halt their downward spiral.
This is a developing story. The Lakers must harness their efforts and regroup quickly as they prepare for a crucial game against the Kings. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if Redick’s tough love approach can reignite the struggling team.
