The Los Angeles Lakers‘ humiliating Christmas Day loss to the Houston Rockets triggered one of the most candid and forceful postgame assessments from head coach JJ Redick since he took over, exposing deep frustration with effort, accountability, and professionalism.
Following a lopsided 119-96 defeat that dropped the Lakers to 19-10 on the season with six losses in their last 10 games, Redick did not hold back, directly questioning his team’s focus and intensity.
“We’re a terrible basketball team and tonight we were a terrible basketball team, and that started legitimately right away,” he said. “We don’t care enough to do the things that are necessary. We don’t care enough to be a professional. We don’t have it right now.”
The remarks reflected both anger and urgency, highlighting the need for the Lakers to address internal issues before they deepen further.
Lakers Struggle, Redick Calls Out Effort and Execution
The Christmas Day defeat marked the Lakers’ third straight loss with clear ongoing flaws in their performances, particularly on the defensive end. Los Angeles now ranks fifth bottom league wide in defensive rating at 118.1. Houston seized control early and never relented, exploiting defensive breakdowns and turnovers throughout the night.
Luka Doncic and LeBron James combined for a significant portion of the Lakers’ 16 turnovers, while Austin Reaves exited with a sore left calf and did not return, placing additional strain on the remaining rotation.
Redick emphasized that change would require difficult conversations within the locker room. “It’s a matter of making the choice and too often we have guys that don’t want to make that choice, and it’s pretty consistent who those guys are,” he said, before delivering a stark warning. “The meeting is gonna be uncomfortable. I’m not doing another 53 games like this.”
His blunt assessment served as a call for accountability and leadership, particularly from the team’s core players. Redick made it clear that talent alone will not be enough to sustain success through prolonged stretches of poor execution. Effort, discipline, and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths will be critical if the Lakers hope to stabilize their performance ahead of the postseason.
Can the Lakers Respond and Become Competitive
The numbers from the loss painted a troubling picture. The Lakers were outrebounded 48-25, with Houston collecting 17 offensive rebounds to Los Angeles’ seven. Both teams committed 16 turnovers, but the Rockets converted those mistakes into 23 points compared to just 11 for the Lakers. Ime Udoka’s men also dominated the interior, scoring 68 points in the paint to the Lakers’ 52, with the lead swelling to as many as 24 points.
The heavy Christmas Day defeat, played on a national stage, magnified scrutiny on the roster. Redick’s comments, paired with public acknowledgment from players such as Luka Doncic that “something needs to change,” along with Jake LaRavia admitting a “disconnect,” suggest a reckoning is underway behind the scenes.
The challenge now lies in turning criticism into action. Changes to rotations, defensive schemes, and practice intensity may follow, but lasting improvement will depend on collective buy in.
Redick’s candor sends a clear message. Talent alone will not carry the Lakers to contention. Without sustained effort, accountability, and focus, the season risks slipping away.
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