The tension surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers followed them out of Crypto.com Arena on Christmas Day, and it did not fade once the microphones turned on. After a lopsided 119–96 loss to the Houston Rockets, head coach JJ Redick delivered one of his sharpest postgame critiques of the season.
Los Angeles dropped its third straight game in convincing fashion. Houston led by double digits for the entire second half and dominated the glass 48–25. The night grew worse when guard Austin Reaves exited early with another calf issue, forcing the Lakers to adjust on the fly.
Redick did not mince words afterward, framing the loss as a reflection of habits rather than talent.
“The two words of the day were effort and execution,” Redick said. “When we do both, we are a good basketball team. When we don’t, we are a terrible basketball team. Tonight, we were a terrible basketball team.”
He continued by signaling that accountability would follow quickly, warning players that the next practice would not feel routine.
“We don’t care enough right now,” Redick said. “We don’t care enough to do the things that are necessary. We don’t care enough to be professional. Saturday’s practice is going to be uncomfortable. The meeting is going to be uncomfortable. I’m not doing another 53 games like this.”
Redick’s Message Meets a Reality Check
Redick’s comments echoed frustrations he voiced after an earlier loss, when he described defense and focus as daily choices the team failed to make. Publicly, the message sounded firm and decisive.
Privately, at least one response suggested a disconnect.
When reporters later asked Lakers center Deandre Ayton how the much-discussed “uncomfortable” meeting went, his answer immediately shifted the tone.
“Y’all bought into that?” Ayton said, prompting a mix of laughter and surprise in the room. He followed it with a brief refusal to elaborate, saying he would not share any details.
The comment landed softly in delivery but loudly in implication. Ayton did not challenge Redick directly, yet the reaction raised questions about how the coach’s public stance translated behind closed doors.
Where the Lakers Stand Now
Despite the recent skid, the Lakers remain positioned near the top half of the Western Conference at 19–10. Early-season stability helped them weather lineup changes and injuries, including time missed by LeBron James earlier in the year.
Still, the past week has exposed cracks. Offensive rhythm has stalled, defensive rotations have slipped, and Reaves’ health now looms as a real concern after he missed three games earlier with the same calf issue.
Redick’s postgame remarks aimed to reset standards and urgency. Ayton’s response, intentional or not, suggested the locker room may not have felt the same level of discomfort that was promised publicly.
What that means moving forward remains unclear. The Lakers have time to steady themselves, but the gap between message and perception now sits in plain view. How JJ Redick bridges that gap, and how the players respond, may matter as much as any adjustment on the floor. Let’s see what happens.
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