LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers absorbed a lopsided defeat on Christmas Day, falling to the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena, and head coach JJ Redick did not hide his frustration afterward.
“Effort and execution,” Redick said when asked what was missing. “When we’ve done both at a high level, we’ve been a good basketball team. When we haven’t, we’re a terrible basketball team. Tonight, we were a terrible basketball team.”
The Rockets controlled the game almost from the opening tip, consistently winning battles on the glass and on defense. Los Angeles, already on a two-game losing streak, never mounted a serious challenge and trailed by double digits for most of the night.
Redick questions players’ commitment
Pressed on why the Lakers failed to carry out the game plan, Redick responded bluntly. “Because we don’t care enough right now,” he said. “We don’t care enough to do the things that are necessary. We don’t care enough to be a professional.”
Redick pointed to early rebounding lapses — including two misses that guard Austin Reaves chased down while teammates stood still — as evidence the issue surfaced immediately. He added that the team’s culture “can change like that” but conceded, “We don’t have it right now.”
Practice shake-up on the way
The coach promised a demanding session when the team reconvenes on Saturday. “The meeting is going to be uncomfortable,” he said. “I’m not doing another 53 games like this.” Redick noted the coaching staff drills fundamentals regularly; the challenge, he said, is persuading certain players to make the correct choices on the floor, and “it’s pretty consistent who those guys are.”
Next up: Sacramento
Los Angeles, now facing the possibility of sliding further in the Western Conference standings, hosts the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. Redick and his staff will try to spark a response before the schedule tightens again.
Earlier this season, Redick publicly criticized an unnamed player for not recognizing the defensive term “flood” during a game, underscoring ongoing concerns about attention to detail.
Source: LakersNation.com
