Jake LaRavia Sees ‘Disconnect’ in Lakers After Christmas Day Rout
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LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers were soundly beaten 119-96 by the Houston Rockets on Dec. 25, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena, and forward Jake LaRavia acknowledged after the game that the team is not on the same wavelength.
“I couldn’t tell you. I think there might be a disconnect right now,” LaRavia said when asked why the Lakers looked out of sync. “But we’ll get on track. Have this meeting, what JJ was talking about, and hopefully the uncomfortability of it can kind of move us in the right direction.”
Head coach JJ Redick, visibly frustrated following one of the club’s worst performances of the season, criticized the group’s effort and warned that the next practice would be “uncomfortable” for players.
The defeat dropped Los Angeles to the middle of the Western Conference playoff race, while Houston gained ground in its own postseason push. From the opening tip, the Lakers appeared a step slow, struggling to match the Rockets’ physical, relentless defense.
LaRavia, in his first season with the Lakers, has been a steady two-way contributor off the bench but managed little offensively in the holiday matchup. He emphasized that correcting the team’s issues will require collective commitment.
Veteran guard Marcus Smart echoed that sentiment, saying the Lakers must shore up their defense before it is “too late.” Despite Smart’s trademark intensity, Los Angeles failed to string together stops, allowing Houston to build a comfortable lead that was never threatened.
The Lakers have ample time left in the 2025-26 schedule, yet Redick made clear that a renewed focus on effort and cohesion is needed to reverse their recent slide.
Source: LakersNation.com
