Redick Blasts Lakers’ Effort After 119-96 Christmas Loss to Rockets
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LOS ANGELES — Lakers head coach JJ Redick questioned his team’s professionalism Thursday night after a 119-96 defeat to the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena, the club’s third consecutive loss and sixth in its past 10 games.
“We don’t care enough right now,” Redick said postgame. “We don’t care enough to do the things that are necessary. We don’t care enough to be a professional.”
Los Angeles, now 19-10 after 29 games, trailed by 14 points in the first quarter and never led. Houston held a double-digit advantage throughout the second half and dominated the glass 48-25, including 17 offensive rebounds.
Uncomfortable weekend ahead
Redick announced that Saturday’s practice and team meeting will be “uncomfortable” before the Lakers host the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. “I’m not doing another 53 games like this,” he warned.
Doncic returns, Reaves exits
Luka Doncic, back after missing 1½ games with a left calf contusion, recorded 25 points and seven assists but committed six turnovers, three of them in his first 2:11 on the floor. “Everybody has got to give better effort, starting with me,” he said.
Austin Reaves left at halftime with soreness in his left calf, the same injury that cost him three recent games. He will undergo an MRI on Friday, and his status is uncertain.
More blowouts, more frustration
All 10 of the Lakers’ losses have come by at least 10 points, including Tuesday’s 132-108 setback in Phoenix that also drew criticism from Redick. The coach said certain players remain unprepared, again declining to name them publicly.
LeBron James scored 18 points but finished minus-33 in 34 minutes, the worst plus-minus of his Lakers tenure and the third-worst of his career, according to ESPN Insights. James, Rui Hachimura and Marcus Smart did not address reporters.
Voices from the bench
Reserve forward Jake LaRavia acknowledged a possible “disconnect,” while Jarred Vanderbilt — who posted 11 points, five rebounds and a team-best plus-5 — said the roster has reached a critical juncture. “Certain stuff just needs to be said and done,” Vanderbilt noted. “We don’t want this to keep going the wrong direction.”
Source: ESPN
