JJ Redick Critiques Lakers’ Disappointing Christmas Loss to Rockets

The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a disheartening defeat against the Houston Rockets on December 25, 2023, losing 119-96 in front of their home crowd at Crypto.com Arena. Lakers head coach JJ Redick did not hold back in his criticism, emphasizing the team’s lackluster performance throughout the match.

From the outset, the Lakers appeared to struggle against their Western Conference rivals. Despite entering the game with a superior record, they never held the lead and fell behind by as many as 24 points. Redick expressed his disappointment during the postgame press conference, stating that the team resembled “a terrible basketball team.”

Redick’s assessment highlighted a deeper issue within the squad’s mentality. He remarked on the lack of commitment to winning habits among his players. “Guys will say they want to win,” he stated. “But the care factor, to me, is like, ‘Do I care enough to actually do what I’m supposed to do and just do it consistently?’ And that’s really what the championship habits are. And that’s what we don’t have right now.”

The statistics from the game underscored the Lakers’ struggles. The Rockets dominated the boards, out-rebounding the Lakers 48-25, and scored an impressive 68 points in the paint. This performance starkly contrasted the expectations set for a team with aspirations of competing in the playoffs.

Redick has consistently called out his players for their shortcomings. Earlier this month, he criticized LeBron James for being overly friendly with players from the Phoenix Suns during another significant loss. The coach’s frustrations have been apparent, as he previously walked out of a press conference following a disappointing performance against the Atlanta Hawks.

Despite this recent setback, the Lakers, now standing at 19-10, remain competitive within a tightly contested Western Conference. Nevertheless, Redick’s comments signal a desire for improvement, as he aims to elevate the team’s standards beyond merely avoiding a third consecutive first-round playoff exit.

As the season progresses, the Lakers will need to address these underlying issues to fulfill their potential. The coming games will serve as a critical test for Redick’s squad as they seek to regain their footing and build the winning culture he envisions.