The Los Angeles Lakers fell to 19-10 on the season after a 119-96 blowout loss to the Houston Rockets on Christmas. The loss was the Lakers’ third straight defeat, and coach JJ Redick was fast to tear into his squad after the sport.
“We do not care sufficient proper now,” Redick mentioned. “And that is the half that bothers you a large number. We do not care sufficient to do the issues which might be essential. We do not care sufficient to be an expert.”
Redick’s frustration and questioning of his crew’s professionalism got here after the Lakers fell to 4-6 of their final 10 video games following a 15-4 begin to the season. The Lakers trailed by double digits for the whole lot of the second half in opposition to the Rockets, solely including gasoline to Redick’s post-game feedback.
“The 2 phrases of the day have been effort and execution,” Redick mentioned. “And I really feel like once we’ve finished each of these issues at a excessive stage, we have been an excellent basketball crew. Once we have not, we’re a horrible basketball crew. And tonight we have been a horrible basketball crew. And that began legitimately immediately.”
The hassle Redick questioned may very well be seen in almost all sides of the sport, together with the Rockets outrebounding the Lakers 48-25.
Redick promised an “uncomfortable” apply for his crew on Saturday as they put together for Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the Sacramento Kings. The Kings sit final within the Western Convention at 7-23 and provide a possibility for Los Angeles to get issues shifting in the proper route.
Lakers star Luka Dončić, who leads the NBA with 33.7 factors per recreation, echoed his coach’s feedback following the loss.
“I do not know what has to vary, however positively one thing wants to vary,” Dončić mentioned. “Assume we [were] blown out the final three video games. It positively appears, like, horrible. We simply received to speak about it. Everyone received to speak about it. I do know JJ mentioned it should be uncomfortable [for everybody]. As they need to be. Everyone has received to offer higher effort, beginning with me.”
