Lakers Fall Flat on Christmas Day: Disconnect, Defensive Woes Plague Blowout Loss to Rockets
Christmas Day is supposed to be a showcase - a primetime spotlight for marquee teams and big-name stars. For the Los Angeles Lakers, it turned into a harsh reality check. In a matchup that was billed as a measuring stick for two Western Conference playoff hopefuls, the Lakers were thoroughly outplayed in a 119-96 loss to the Houston Rockets.
From the opening tip, it was clear something was off. The Lakers looked a step behind - not just physically, but mentally.
The ball wasn’t moving, the defensive rotations were late, and the energy just wasn’t there. And while Houston brought their typical brand of physical, high-motor defense, this one wasn’t just about the Rockets executing.
It was about the Lakers unraveling.
LaRavia Speaks on Team Disconnect
Jake LaRavia, who’s been carving out a role as a reliable two-way contributor off the bench, didn’t sugarcoat things postgame. When asked about what’s going wrong, he was candid - and a bit perplexed.
“I couldn’t tell you. I couldn’t tell you,” LaRavia said.
“I think there might be a disconnect right now. 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.”
That “uncomfortability” LaRavia mentioned? It’s coming straight from head coach JJ Redick, who didn’t hold back after the loss.
Redick was visibly frustrated, calling out his team’s effort and making it clear that the next practice wouldn’t be business as usual. He’s not wrong - this isn’t a team that’s lacking talent.
It’s a team that’s currently lacking urgency.
JJ Redick Demands More
Redick, in his first season at the helm, has been pushing for a culture shift - one built on accountability, effort, and defensive intensity. But right now, that vision feels distant. The Lakers aren’t showing the kind of consistent grit it takes to win in the West, and Redick knows it.
This isn’t just about one bad night. The Rockets are a rising team, sure, but this wasn’t a back-and-forth battle.
It was a wire-to-wire beatdown. The Lakers looked disconnected - on both ends - and that’s what has to be addressed.
Marcus Smart Sounds the Alarm on Defense
One player who continues to bring the fight is Marcus Smart. The veteran guard is known for his defensive tenacity, and he’s still bringing that edge night in and night out. But even Smart can’t cover up the cracks in this defense alone.
He’s made it clear: if the Lakers don’t figure things out defensively - and soon - they risk letting the season slip away.
This team has the pieces. They’ve got star power, depth, and a coach who’s preaching the right message. But effort and cohesion can’t be coached into existence - they have to be chosen, every night.
Time to Respond
The good news? There’s still time.
The season is far from over, and the West is as wide open as ever. But the Lakers are at a crossroads.
They can either use this Christmas Day embarrassment as a wake-up call or continue to drift through games hoping talent alone will carry them.
LaRavia’s right - sometimes it takes a little discomfort to spark change. We’ll see how this team responds when the lights aren’t as bright and the cameras aren’t rolling. Because if the Lakers want to be more than just a holiday headliner, they’ve got to start playing like it.