Poor effort and weak execution – actually, almost nonexistent. JJ Redick didn’t mince words after the Lakers’ Christmas loss to Houston, 116–96. He spoke the way coaches do when they feel something slipping away: directly, almost coldly.

When we do both things, we’re a good team. When we don’t, we’re terrible. Right now, we don’t care enough

JJ Redick

It wasn’t a rant, but an evaluation. From there, everything else becomes clear. The Christmas Game against the Rockets wasn’t a simple bump in the road, but a game lost mentally even before technically. Houston set the pace and energy from the start, and the Lakers never gave the impression they wanted to shift the momentum.

There were many factors behind the loss: late defensive rotations, a stagnant offense, poor communication – on top of the combined 51 points scored by Kevin Durant and Amen Thompson.

We’re a terrible team… we don’t care enough about being professional, and right now we don’t have it. On Saturday I told the guys practice will be uncomfortable. The meeting will be uncomfortable. I’m not doing another 53 games like this

JJ Redick

The context helps clarify the picture. Injuries, constantly changing rotations, and the difficulty of finding a stable structure are all taking a toll. But Redick wanted to shift the focus elsewhere: daily professionalism, the ability to stay engaged even when things aren’t working. Austin Reaves’ injury adds another question mark, but it doesn’t explain the performance.

At 19–10 and fifth in the West, the Lakers are still in the race. Still, the feeling is that the margin for error is shrinking. Redick’s words are an internal warning before they are a public one.