Tonight was SO refreshing given what the last week of Lakers basketball has looked like 💯 pic.twitter.com/EeFXi5BY4S— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) December 29, 2025

This LeBron sequence in his last game at 40 was unreal 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/cAnX1Qs9dy— Bron’s Best (@LBJsBest) December 29, 2025

Final stats 📊 Luka: 34 pts, 5 reb, 7 ast, 3 stlLeBron: 24 pts, 3 reb, 5 ast, 2 stlNick: 21 pts, 3 rebRui: 12 pts, 4 reb, 2 stlDA: 11 pts, 11 rebJake: 11 pts, 2 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl pic.twitter.com/hmYlHvzZJA— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 29, 2025

Luka Doncic tonight:34 Points 7 Assists 6 Rebounds 3 Steals 1 Block 11/23 FGM+22 +/-33 Minutes pic.twitter.com/LfaJ5lXaa2— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) December 29, 2025

Nick Smith Jr. vs the KIngs:-21PTS-3REB-1AST-75TS% pic.twitter.com/ZPWODFxA2X— Laker Performances (@LALPerformance) December 29, 2025

JJ Redick says that he is doing “something different” with his lineups tonight, per @DStarkand pic.twitter.com/2szk5DvHXS— LakersMuse (@LALMuse) December 29, 2025

FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The questions came in rapid succession to Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton after L.A’s first practice since a disappointing Christmas Day loss to the Houston Rockets that caused Lakers coach JJ Redick to publicly rebuke his team’s effort.

How was the energy of the group? Was what needed to be said actually said? And how was it received?

“Hold on. Hold on. Hold on,” Ayton said. “That’s a lot. You’re bombarding me with a lot.”

The Lakers have had more questions than answers lately. They are on a three-game losing streak and have lost six of their past 10 games. And all 10 of their losses this season have been by at least 10 points.

Making matters worse, starting guard Austin Reaves was diagnosed with a pulled calf after an MRI on Friday and expected to be sidelined for four weeks.

All of which was the backdrop as the team regrouped Saturday for what Redick had promised would be an “uncomfortable” meeting to get back on track.

After the Lakers’ meeting and a rare lengthy practice Saturday, Redick appeared considerably more subdued when speaking to reporters than he was after the loss to the Rockets.

“Myself, I’m always going to look in the mirror first,” said Redick, who is in his second season as Lakers coach. “And I think it’s easy as a player, as a coach to say, ‘It’s this guy’s fault,’ or, ‘We’re not doing this because X, Y, and Z.'”

Was it uncomfortable?

“The truth is uncomfortable,” Redick said, “and so you have to put everything out there, that’s all it is.”

Rather than finger-pointing, Redick said it was a day of “recalibration and reconnection” for his team that still sits No. 4 in the Western Conference standings.

“We had a great meeting as a staff this morning,” Redick said. “Came in super early and we met with the players, and it was very positive and it was also listening. It was also for our staff, myself, to listen to the players and what they need.”

Starting forward Rui Hachimura — one of three players who declined to speak after the Houston game, along with LeBron James and Marcus Smart — spoke to reporters Saturday about those needs.

“We just talked about everybody — players, coaches — we just got to kind of tighten up,” Hachimura said. “We had a good stretch in the beginning, and now we kind of, I don’t know, we relaxed. Or we kind of got tired of winning. But we just stopped doing what we’re supposed to do.”

James and Smart declined to speak again Saturday.

Redick, who also called out several players for their repeated failures after the Rockets game without using names, was asked if those players were told directly about the improvements he wanted from them.

“I think they are, and I think the group is aware,” Redick said. “The group feels it. They’re on the court together. They’re in the huddles together. … There wasn’t anything that needed to be addressed that wasn’t addressed.”

Redick said the team used Saturday to review the group goals it established at the outset of training camp and its commitment to championship habits.

And he sought to accomplish three things: “Defensive clarity, role clarity and offensive organization,” Redick said.

Redick added that there have been too many “random possessions” on offense since James returned from a sciatica injury that sidelined him for the first 14 games of the season. L.A. has gone 8-5 in the 13 games the 23-year veteran has played this season.

Ayton said he would be a more vocal leader on defense.

“Holding my guys accountable, especially starting with me,” Ayton said. “No matter how the game is going, we stick to these principles no matter what. … This is how we’re going to play on defense — hard and [with] second efforts.”

Ayton acknowledged that L.A. lacked focus when it was outrebounded 48-25 by the Rockets, with Ayton, who averages 8.7 boards, grabbing only two in 36 minutes.

“That’s a simple error. It’s just really simple mistakes, as in boxing out, second effort,” Ayton said. “We just weren’t that focused on really trying to lock in and do the little details.”

Hachimura said he knows what he must do to help the team get out of its rut.

“I have to be more focused on bringing the energy, being physical,” Hachimura said. “That kind of stuff is going to help.”

L.A. hosts the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, the first of four straight home games in the next week and a half.

“It’s adversity, it’s going to happen,” Ayton said. “And I just can’t wait to see how we bounce back from this.”

JJ Redick on the focus of today's practice and film session:"Recalibration and reconnection. I think too, today, for myself, I'm always gonna look in the mirror first. I think it's easy as a player or coach to say well it's this guy's fault, or we're not doing this because of…— Daniel Starkand (@DStarkand) December 27, 2025

Saying it is easy, show us with a different looking on court vibe.

That would be a much welcome decision. Keon Ellis and Malick Monk are two of my favorite players.

Is that Jake from State Farm as the source? I’d love that but hard to see us getting both for a single pick and swaps.

Jamie, you’re absolutely right that Austin’s injury is a gut punch. Losing a guy who had basically become the connective tissue of the offense isn’t something you just “patch up” with a rotation tweak. His blend of scoring, playmaking, and composure was the stabilizer for so many of our lineups. There’s no one-for-one replacement.

But I actually think this stretch is less about replacing Austin and more about forcing the Lakers to rediscover an identity they’ve drifted away from. The last three games exposed how dependent the team had become on his versatility. Now they have to simplify, tighten the rotation, and lean into the strengths they do have.

Your lineup ideas make sense, especially the push to break up the LBJ/Ayton/Rui minutes. That trio has been a black hole on both ends. Starting Smart and Vando gives the team a defensive backbone again—something they desperately need if the offense is going to be this limited. And honestly, if LaRavia is ever going to pop, this is the moment. Sink or swim.

As for LeBron-at-center lineups, I think that’s unavoidable. It’s not ideal at his age, but it’s the only way to unlock the kind of pace, spacing, and decision-making this roster needs to survive without Austin. Put him at the top of the key, surround him with cutters and shooters, and let him orchestrate. It’s not sustainable for 40 minutes a night, but it can win stretches.

The bigger point, though, is this: the Lakers don’t need someone to be Austin. They need two or three guys to give them pieces of what he brought. A little more creation from Nick Smith Jr. A little more defensive chaos from Vando. A little more scoring aggression from Rui. A little more steadiness from Smart. It’s a committee job.

This is absolutely a challenge for the coaching staff—but it’s also an opportunity. Teams either crumble when their safety valve goes down, or they get sharper, tougher, and more intentional. If the Lakers can survive this stretch, they’ll come out of it with a stronger identity and a more battle-tested rotation.

And when Austin comes back? That’s when things get interesting again.

The Lakers have a new owner and no culture worth preserving. They have limitless resources and a very desirable job.You can’t tell me that of anyone who’d want to run the Lakers in 2026, Rob Pelinka is the most desirable option when no other team would reach that conclusion. https://t.co/HCYNWXayk4— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) December 26, 2025

The Lakers are sort of like the Yankees. They both have the history, market and resources to have the absolute best in every non-player position, so it's weird to me that there are fans who would ever want to settle for "eh he's fine, does some things well and somethings badly." https://t.co/fvc1fzXU9Q— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) December 26, 2025

Forget about his relationship with Kobe. Forget about the 2020 champion Rich Paul built anyway. Forget about the Luka trade because I’m almost positive Rob doesn’t have any more stupid friends to steal from.Just ask yourself if he’s truly the best possible GM for the Lakers. https://t.co/6lNSCzY32l— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) December 26, 2025

I think the answer is no. The Lakers have had the same problems for half a decade. They keep trying to solve them with the same outdated solutions. They need to completely rethink their approach to roster-building. The Dodgers did that and look where it got them. https://t.co/NAl8ZAJ3Lv— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) December 26, 2025

This isn’t “they need a 3-and-D” or “they need a rim protector.”No. They need a wholly different sort of team to support their two best players. They have three FRPs and $55 million in cap space to do that this summer. Is Rob Pelinka really the man you trust to maximize that? https://t.co/teqR8cl3HV— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) December 26, 2025

I mean..I stopped believing in Rob Pelinka a long time ago. I don’t go around calling him Master Class for nothing. It’s out of sarcasm. Dude has always been out of his depth. He absolutely lucked into the Luka trade, botched most of his other chances prior to that, and will probably fire another coach that isn’t the real issue, again. At least we got Nate or Scotty waiting in the wings to grab the reigns.

Rob has had Luka for 10 months and hasn’t made a single trade to improve this roster lmaoLiterally got gifted Luka and basically got gifted our best center and best defender from buyouts too Mark Walter gotta send him and Jeanie to the unemployment line— 🅿️erSources CEO | Adou Thiero FC (@pelinkaburner) December 26, 2025

Guess we get a chance to see what the Lakers starting lineup would be without Austin Reaves for the next 4 weeks. Unfortunately, AR won't be able to help the bench while he's out. Tough break that probably should be partially blamed on Rob Pelinka's failure to surround his stars… https://t.co/PcK9hb1IZ7— LakerTom (@LakerTom) December 27, 2025

Bummer that it happened in the midst of a break out season. Need him back solid for the playoffs.