Wow! What a 23-year career. Never be another LeBron!

Happy Birthday Dear LeBron James,41.Forty. One.I keep typing it and deleting it because it still looks fake.41 years old and you’re still doing this.Still flying. Still bullying time itself. Still making defenders look like they missed a meeting where you explained… pic.twitter.com/JAx7UntvMg— 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐩𝑮𝒐𝒍𝒅 (@PurpGolded) December 30, 2025

FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

This is the pairing we’ve all been waiting for. But we haven’t seen Luka Doncic and LeBron James together all that often.

Since Doncic joined the Lakers in that blockbuster trade, he and James have played together without Austin Reaves only six times in the regular season. With Reaves now sidelined for a month with a calf injury, the two Lakers superstars are going to have to get familiar with each other again.

In lineups with Doncic and Reaves, the Lakers have a net rating of 7.3, one of the team’s highest ratings for a two-man lineup that’s played at least 100 minutes. Playing together for 452 minutes, it’s the most efficient rating for any pair of regular starters.

But lineups with Doncic and James have a -10.3 net rating in 279 minutes and the James-Reaves pairing is -6.1 in 245 minutes.

Coach JJ Redick acknowledged after the team’s three-game losing streak that the offense since James returned has felt disorganized at times. While Reaves’ injury strips the Lakers of their second-leading scorer and an important ball handler, Redick agreed that just having Doncic and James for now can make the offense easier to untangle.

Redick presented a potential solution by restructuring the substitution pattern during a win over the Kings on Sunday. He subbed Doncic out of the first quarter with about three minutes remaining instead of having him play the entire first frame. He re-entered the game with about nine minutes left in the second instead of waiting until the six- or seven-minute mark.

The plan was to let Doncic and James have more time operating the offense individually, Redick said, while not diminishing either player’s total minutes. The team still used both of them in actions together and it’s not an overarching plan to “keep them apart,” Redick stressed.

“We’re going to do this for the foreseeable future,” Redick said, “and just see how it goes.”

The Lakers were plus-12 in the 18 minutes with Doncic and James on the court against the Kings compared to -5.8 in 23.7 minutes in previous games this year. The projected starting lineup now that Reaves it out would typically feature Doncic, James, Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton, and that group has a -26.0 net ranking in 37 minutes together this season.

“I don’t want to create the narrative of ‘me and Luka,’” James said. “It’s five guys on the floor and seven guys that come off the bench. It needs to be all of us. It’s important that we set the tone.”

More than just the production on the court, the Lakers will look to their superstars for leadership during this next stretch. Redick acknowledged that Doncic and James have a responsibility to set the tone for the Lakers, especially at the beginning of games.

The Lakers were minus-28 in first quarters during their three-game losing streak. Doncic said after the Christmas Day debacle that everybody had to give “better effort, starting with me.”

Then he backed up his words with his play, scoring nine points with two assists and three rebounds in the first quarter. He had two steals and a block in the first half.

“He’s the head of the snake,” forward Maxi Kleber said of Doncic before the game. “We all follow him, so it’s good for us to see him also step up in that sense, and take ownership, because it will help everybody else do the same and focus especially with that effort on every possession.”

FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

The Lakers look to conclude 2025 on a strong note against the visiting Pistons on Tuesday.

The Lakers (20-10) will play their last game of 2025as they host the Detroit Pistons (24-8) on Tuesday. This is the first meeting between the two teams this season.

Start time and TV schedule
Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Detroit Pistons

When: 7:30 p.m. PT, Dec. 30

Where: Crypto.com Arena

Watch: NBC, Spectrum Sportsnet

The Lakers responded very well after being called out by head coach JJ Redick, who said they would have an uncomfortable film session in practice. Not only did they defeat the Sacramento Kings in dominant fashion, but they also snapped their three-game losing streak, all of which were blowouts. Sunday’s victory against the Kings was much-needed and now the goal is to avoid falling into a dry spell once again.

On Tuesday, the Lakers will face the top seed in the Eastern Conference in the Pistons. This one will reveal whether or not the purple and gold are truly out of their rut. With all due respect to the Kings, the Pistons are significantly better and they’re going to be eager to snap their own two-game losing streak as well. The Lakers should expect a tough challenge from a team that ranks eighth on offense and second on defense.

Detroit is also built to expose Los Angeles’ flaws, which popped out during their losing streak. They have Cade Cunningham — who is averaging 26.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 9.6 assists per game — leading their offense, which means the Lakers’ perimeter defense will be significantly tested.

The Pistons employ a big man in Jalen Duren who is anchoring their defense and contributing 18.2 points per game. Duren’s matchup versus Deandre Ayton is going to be something to look out for in this one. The Pistons play similarly to the Rockets, producing most of their scoring in the paint and dominating the boards. The Lakers will have to be ready, contrary to how they approached their Christmas Day game against the Rockets.

The Lakers will need Luka Dončić and LeBon James to set the tone again in this one. While the Pistons are statistically better than them in everything except offense, they’re not going to have an answer if both superstars go off in this one. The purple and gold should make their firepower known because that’s the ideal way to beat this fundamentally sound team. Hopefully, James and Dončić carry over their strong performances from the last game.

Los Angeles has the chance to wrap up the year with a decisive victory at home to put together a nice two-game winning streak heading into 2026. Ideally, they do just that so the vibes are good heading into the New Year, but it won’t be easy. It’s one that they’re going to have to work hard but the result should be rewarding.

Let’s see if the Lakers can close 2025 with a win against the Pistons on Tuesday.

Notes and Updates
The Lakers’ injury report notes Rui Hachimura (right calf soreness), Austin Reaves (left calf strain) and Gabe Vincent (lumbar back strain) as out.
Meanwhile for the Pistons, Caris LeVert (left knee soreness) is doubtful.

FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

A real test to close out the year

This was supposed to be my 30-game check.

Instead, because of what unfolded over the past stretch and how big this game feels, I opted for a straight game preview. Over the last ten games, I’ve written plenty about the Lakers’ issues. Concerning defense, rotation tweaks, system breakdown, and the promise of an eventual reset. Those problems have been well documented, and enough has been said about what went wrong. What’s more interesting now is what happens next.

JJ Redick softened the tone around his uncomfortable practice comments, and the Lakers responded to the Christmas no-show with better effort and a solid win against the Kings. But beating bad teams has never been the issue. Being uncompetitive against good, young, athletic teams has been, and that is where tonight’s game becomes a real test of whether the Christmas crisis actually inspired any change.

The Detroit Pistons are a litmus test for toughness, just as much as the Houston Rockets are. In fact, those two teams sit second and third in point differential, behind only the Oklahoma City Thunder. On top of that, the Pistons are the second-best defense in the league and one of, if not the most physical team in the NBA. Yes, they have hit a small rough patch, losing their last two games, but so did the Rockets before facing the Lakers on Christmas. Detroit is another member of the new wave currently dominating the NBA. Alongside the Thunder, Spurs, and Rockets, these are young, aggressive teams that pride themselves on defense. They are also the teams that have dominated the Lakers so far this season.

So let’s see whether the last game was a real reference point for focus and effort, or just a brief response before another low.

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Lakers (20-10) vs Pistons (24-8) game facts
Rest: LAL on 1 day of rest; DET on 1 day of rest

Ranking: LAL 15th in Point Diff (+0.5), DET 3rd in Point Diff (+7.5)

LAL vs DET 2024-25 record: 0-2

LAL injuries: Austin Reaves (OUT), Gabe Vincent (OUT), Rui Hachimura (OUT)

DET injuries: Caris LeVert (doubtful)

LAL projected starting five: Luka Dončić (G), Marcus Smart (G), Jake LaRavia (F), LeBron James (F), Deandre Ayton (C)

LAL key reserves: Jaxson Hayes, Jarred Vanderbilt, Maxi Kleber, Nick Smith Jr., Dalton Knecht

DET projected starting five: Cade Cunningham (G), Duncan Robinson (F), Ausar Thompson (F), Tobias Harris (F), Jalen Duren (C)

DET key reserves: Isaiah Stewart, Jaden Ivey, Ronald Holland II, Javonte Green

Key storyline: Do the Lakers have enough depth for this battle?

Athleticism, speed, toughness, and the ability to handle pressure are the obvious and persistent questions heading into this game. But with Rui Hachimura the latest addition to the injury report, the Lakers may have run out of depth to hang with the Pistons. Without Austin Reaves, Hachimura, and Gabe Vincent, the Lakers are down two starters and a key rotation piece. I expect Jake LaRavia to step into Hachimura’s spot in the starting lineup, but once that happens, the depth thins out quickly. As the key reserves list shows, there is not much left behind what was already one of the thinner benches in the NBA.

Lakers on offense | Pistons on defense

If you look at the Pistons’ defensive profile, two things immediately jump out as clear indicators of an aggressive scheme. They rank third in opponent turnover rate, and they rank last in opponent free throw rate allowed, meaning they foul more than any team in the league. The Lakers are a team that gets to the line more than anyone in the league, so how this game is officiated, and how much physicality is allowed against Luka Dončić and LeBron James, may be an even more decisive factor than usual.

With Ausar Thompson, Ron Holland II, and even Cade Cunningham, J. B. Bickerstaff has an almost ideal group of defenders with the size, length, and athleticism to pressure Dončić all game long. So, Dončić having a good, composed game is a must for the Lakers to have a chance, and it starts with not turning the ball over under pressure. Dončić has had five turnovers or more in five of his last eight games, and repeating that against the Pistons would be a death sentence. To make his life easier, the Lakers should probably run more sets where Dončić starts possessions on the move, instead of bringing the ball up every time. Without Reaves and Vincent, and with limited depth overall, that may be easier said than done.

Tobias Harris and Jaden Ivey are the most obvious targets for Dončić and James to attack, but with recent Lakers lineups often featuring two poor shooters such as Jarred Vanderbilt and Maxi Kleber, I expect the Pistons to blitz, double, or help aggressively against the Lakers’ two superstars.

Pistons on offense | Lakers on defense

Like the Rockets, who demolished the Lakers on the offensive glass, the Pistons are another team that strategically crashes the boards with force. The Lakers could not handle Sengun, Adams, and Amen Thompson constantly pressuring the rim and the glass, and now they will have to deal with an almost as physical unit in Jalen Duren, Isaiah Stewart, and the other Thompson twin.

The other challenge the Rockets did not present is handling the pick-and-roll duo of Cade Cunningham and Duren, which leads the NBA with more than 500 picks set this season. If there is a game for Deandre Ayton to turn on the engines and bring as much physicality as he can, it is tonight against Duren and Stewart inside. Detroit is a team that wants to attack the rim. They rank third in the NBA in rim frequency and are first overall in paint points per 100 possessions.

Pistons weakness is the shooting, or rather lack off. They are a low volume three-point shooting team, and besides Duncan Robinson don’t have a proven outside threat, which could be even bigger problem is Caris LeVert who is doubtful misses this game.

What Detroit prefers, rather than facing a set defense that shrinks the floor off their non shooters, is to run and attack early at every opportunity. They rank second in the NBA in both transition frequency and fast break points per 100 possessions. Another sign of the athletic, fast teams the Lakers have struggled so badly against this season.

Final thoughts

I could write about a player under the spotlight, like Nick Smith Jr. proving he can be effective as a third ball handler against an aggressive, ball-pressing team, or James and Dončić showing they can keep up with the new, younger NBA. But this game is not about an individual player. It is a test of the Lakers’ connectedness and their collective spirit. A test of their willingness to fight and prove they can flip the negative narrative that has defined them far more than their impressive 20–10 record.

Will it be a sign of a turnaround, or another exhibit of the roster’s glaring holes?

IF YOU WANT GREAT WRITING AND REPORTING,IZTOK FRANKO IS MUST READ FOR LAKERS FANSThe Lakers did not only get Luka Doncic in the mega trade that Rob Pelinka pulled off but also a great addition to the media reporters who write about and report on everything Lakers because we… https://t.co/PgnqUtWnO6 pic.twitter.com/3oKMenYiHX— LakerTom (@LakerTom) December 30, 2025

The Lakers responded to a three-game losing streak and what seemed like a season low, reset point on Christmas day against the Rockets, with a strong performance beating the Sacramento Kings 125-101 at home.

Whether it was JJ Redick questioning the team’s commitment and effort, or later downplaying it by saying they simply needed a recalibration, he got the response he wanted. From the opening tip, it was evident the Lakers were locked in. This was a game where they put their foot on the gas early, won all four quarters for the first time this season, and turned it into a rare Lakers blowout.

The game itself was nothing fancy or out of the ordinary, just a display of how a composed, competent team should look when taking care of business against a standings bottom dweller. However, the Lakers have had problems doing that this season, so last night should hopefully serve as an example going forward.

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Today’s notes:

A reference point for effort, for Luka (VIDEO)

Super efficient LeBron

Way more structure, more flow, and a more deliberate and egalitarian offense

New sub pattern and Nick Smith Jr kicking off his campaign as the third ball handler with a bang (VIDEO)

Concerns not washed away by one game

1-A reference point for effort, for Luka (VIDEO)

The two Lakers leaders, Dončić and James, were the two names called out by the media for their effort and commitment to doing the little things on defense. After the Rockets loss, Dončić acknowledged he needed to return to the level of defense he was playing earlier in the season.

Dončić is not the only problem for the Lakers on defense, and I would say not even the biggest one, but when he is engaged, moves his feet, and makes an effort to stay in front and provide resistance on drives, it changes a lot for the Lakers defense. Last night, and in the past, Dončić showed he can defend when the focus and commitment are there, leading by example by making the effort plays.

Dončić led the way with four stocks (three steals and one block) and was one of six Lakers with at least two stocks, which showed the effort level with which the Lakers played last night.

Offensively, Dončić had his typical 34-point night at the office, along with a dose of absurd passes. His outside shot was still streaky, but he had a dominant run, scoring 15 points in the second quarter as the Lakers built a decisive lead.

2-Super efficient LeBron

Lakers activity resulted in a high turnover game, with the Kings finishing with a total of 19. We have seen this scenario before, when the Lakers showed they can punish bad transition defenses like the Kings, Jazz, and Pelicans by getting out on the run and scoring in transition. Last night, the Lakers posted a 21.3 percent transition frequency, the third highest of the season, and as usual LeBron James was the biggest beneficiary, scoring nine of his 24 points on the fast break.

James complemented his transition highlight reels with elite shot making in the half court, missing only two of his 13 field-goal attempts while playing the role of the second creator and filling the spots around Dončić to perfection.

3-Way more structure, more flow, and a more deliberate and egalitarian offense

The Lakers recalibration was not noticeable only in effort and defense, as the change in offensive execution was even more glaring. You could see there was a clear plan and effort to get all starters touches and shots early, with each of them getting at least one shot within the first three minutes of the game, and the Lakers’ top seven options all finishing with at least 17 front court touches.

Not only were touches distributed more evenly, the Lakers ran more actions and sets not just for Dončić and James, but also to get Hachimura shots off away screens and a couple of post looks for Ayton. All in all, it was one of the better games of the season in terms of balance and creating good looks off sets and concepts, while still allowing Dončić and James the freedom to create on the fly out of pick and roll and isolation actions.

@Sam_Vecenie
Lakers look so much more intentional with their sets and actions tonight against the Kings. Seem like they’re running a lot more actual plays. Have always felt like JJ Redick is at his best as a coach in these 120 or so games when the Lakers are doing that.
4-New sub pattern and Nick Smith Jr. kicking off his campaign as the third ball handler with a bang (VIDEO)

This was the first game for the Lakers in the new Austin Reaves less reality, one they will probably have to survive in for at least a month, if not longer. Redick addressed it by promoting Nick Smith Jr. to a much bigger role as the third ball handler and by tweaking the Dončić and James substitution pattern, staggering their minutes even more to keep one of them on the floor at all times, with Smith Jr. providing a second option especially in non Dončić James minutes.

@DanWoikeSports
JJ Redick says the Lakers will try something new with lineups tonight. Won’t share what. Does say Nick Smith Jr. will be playing consistent rotation minutes for the near future.

Lakers-Kings rotations (souce: basketball-reference)

Smith Jr. embraced the opportunity in the best way imaginable, hitting his first seven shots and scoring 21 points, seamlessly switching between off ball catch and shoot and on ball go get a bucket roles, a skill crucial to succeeding next to Dončić and James. Smith Jr. hit five of his ten three point attempts, and in Reaves absence his shooting could be key for the Lakers offense, which at times struggles to both generate and convert threes at a high volume.

Redick highlighted that this was the third game this season in which the third year combo guard’s microwave scoring proved crucial off the bench in sporadic appearances while filling in during injury absences. Now the next step for him is to prove he can be a consistent contributor and do it against tougher competition.

5-Concerns not washed away by one game

The Lakers stepping up, playing with more effort, looking more connected, and operating a well run offense was definitely a good sight after the disappointments of the previous three games. But it is also impossible to ignore that running a crisp offense is much easier against the underwhelming Kings than against physical, athletic teams that pressure the ball and disrupt at every opportunity. The Lakers experienced that firsthand recently against the Spurs, Suns, and Rockets, struggling both with ball pressure and with athleticism on both ends.

Amid all the good in this game, there were still some elements of old issues, like early struggles containing DeMar DeRozan (we have seen Hachimura struggle to contain a similar archetype against Brandon Ingram in the Toronto game) or awkward offensive possessions with Vanderbilt Kleber lineups, that will be much harder to overcome in games where the margin for error is much lower.

So a true test for the recalibrated Lakers comes in the next game against another young, athletic, and one of the most physical teams in the NBA, the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday.

Unofficial, but I have LA at a 64% playcall rate through 3 quartersQ1: 62%Q2: 68%Q3: 62%We haven't seen 60%+ in each of Q1-3 before this season.— Cranjis McBasketball (@Tim_NBA) December 29, 2025

JJ Redick wasn’t taking shots, he was setting a standard. If you want to win, everyone has to stay within the system, stars included. Honestly, it’s refreshing to hear it said out loud. No one, not even LeBron, is bigger than the team.@BrickCenter_ pic.twitter.com/rmtJB9lTP5— Blue Devil Voices (@DukeEchoes) December 28, 2025

Lakers look so much more intentional with their sets and actions tonight against the Kings. Seem like they're running a lot more actual plays. Have always felt like JJ Redick is at his best as a coach in these 120 or so games when the Lakers are doing that.— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) December 29, 2025

LAKERS LAST GAME LED LEAGUE IN DEFENSIVE RATING FOR LAST GAMELakers' defensive rating for last game was 100.0, which was #1 for any team in the league for their last game. Offensively, Lakers were #11 with an offensive rating of 122.5 and #3 with a net rating of +22.5.That… https://t.co/GIin4zaY3b pic.twitter.com/poeCgaF4rR— LakerTom (@LakerTom) December 29, 2025

Nick Smith Jr. (21 points on 8/14 FG and 5/10 3PT) on his hot shooting night:"I'm in a space where I'm locked in right now, just tryna do what I can to help this team win. I just try to prepare everyday like it's game day and it showed tonight." pic.twitter.com/Pmeo5tKNm9— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) December 29, 2025

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