Build-Up to the Christmas Day Test
On a holiday stage that often shines a spotlight on offense, the Los Angeles Lakers face a rigorous defensive exam against the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day. It isn’t simply about lineups or injuries, nor is it solely about a system in flux. The Lakers’ defensive decline is traced to a series of micro-decisions—little choices that, when compounded, erode the edge a team needs to win games at the highest level.
After a recent defeat where the Lakers yielded 132 points, coach JJ Redick framed the problem in a way that resonates across basketball, not just in Los Angeles. “It comes down to just making the choice,” Redick said, highlighting the daily, granular decision-making that separates a solid defense from a leaky one. The Rockets, known for patient ball movement and accuracy from beyond the arc, will test whether the Lakers can tighten rotations, communication, and discipline when the spotlight is brightest.
Where the Defense Has Tripped Up
Defensive breakdowns for the Lakers have appeared in several forms: hesitancy on closeouts, sporadic help defense when a drive is initiated, and a handful of late close-outs that give shooters too much room. In other words, the discipline to stay within the game plan has frayed at critical moments. When a defense is forced to improvise late in shot clocks or rotate to a man who has already moved, the plan collapses and opponents exploit the gaps.
An important factor is the Lakers’ ability to maintain physicality without fouling. Excessive reach or over-committing on ball screens can give offenses easy paths to the rim or kick-out passes for open 3s. Against a Rockets squad that values efficient mid-range attempts and timely passes, the Lakers must demonstrate a steadier hand. The game isn’t won by moments of brilliance alone; it is won by keeping opponents out of their preferred rhythm and limiting easy scoring opportunities in transition.
What a Fix Looks Like on Christmas Day
Coach Redick’s takeaway suggests a fix rooted in everyday habits rather than a dramatic overhaul. For the Lakers, that translates to several practical steps: improved communication on screens, sharper help-side rotations, and a renewed commitment to switching where appropriate without losing defensive spacing.
First, the Lakers must reduce “free rover” defense—excessive rotations that leave shooters with clean looks. A more disciplined approach means players stay within designated lanes, acknowledge shooters, and even when beat off the dribble, recover with urgency rather than drifting into no-man’s land. Second, the installment of a repeatable help-rotation pattern could reduce the confusion that arises in late-clock scenarios. If one defender slides up to stop the drive, a second must be ready to fill the vacancy without abandoning open shooters. Third, communication needs to be non-negotiable. Callouts like “I’ve got balls” or “Contain-and-switch” should be a constant, not a reactive scream after a breakdown has occurred.
The Energy Factor and Player Accountability
Defense thrives on effort and the accountability of each player to their role. The Lakers’ improvement hinges on players accepting responsibility for individual coverages and recognizing that small choices—where to sprint, when to hedge, and who to tag on the weak side—collectively shape team results. The Christmas Day crowd adds a layer of pressure, but it also presents a rare stage to demonstrate resilience. A few decisive stops can flip momentum and provide the offense with more opportunities in a crucial matchup against Houston’s pace.
What Fans Should Expect
Fans tuning in expect a game where both teams try to impose order in a sometimes chaotic half-court setting. For the Lakers, the objective is straightforward: translate practice-ground principles into the live-action environment, execute assignments with precision, and avoid the quicksand of defensive errors that have plagued recent outings. If the Lakers can keep Houston out of transition, contest shots more aggressively, and minimize soft defenses, they can balance the scales in a game that doubles as a litmus test for their season’s defensive trajectory.
Bottom Line
The Christmas Day contest is more than a marquee matchup. It is a chance for the Lakers to prove that defense is about deliberate, repeatable choices—every possession, every sequence, every stop. The player-led insistence on disciplined execution, plus a coach’s insistence on accountability, could determine whether the Lakers turn a mid-season defensive stumble into a turning point.
