Jared Vanderbilt’s brutally honest assessment of LA’s struggles

LOS ANGELES – The The recent struggles of the Los Angeles Lakers have continued following their 119-96 loss to the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day. The Lakers hit a three-game losing streak, and the head coach JJ Redick couldn’t hide his frustrations amid repeated efforts and execution problems. For the Lakers forward Jarred VanderbiltThe Lakers’ problems are nothing new.

After the Lakers’ latest loss, Jared Vanderbilt admitted that the team’s struggles have been there for some time, and the early wins only masked the obvious.

“We had different lineups, we didn’t have all our guys together. And that was a trend even when we were winning,” Vanderbilt said. “Obviously he’s been winning a lot of things in the shadows, but it’s been the same pretty much all year how we’re finishing games, losing games … it’s been trending all year … it’s just a little more pronounced now that we’ve lost a few games.”

In Vanderbilt’s case, he it was overall positive during the loss to the Rockets, and he has since re-entered the rotation. He brings a lot that the Lakers generally lack, which is defensive energy and effort. When Vanderbilt entered the game late in the first quarter, the difference in the Lakers’ energy was evident.

He was plus-five in 26 minutes, the biggest plus-minus on the team. And it wasn’t just his defense and his effort on the glass, but his offense as well, connecting on three of his first three 3-point attempts. But for the Lakers to get back on track, every player on the roster will play with that kind of effort.

“It’s part of the season. You’re going to win some games, you’re going to go on streaks, you’re going to go on streaks. We just have to find out who we are as a team,” Vanderbilt said. “We’re going through some adversity, it’s about how we react. We basically have the answers to the test. Just play hard, play physical, get back in transition. We know what we have to do, so at this point we just have to do it. Just be proud, especially on that end of the floor.”

The Lakers will try to get back into the win column at home on Sunday against the Sacramento Kings. They will then close out 2025 and ring in the New Year on Tuesday, Dec. 30, against the Detroit Pistons.