Basketball in Los Angeles hasn't felt this manic since the bubble. Honestly, if you blinked at any point in the last twelve months, you probably missed the seismic shift that turned the Crypto.com Arena into a Slovenian outpost. One year ago, the idea of Luka Dončić wearing purple and gold was a fever dream. Now? He’s the undisputed engine of the franchise, averaging a ridiculous 33.6 points per game and pushing a 41-year-old LeBron James into a "Greg Maddux" phase of his career.
That’s how head coach JJ Redick described it recently. It makes sense. LeBron isn't the guy who is going to steamroll a whole defense for 48 minutes anymore. He's the guy who picks his spots, guides the younger players, and occasionally tells his coach to "F off" because he sees a play developing three seconds before anyone else. But even with that legendary IQ, the Lakers are currently walking a tightrope.
The vibes were immaculate after Tuesday night’s 141-116 demolition of the Atlanta Hawks. It was the kind of game fans crave—a blowout where the ball was moving, and shots were actually falling. But let’s be real for a second. Before that win, the Lakers were staring down a three-game skid that had the "Trade Everyone" corner of the internet buzzing.
The Reality of the L.A. Lakers News Today
The win against Atlanta wasn't just a victory; it was a sigh of relief. The Lakers had just come off a brutal loss to a struggling Sacramento Kings team, a game where JJ Redick looked like he wanted to jump out of a plane. The team shot a miserable 22% from deep in that game. You can’t win in the 2026 NBA shooting like that. It doesn’t matter if you have Luka, LeBron, and the ghost of Jerry West—math wins every time.
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Redick didn't sugarcoat it. He basically said that if you can't make wide-open shots, you're dead in the water. That’s been the recurring theme of this January. The Lakers are currently sitting at 24-14, which looks good on paper, but the Western Conference is a meat grinder. Half a game is the difference between a top-four seed and the Play-In tournament.
The Injury Bug is Moving In
It’s not just the shooting, though. The roster is held together by tape and prayers right now.
- Austin Reaves is dealing with a nasty calf strain. He’s expected to be out until at least late January, which is a massive blow because he was averaging a career-high 26.6 points.
- Adou Thiero, the rookie who was actually giving them some defensive energy, is sidelined with a knee sprain until February.
- Jaxson Hayes is nursing a hamstring issue.
When you're missing that kind of depth, you have to lean harder on the stars. And that’s a problem when your main star is a 23-season veteran. LeBron played both ends of a back-to-back for the first time this season against the Hawks, and while he nearly put up a triple-double with 31 points, 10 assists, and 9 rebounds, you have to wonder how long he can keep that engine revving. Redick has already scrapped morning shootarounds just to keep LeBron’s feet fresh.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Trade Deadline
The trade deadline is February 5th, and everyone expects Rob Pelinka to pull another rabbit out of a hat. But the cupboard is kinda bare. After the massive Luka deal, the Lakers aren't exactly swimming in assets. They have their 2031 first-round pick and a 2032 second-rounder. That’s about it for the big stuff.
There’s a lot of talk about the Lakers needing a "3&D" wing. Every team needs that. It’s the NBA equivalent of wanting a million dollars. Specifically, the names floating around are Keon Ellis from Sacramento and Isaac Okoro from Cleveland. Ellis is a guy who fits the archetype perfectly—he shoots 41% from three and plays point-of-attack defense like his life depends on it.
The issue is that everyone else wants those guys, too. The Lakers are 21st in defensive rating this season. If they don't find a way to stop someone at the perimeter, they're going to get roasted by the elite guards in the playoffs. You can't just outscore everyone when your defense is a revolving door.
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The Coaching Evolution of JJ Redick
Redick’s second season has been a masterclass in accountability. He benched Deandre Ayton recently for defensive lapses, which is something a lot of coaches wouldn't have the guts to do with a high-priced center. But his relationship with LeBron is the real story.
They read the game the same way. It’s almost like having two coaches on the floor. Redick admits that sometimes he just steps aside and lets LeBron run the show. It’s a level of trust that we haven't seen in L.A. since... well, maybe ever for LeBron. But Redick is also pushing Luka to be more than just a box-score stuffer. He wants Luka to lead with his "spirit and body language," not just his handles.
Actionable Insights for the Second Half
The Lakers have the third-easiest schedule remaining in January, which is a godsend given the injury report. If they want to avoid the mid-season collapse that has plagued them in years past, they need to focus on three specific areas:
- Shooting Consistency: The 19 made threes against Atlanta was great, but they can't follow that up with an 8-for-36 performance. Players like Rui Hachimura, who just returned from injury, have to provide floor spacing.
- Perimeter Defense: Whether it’s through a trade for someone like Keon Ellis or just better effort from the bench, the Lakers have to improve that 21st-ranked defense.
- Luka's Load Management: Dončić is playing 36.5 minutes a night while nursing a sore groin. With Reaves out, the temptation is to play Luka 40 minutes. That is a recipe for a late-season disaster.
The next few weeks will determine if this is a championship-caliber team or just an elite offensive show. Keep an eye on the February 5th deadline; if the Lakers stand pat, it means they truly believe this core—as thin as it is—can go the distance.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Monitor the status of Austin Reaves heading into the final week of January; his return is vital for secondary playmaking.
- Watch the rotation of Jake LaRavia and Jaxson Hayes; their ability to "stack games" as Redick says is the only thing keeping the bench afloat.
- Track the point-of-attack defensive stats leading up to the trade deadline to see if the internal improvements make a trade unnecessary.