The Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day and have dropped three straight games. The team’s shortcoming is clear, offense stalls without ball movement and the roster struggles to defend consistently. Coach JJ Redick has pressed players about professionalism as losses mount.

Former coach and analyst Sam Mitchell took aim at Luka Doncic’s off-ball game. “Luka Dončić cannot play basketball without the ball. He doesn’t cut, he doesn’t move, he doesn’t set screens. He’s great with the ball,” Mitchell said. Mitchell argued that Doncic’s strengths hinge on possession and creation.

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Mitchell compared Doncic to Stephen Curry to highlight the difference.

“The reason we give Steph Curry so much credit is not because he’s a traditional great point guard. Steph Curry does the hard things. He’s always cutting and moving without the ball,” Mitchell said. He said off-ball movement forces defenders to follow and creates space.

The report notes Doncic’s elite stats this season: 33.7 points, 8.4 rebounds and 8.7 assists per game. He also averages 1.5 steals, 0.6 blocks and shoots 46.1% from the field and 32.2% from three. Those numbers show his scoring and playmaking impact.

The article did not report a current injury for Doncic. It presented his health as not limiting and focused instead on fit and style. The midseason trade that added Luka Doncic reshaped the Lakers’ identity and exposed structural weaknesses.

LeBron James remains a central figure. At 41, he still delivers, but he cannot cover the team’s defensive gaps every night. The Lakers lack size, rim protection and a reliable backup center.

Mitchell’s critique raises fit questions. Pairing multiple high-usage stars has created redundancy. The result is less ball movement and tougher matchups.

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