The Los Angeles Lakers are set to face the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday before the end of 2025. The Pistons are a challenging team for the Lakers, since they are the top team in the Eastern Conference. They are also a disciplined defensive club that LA has struggled to defeat throughout the 2025–26 campaign.
The Lakers haven’t figured out how to outplay a physical team like the Pistons. However, coach JJ Redick believes it’s a “great test” for the team in how they will perform against the best team in the East.
Spectrum SportsNet’s Mike Trudell talked to Redick before they faced Detroit.
“We’ve played a number of teams that have a similar profile: Phoenix, San Antonio, Houston… all do things a little bit differently with Detroit,” JJ Redick said. “They run, they drive and they really pressure you and they crash.
"It's another one of those games, it's a great test for our group… they're a really good basketball team."
JJ Redick talks with @LakersReporter and the media ahead of tonight's matchup with the Pistons. Get closer to the action with Spectrum SportsNet+. 🔗:… pic.twitter.com/d4act34QBX
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) December 31, 2025
“It’s another one of those games, it’s a great test for our group to match their level of physicality and match how hard they play. They’re a really good basketball team.”
This will be the first meeting between the two teams. Given that they’re from opposite conferences, they’ll only meet twice this campaign.
JJ Redick talks about the problems of having LeBron James back
The Lakers haven’t been the same since LeBron James returned to the lineup. They’ve had defensive issues, which were exposed multiple times. JJ Redick explained that having James back has revealed three troubles for LA.
“Since we’ve gotten Bron back, we haven’t been as organized offensively. Too many random possessions. That’s on me. It’s those 3 things: defensive clarity, role clarity and offensive organization,” Redick said.
While the team has had difficulties since James returned, it has gone the other way around. The four-time champion needed time to adjust to his role. Before he was integrated into the lineup, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves were playing well as the first two options for the Lakers.
The 21-time All-Star averaged 14.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists in his first six games. He required more time to adjust to his role and cooperate with Reaves and Doncic.
