The Los Angeles Lakers walked into TD Garden with something to prove. They wanted to show they could go toe-to-toe with the Boston Celtics, that they belonged in the same conversation. But by the time the final buzzer sounded, all they had were fresh bruises—on the scoreboard, on their roster, and maybe even on their confidence.

This wasn’t just another loss. It was a cold, hard reality check. The kind they’ve been trying to ignore for way too long. And then, JJ Redick put it into words.

“I think sometimes in these games, you never know what to chalk these things up to. But I think start of an East Coast trip, some brain fog execution-wise for us.“

Now, that might sound like coach-speak, but let’s be real—he was saying what every Lakers fan is terrified to admit. It’s not just about one bad quarter or a few missed shots. It’s about what happens every single time LeBron James isn’t there to hold this team together. And now? He’s hurt.

For a little while, it looked like the Lakers might actually pull this off. Luka Doncic was doing what he does best, putting on a show, dropping 34 points despite battling through his own back issues. But then came the third quarter. That’s when the Celtics punched them in the mouth—and the Lakers just stood there, dazed, watching everything slip away.

Redick wasn’t exaggerating. Plays were being called, but nobody was running them right. Guys were out of position. The offense? Completely stalled. Boston smelled blood, and before the Lakers even knew what hit them, their lead had disappeared.

And then, the moment every fan dreads.

Midway through the fourth, LeBron James walked off the court. A groin injury. Just weeks after foot and ankle soreness kept him out of the All-Star Game. The second he left, the entire vibe of the team changed. It wasn’t just a game anymore. It felt bigger than that. It felt like history was repeating itself.

JJ Redick faces the same old story, same old pain

This isn’t new. The Lakers don’t function without LeBron. That’s not an overreaction—it’s just the truth. This team has been built to thrive when he’s on the floor, but the second he’s gone? It’s like they forget who they are.

They thought adding Luka Doncic would change that. And to be fair, he’s been everything they hoped for. But not even his 34-point night could stop what was coming. Because when LeBron isn’t leading the charge, the Lakers don’t just lose games—they lose their identity.

Rui Hachimura? Out. Jaxson Hayes? Out. Doncic? Playing through pain. And now LeBron, the one guy who makes everything work, could be facing more time on the sidelines.

It’s the same nightmare all over again—just with a different cast. JJ Redick called it “brain fog,” but let’s not sugarcoat it. The Lakers looked lost. They had no answers. And honestly, they haven’t had any for years. LeBron has been the glue, the fix-it-all, the one thing keeping this team from completely falling apart. But what happens when he’s not there to hold it all together?

Maybe this time will be different. Maybe Doncic can carry them through. Maybe Redick can find a system that actually works when LeBron is out.

Or maybe, just maybe, this is the moment the Lakers are forced to face the truth—this entire time, they’ve been building a house of cards. And now, the wind is blowing again.