LeBron James has not yet made up his mind on the Los Angeles Lakers for 2023–24.

The Lakers’ defeat by the Houston Rockets 128-94 on Wednesday at the Toyota Center reduced them to 3-5 and 0-5 away from home. Ham’s favorite term, “energy and effort,” was just as lacking from the Lakers as the star big Anthony Davis, who was scratched at the last minute. For the sixth time in their last eight games, they fell behind by double digits in the first quarter (according to ESPN, they are -74 in first quarters this season, the worst differential through eight games in NBA history). The Rockets outscored the Lakers by 11 in transition and outrebounded them by 23. The Lakers also gave up 68 points in the paint. They were defeated by a wide margin (24–3) in the second-chance points battle once more. There was no off-ball action at all.

AD is not the only player still out for Los Angeles; Jaxson Hayes, Gabe Vincent, and Jarred Vanderbilt are also sidelined. Taurean Prince and Rui Hachimura, who leads Houston with 24 points, have both missed time. LeBron, who finished the game with 18 points in just 27 minutes, bluntly attributed his team’s difficulties to repetitions and body count.

“We can’t build cohesion if we don’t have our unit,” he said. “It’s that simple. We’re very depleted on the injury side.”

“Every day, we have a different lineup, we play with different guys, new guys come in,” said Hachimura. “It’s almost like we have a trade every day, you know?”

LeBron was asked if Nov. 8 is too early to offer an “assessment” of his shorthanded squad.

“I don’t have an assessment,” he replied.

For the time being, the Lakers may legitimately blame Ls on maturation issues, wellness, and chilly 3-point shooting. However, this does not justify game-beginning basketball that lacks spirit. It’s been simple to evaluate the Lakers’ insufficient level of intensity, regardless of who suits up. Luckily, Davis should be back for the Lakers’ final road trip matchup with the Phoenix Suns, which also happens to be the teams’ first In-Season Tournament matchup.

“It’s tough,” said Ham. “We’re juggling different circumstances, guys being in and out of the lineup. But at the end of the day, no one’s gonna feel sorry for you. Especially when you’re a Los Angeles Laker. So, our biggest thing now … is to go into Phoenix on Friday and just be the hardest-working, most competitive, most together team on the floor for 48 minutes.”