The Los Angeles Lakers’ potential to gain momentum on Saturday night was completely squashed. Despite having a favorable chance to secure a significant victory against the reigning NBA Champions, the Lakers fell short once more against the Denver Nuggets.
Consistent with their recent history against the Nuggets, the Lakers managed to keep pace for a while but ultimately couldn’t match Denver’s performance. Despite holding an eight-point lead at halftime, the game was tied by the end of the third quarter, leading to a fourth quarter where the Nuggets outscored the Lakers by 10 points.
This outcome served as a stark reminder that the Lakers are not currently on par with the Nuggets, and it raises questions about the effectiveness of LA’s coach. Once again, questionable lineup decisions were made, including benching D’Angelo Russell for an extended period in the fourth quarter.
Furthermore, there was a lack of accountability from the coach after the game. Instead of providing a reasonable explanation for the loss, the coach opted for a generic statement about the team needing to keep exerting effort.
Lakers fans are beyond fed up with Darvin Ham
Ham’s repetitive emphasis on effort over tactical adjustments is more fitting for a youth basketball team learning the basics than a professional squad led by one of the game’s legends. Throughout the season, his responses to questions have centered on effort without offering concrete strategies for improvement. This approach might be acceptable if he backed it up with a solid game plan, but that’s been lacking. The Lakers have consistently appeared disorganized, indicating poor coaching.
Reports of tension between Ham and the players surfaced earlier in the season, particularly during a rough stretch. Sources suggest that Ham’s refusal to take responsibility and his overreliance on the effort narrative have strained relations within the team.
It’s evident to many observers that Ham isn’t cut out for the head coaching role. While he was well-regarded as an assistant in Milwaukee and Atlanta, being a head coach requires more than just motivational speeches. It’s about strategy and adaptation, areas where Ham seems to fall short.
Unless there’s a drastic turnaround and a deep playoff run, it wouldn’t be surprising if Ham’s stint as Lakers head coach ends after just two seasons.
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