Even though they lost their first five games of the season, the Lakers were playing fairly solid defense during that slump, but their defensive numbers have dropped off substantially during their recent three-game losing streak. Head coach Darvin Ham is convinced that those struggles won’t last, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
“I would say this, man. And write it, quote it, however,” Ham told reporters on Monday. “This may be happening now at the outset of what we’re trying to force to be a culture change in terms of getting us back to being highly competitive on a highly consistent basis, but it’s not going to always be like this.
“We’re going to turn the corner. I didn’t come here to lose. They didn’t bring me here to lose.”
As McMenamin writes, Ham believes that significant roster turnover from last season to this season is a factor in the Lakers’ 2-8 start, as are injury issues — three starters, LeBron James, Patrick Beverley, and Lonnie Walker, sat out Monday’s loss to Utah.
“There is a process involved where we have to go through tough times,” Ham said. “Like, I want to bottle this up. I want to embrace it. I want to have it and store it so when things are turned around and we get too comfortable and we start complaining about some problems that are not even necessarily problems — problems that winning teams go through — I want to be able to reflect on these times.”
Anthony Davis told reporters on Monday that a 2-8 start is “a hard pill to swallow,” but noted that there’s still plenty of time to turn things around.
“I think New Orleans was 1-12 or something last year, come back and go on a run,” Davis said. “We’ve got to put it together. Offense has found its rhythm. It seems like we’ve lost all our defensive intensity. And that’s what’s killing us.”
Here’s more from around the Pacific:
- Jazz point guard Mike Conley believed at one point during the offseason that he was headed to Los Angeles, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic. As Jones reports, Conley received a message from someone he trusted saying that he could be traded to the Clippers, but the team ultimately signed John Wall instead to fortify the point guard spot.
- Already missing one starter, the Suns lost another in Monday’s game, as point guard Chris Paul exited in the second quarter due to right heel soreness and didn’t return. However, Paul doesn’t believe the injury will be a long-term concern, according to Tim Bontemps of ESPN. Asked if not returning to Monday’s game was mostly about he and the team taking a cautious approach to the injury, Paul replied, “Yeah.”
- Suns head coach Monty Williams said on Monday that the team may take a committee approach to replacing Cameron Johnson‘s minutes at power forward, Bontemps writes. Torrey Craig has gotten the first chance to take Johnson’s spot in the starting five, but Damion Lee, Dario Saric, and Jock Landale are also candidates for an eventual promotion, according to Williams.
Ham is definitely posturing for the media. His claims are ridiculous, other than roster turnover from last season’s pitiful roster. Building around LBJ is pennywise, and pound foolish at this point. I think they should trade Davis, LBJ too if they can. It’ll never happen, but this team is not competitive & Westbrook is the only one of the 3 earning his salary so far this season, yet he is on the bench because the other 2 stars can’t play with him. Ham has a lot of work to do, but fortunately probably not for very long. Coaches make less, get fired more.
Davis, James and Westbrook are all playing well it’s just that the fall off after those three as far as talent level is very steep. After those 3 none of these guys should be playing significant minutes for a team that isn’t tanking.
Building ?
They kinda are built No ?
They just won 2 years ago
See tacos post for “why” it isn’t working currently
Mike Conley would be good for the TWolves instead of DLo. They seem to need a veteran presence, a leader and someone that can run the offence efficiently. Would go along way to help Ant develop and achieving success with this team.
Doubt the Jazz have much interest in Dlo tho maybe a dear pats team like the Nets could get involved…
TWolves: Mike Conley and Rudy Gay
Jazz: Kyrie Irving, a first and 2 seconds (all nets)
Nets: Dlo and Teauren Prince
TWolves get the point guard leader they need and also have to give up prince for Gay to make the deal without giving up picks. Should be fine with Kyle Anderson, Wendell Carter and Gay for depth there anyway. Jazz likely waive Kyrie and just take the picks which isn’t a bad return for Conley and Gay. Brooklyn brings back Dlo how can hopefully turn it around a little on the court but should bring less media attention for the wrong reasons. You also add Prince who is a nice addition to the rotation.
Nets:
Dlo Joe Harris KD ONeale Claxton
Mills Cam Thomas Ben Simmons Prince Sharpe
Dlo knows the franchise and the fans love him there. Would fit in well with KD and those starters. Ben I think would thrive on the bench with a bunch of shooters and coming up against opposing teams reserves.
I can see that
Utah would def have interest in dlo s expiring to get Conley off the books next year
I don’t even think much else has to be exchanged to make it work: and if so ( nominal ) I have no clue who would give the extra(s)
Nice { basketball ) post , those are becoming rarer and rarer these days here
Horrendous trade. Pass the doobie and don’t hotbox it.