Lakers coach Darvin Ham unveiled another new starting five for Saturday’s win at New York, writes Khobi Price of The Orange County Register. With LeBron James and Anthony Davis both returning from one-game injury absences, Ham replaced Taurean Prince with Rui Hachimura, who made his eighth start of the year as Ham inserted more size into his frequently shifting lineup.
“Just coming out being bigger along the frontline,” Ham said. “Taurean, he has to do it on both sides of the ball. I just felt like him coming off the bench just would allow him to not only shore up our bench in terms of a defensive presence but also allow him to get some buckets too. We need him to score and be aggressive offensively. And so he was able to do that. It worked out well. It created a nice sense of balance.”
Prince, who came off the bench for the first time this season, still found a way to contribute, scoring 16 points in 33 minutes. He and Austin Reaves handled most of the offense as L.A. took over the game in the fourth quarter, combining for 16 of the team’s first 20 points.
“That’s what we need,” Ham added. “We have a team full of talented offensive players. The more they assert themselves and stay aggressive, and … deliver; take advantage of the opportunities that they have, the better it will be (and) the more endurance we’ll have for LeBron and A.D.”
There’s more on the Lakers:
- Saturday’s win gives L.A. a 3-2 record on its annual Grammys road trip, which was expected to impact the team’s strategy heading into Thursday’s trade deadline, Price adds. The Lakers can wrap up a winning trip with a victory Monday at Charlotte, and they’ve moved within one game of eighth-place Dallas. “We’re just trying to get to a place where we’re playing the type of basketball we envisioned,” Ham said. “The type of basketball we know we’re capable of and defend at a high, high level. That’s (going to) give you a chance every night. And we’ve got enough firepower in terms of people in the starting lineup, people coming off the bench to where we’re (going to) be able to put points on the board.”
- Ham isn’t concerned about the hourglass emoji tweet that James posted earlier this week, according to Tim Bontemps of ESPN (Twitter link). He said it’s a reflection of the urgency to win that comes with being part of the Lakers organization. “If I were him, I would’ve put out two or three hourglasses,” Ham quipped.
- After Saturday’s game, James offered advice to young players who want to be successful in the NBA, saying it requires a total commitment to basketball, tweets Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “Just pour it all into the game ,” James said. “If you want to be great and if you want to be someone that will be never forgotten in the league, the cars and the jewelry and all the other dumb s–t that don’t matter means absolutely nothing.”
Gabe Vincent & Rui to Toronto for Bruce Brown & Otto… Raps get a hard nosed, 3&D guard in Vincent that can bring them alot of what they lost when they traded Lowry away (when he’s healthy next season). They also get a scoring forward in Rui that could be a spark off their bench for yrs to come… Lakers get a human Swiss army knife in Brown that is just coming off a great postseason & looking for his 2nd title in a row. He seems like exactly the type of guy that Darvin Ham would want on the floor with Bron/AD in crunch time. Also, crucially, LAL would get to keep their 2029 1st in this deal
Don’t do it, Raptors. One of the higher seeded West teams will be able to offer you more.
Specifically who tho? And what would their superior offer be?
Raptors would want something more from Lakers than just Rui and Vincent. Replace Vanderbilt with Vincent and the trade goes through.
I feel like Toronto would want Vincent more than Vanderbilt tbh. Vincent is the guy that just helped lead Miami to the Finals last postseason as their starting pg. For a team (like Toronto) that is currently looking for a starting pg he would be an enticing option. Also there’s the African factor. Ujiri is clearly fond of guys with African backgrounds & Vincent is the star of the Nigerian national team. But tbh any 2 of Rui/Vando/Vincent would prob work from LAL’s pov. Im sure they’d rather keep Rui the most since he’s the only one that can contribute this season
Lakers over paid for Vincent. He is one dimensional player that can score but plays no defense. Vanderbilt plays defense which is more valuable to a team since anyone can score.
There are other teams that can out bid Rui and Vincent for Brown is why the lakers need to give more to get him.
Apparently you missed Gabe Vincent shutting down Zach LaVine in the play in last season, or outplaying Jrue Holiday in the playoffs, or just being one of the best defensive pgs in the league last season.. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_jmvzcA–9o
Brown can’t be combined with other salaries in trade because he was already traded once this season. You have to trade him by himself or with picks, no other players.
ok same deal without Otto
Gabe looked terrible in the Finals. he is a below average defensive player. He is not good defensively.
I’m a Hawks fan, trust me Gabe Vincent is a VERY good defender. Or just trust the examples I just showed you. Or the obvious fact that he was the starting pg on a team that defended their way to a conference championship last season.
He’s played in 5 games this year and was terrible in those games. How Rob thought he as a good fit for this Lakers team is beyond me.
Vanderbilt can’t be traded this year
Brown can’t be combined w other salaries in a trade going out
They got these great articles article’s at the top of the page fellas , maybe try scrolling them every once in awhile and become bettter informed
ok same deal without Otto
It is so clear Darvin Ham’s time is up, but it is fun seeing him pretending as if it isnt lol
I like it when people bring up the less-talked-about records Brawny Sensation owns (or is closing in on). How bout this one: MOST HEAD COACHES PLAYED FOR BY A PLAYER WHO WAS NEVER TRADED NOR RELEASED BY ANY TEAM DURING HIS CAREER
Does anyone know the total without looking it up? (note: count Mike Brown once)
One game injury lol. Come on Silver, do your job and fine them for resting players. Lakers can do it, Celtics can quit mid game but Brooklyn how dare you. LeBron always sitting out games. Meanwhile EVERYONE ever in NBA history (except Marvin Barnes) has had pride to play every game they can. No wonder LeBron has lasted this long.
It’s a nagging injury that has been bothering him for the last two seasons that he’s been playing through the entire time. Same ankle injury that took him out for most of last year. C’mon Luke. At least try.
I get not liking it, but resting to see how an injury responds is a common medical tactic. You see it all the time in other sports as well. Baseball it happens like once every seven or eight games for some guys.
C’mon EON SMH believe whatever you want. LeBron and Davis both out one game and now both are back at the same time….. They are fine. You know better bro. Try harder bro
Injury management isn’t the same as load management. You should know this.
And this is load management and not injury management. You should know this
LeFlop keeps injuring himself with his fake “I got fouled” moves.
One game injury lol. What a joke. Just say they are resting and stop treating us like clueless sheep…oh wait. Vince is gone but silver the same type is back for more.
Weakest era ever. Bob Petit could school these guys. He would lead Atlanta to another title
Hawks*