Lakers HC Darvin Ham’s Strategies Did Not Succeed Against The Nuggets Veteran Coach
Darvin Ham, the coach of the LA Lakers, maintained optimism despite his team losing the conference finals matchup 3-0 to the Denver Nuggets. On Saturday, the Lakers dropped Game 3 at home 119-108. Their chances of making a comeback to face the top-seeded Nuggets and reach the championship game were significantly diminished by the setback.
Lakers HC Darvin Ham’s Strategies Did Not Succeed Against The Nuggets Veteran Coach
Ham, though, thinks that the Lakers will essentially remain in the game until the Nuggets end the series. He said the following following Saturday’s defeat.
“The deficit is 3-0. Not 4-0. As long as they haven’t gotten to four yet, there’s still hope. We’re still alive.”
Darvin Ham:
“The deficit is 3-0. Not 4-0. As long as they haven’t gotten to four yet, there’s still hope. We’re still alive.”
(via @jovanbuha) pic.twitter.com/FALKrNDqwF
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 21, 2023
Mike Malone, who has been in command of the Nuggets since 2015, is Ham, a rookie NBA head coach, and it shows.
Darvin Ham implemented a three-guard lineup with D’Angelo Russell, Dennis Schröder and Austin Reaves when the Lakers were down 6.
The lineup went out when the Lakers were down 12.
Did he not learn his lesson about using that lineup against the Nuggets after Game 1?
— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) May 21, 2023
The Lakers coach has not advanced since the Golden State Warriors were eliminated, when Ham’s switch to a three-guard lineup was a huge success.
He used a small ball lineup to open Game 1 of the WCF, and the situation swiftly spiraled out of hand. For the second half, Ham switched back to a two-guard unit, and the Lakers came close to a comeback.
Darvin Ham still has hope for the Lakers down 3-0. pic.twitter.com/WdvosGDNk9
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 21, 2023
Ham ought to have understood that even if it meant playing Tristan Thompson a few minutes, he needed size on the court at all times against Denver.
This season, the new coach has faced a lot of difficulty. LA had a 0.3% chance of making the playoffs when the season began and they were 2-10. They not only made it to the postseason, but they are currently one of the four teams still playing in the playoffs.
"We'll be okay. Trust me."
Darvin Ham after Game 1 pic.twitter.com/LkJOLhwgwx
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 17, 2023
However, playing three guards at once has been the Purple & Gold’s downfall in each WCF game. Game 2 was easily won as LA went back to their usual starting lineup with an 11-point lead in the third quarter and until Ham again went small.
The same scenario occurred in Game 3 when LeBron James made back-to-back triples to end the third quarter and Ham chose to go small in the fourth.
Darvin Ham still working on the game plan 😅 pic.twitter.com/q9CfWJUIkf
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 21, 2023
Before Lonnie Walker IV took over as the starting point guard, Austin Reaves and Dennis Schroder were on the court alongside D’Angelo Russell, who had struggled throughout the whole series.
According to reports, Russell, 27, would take offense if he were to sit on the bench, but desperate circumstances call for desperate methods.
Darvin Ham needs to dust off the 2020 tape and realize 2 bigs worked against Denver. You don’t have a muscle big like Dwight Howard, but you have to try Wenyen Gabriel or Tristan Thompson if you’re going to get abused like this
— Pistol Pete⏱ (@PeteOfTheMoment) May 17, 2023
To advance to the conference finals, the Purple and Gold overcame the No. 2 seeded Memphis Grizzlies and the reigning champion Golden State Warriors. Darvin Ham had a positive outlook on the conference finals despite being down 3-0, but their Cinderella run is probably coming to an end.
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