Darvin Ham took the LA Lakers to the Western Convention finals in his first 12 months as a head coach. Ham was on the helm when the staff roared from a 0.3% likelihood of constructing the playoffs to battling the eventual champions within the convention finals. The previous NBA journeyman led the staff to win the inaugural NBA In-Season Event.
The Lakers are 15-14 this season heading into their recreation on Saturday towards the OKC Thunder. It’s a greater win-loss slate than their 13-16 document on the identical level final season. Nevertheless, Ham’s staff is struggling, and lots of assume he could also be within the sizzling seat.
Already, there’s a record of potential replacements for Darvin Ham that has gone viral:
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Phil Helpful: +350
Juwan Howard: +600
Jared Dudley: +750
Kenny Atkinson: +750
Sam Cassell: +750
Jamahl Mosley: +800
Quin Snyder: +800
JB Bickerstaff: +1000
Steve Clifford: +1000
Mike Brown: +1600
LeBron James: +2500
Skip Bayless: +100000
Phil Helpful, one in all LA’s assistant coaches, was reportedly one of many main candidates to take over Frank Vogel earlier than the entrance workplace selected Darvin Ham. The subsequent 10 choices are nonetheless concerned as head coach or assistant coach within the NBA. If Ham needs to be changed, it may not occur this season.
An attention-grabbing identify within the combine is LeBron James, the face of the NBA and the franchise celebrity. The final time the league had a player-coach was in the course of the 1978-79 season. The late Dave Cowens had a 27-41 document with the Boston Celtics in that capability.
“King James” is the LA Lakers’ coach when he’s on the ground. Nevertheless, asking him to do it full-time and in addition put within the work as a participant could also be an excessive amount of at this stage in his profession.
Lastly, there’s Skip Bayless, the longtime LeBron James critic on the record. The Lakers must be past determined to even take into account him.
Darvin Ham’s offense is sputtering
LA Lakers GM Rob Pelinka retooled the roster to make it higher and extra balanced. They acquired Jaxson Hayes, Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince, Cam Reddish and Christian Wooden within the offseason. Darvin Ham nonetheless has LeBron James, Austin Reaves, Anthony Davis and Rui Hachimura and D’Angelo Russell as the principle gamers.
With a star-studded forged at his disposal, the Lakers are remarkably struggling on offense. Heading into their recreation on Saturday towards the OKC Thunder, they’re ranked twenty fourth in offensive effectivity. The Washington Wizards, who’ve received simply 5 video games this season, are higher than them in that class.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis are having very good seasons and have been largely wholesome, however there’s cause to fret because the staff is struggling.
The LA Lakers are additionally twenty fifth in 3-point effectivity, the second-worst staff in offensive rebounding and backside 10 in turnovers. Having stated that, Darvin Ham’s staff confirmed within the NBA In-Season Event that they’re nonetheless robust to beat.
In a knockout format, they’re as legit title contenders as any. A seven-game sequence, although, is perhaps a completely completely different factor if the offense continues to sputter. Ham is aware of the strain of teaching the Lakers and has embraced it. His stint in Hollywood may rely upon how his staff will carry out this season.
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Edited by Michael Macasero