LeBron James-less Lakers took on their arch-rivals at Crypto.com arena and resulted in a disappointing loss. The LA Clippers showcased a clinical performance spearheaded by Kawhi Leonard for a comfortable 127-116 win. While the Purple and Gold side has a lot to work on keeping their playoffs hopes alive, HC Darvin Ham showed confidence and took pride in tonight’s performance.
Following the game, Ham took up a few questions from the reporters. One of them asked him about the team’s performance in the absence of King James. Surprisingly, Ham only had positive insights about his team’s performance. He said, “How we competed together… Guys taking accountability for mistakes, not making them twice… Disappointed in the loss, but proud of the way our guys competed without LeBron.”
Darvin Ham said the "lesson" for the Lakers from tonight's game is "how we competed together. Guys taking accountability for mistakes, not making them twice. … Disappointed in the loss, but proud of the way our guys competed without LeBron."
Ham credited the Lakers for not…
— Michael Corvo (@michaelcorvoNBA) January 24, 2024
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Moreover, he also went into detail about the team’s run on both ends of the court. Speaking of the offense, Ham said it was organized, and that the players communicated well seeing what they wanted to “get out of every offensive possession”.
Importantly, he stressed the defense abilities of the side. He added, “Defensively, you know, us having stretches where you know phenomenal plays made… as the game got longer our defense got stronger.”
At the same time, the Lakers fans weren’t really happy with the way things have panned out for their side. Amid the LA clash, fans were calling for the Austin Reaves trade instead of D’Angelo Russell ahead of the trade deadline.
As the team plunges into the second half of the season, questions about the playoff spot loom over the NBA world. Especially, in the case of the Lakers, who have had a hot-and-cold run throughout the season would require their franchise leader to lock in before it’s too late.
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When will LeBron James return to the court?
In this season, LeBron James has missed 6 games so far, and two of them were due to an ankle injury. Ahead of the game, Ham addressed the press and said that the 4x NBA Champion had been listed in the Day-to-Day injury report and would miss out on tonight’s game, as per Bleacher Report. A few days ago, he missed the game against the Utah Jazz at home and the Lakers gave away an embarrassing 132-125 loss.
Similarly, in tonight’s game, James’ absence resulted in another defeat. Moreover, the team is currently in the 9th seed, barely making it to the playoffs. , The Akron Hammer‘s participation in the rest of the season will determine a lot for the Lakers moving forward.
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What do you make of Darvin Ham’s statement about the team’s performance in tonight’s game? Let us know in the comments below.