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USA Today via Reuters

USA Today via Reuters

After winning the first-ever NBA Cup, the Los Angeles Lakers are looking like a flop show this season. With an incredible squad that consists of the dynamic duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis how the City of Angels manage to lose their games is a question in itself. But looking at the poor performances displayed by the Lakers, fans, and analysts have started questioning the methods of the head coach Darvin Ham.

But even with the poor track record, coach Ham has the support of the owner Jeanie Buss who is speculated to have fired Frank Vogel for his decisions regarding the 9x All-Star, Russell Westbrook.

Russell Westbrook’s poor performance got Vogel fired

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According to sources, on the basis of a failed integration and a poor overall performance in April 2022, Frank Vogel was fired by Jeanie Buss. Even though the former head coach of the Lakers had led the franchise to a championship in the 2019-20220 season. Things started going south for him when the City of Angels acquired the former MVP, Russell Westbrook. Due to his dynamic style, they assumed the veteran would fit in with the Lakers instantly; however, the opposite happened.

USA Today via Reuters

Westbrook was unable to find his footing in the roster and struggled with his rhythm which ultimately led him to exit the franchise. So, after his exit, Vogel was the one blamed for being unable to integrate Westbrook and hampering the overall performance of the club which led to his firing. With this decision, Buss emphasized the delicate balance between attaining success on the court and managing locker room issues.

Currently, Darvin Ham has stepped in the shoes of Frank Vogel. When his team won the inaugural In-Season tournament, they were looking invincible. Due to that, Coach Ham won the support and trust of Buss. He even thanked her and said, “She does everything in her power to give me whatever I need for the success of the club.” Till which point this would continue is unknown for now, as LA struggles to find its footing again.

How has the season of the Lakers been so far

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After gaining a much-needed win against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Lakers are currently 10th in the Western Conference rankings.  However, despite a good 12-6 home record, their road issues continue, with a 6-13 record away from Crypto.com Arena. The team is currently having a disconnect within their locker rooms because of Coach Ham’s repeated rotation changes.

Read More: “Thank You for Saving My Mortgage”: Russell Westbrook’s Late Game Brilliance Earns Praise From Fans

The Lakers, who had a promising 14-9 record in early December have since lost nine of their last 12 games. Due to Ham’s frequent lineup changes the players’ rhythm has been broken, which is adding to the team’s recent troubles. So, if the team needs to succeed, either the coach will have to change his methods or the owners will have to make another bold decision for the betterment of the franchise.

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Watch this Story: After Russell Westbrook, Kawhi Leonard Is Ready for a Major Sacrifice for James Harden

Do you think Ham is the root cause of the Lakers’ problems? Let us know in the comments below.