Darvin Ham Finds Aid in Deep Waters as NBA Champion Defends Lakers Coach’s Alarming Times

The Los Angeles Lakers find themselves in familiar territory. They’re struggling to meet expectations and searching for answers. As is often the case, the blame game has begun, with much of the criticism falling on the shoulders of second-year head coach Darvin Ham. However, NBA veteran and analyst Kendrick Perkins has come to Ham’s defense, arguing that the Lakers’ coaching carousel is not the solution to their problems.

Perkins, a former teammate of LeBron James and a champion himself with the Boston Celtics in 2008, has been a vocal critic of the Lakers’ recent struggles. He has pointed to a lack of roster continuity, defensive deficiencies, and a general lack of effort as the root causes of the team’s issues.

In a recent tweet, Perkins specifically addressed the criticism directed at Ham. He wrote, “Every time the Lakers struggle… they blame the Coach. Lakers had a coach in Vogel that they won a Chip with.”

Perkins’ comments echo the sentiments of many analysts who believe that the Lakers’ struggles are more about the roster than the coaching. The team has been plagued by injuries, a lack of shooting, and an overall lack of size and athleticism. These issues, which were present before Ham arrived, have only been magnified this season.

Defending Darvin Ham amid Lakers’ dreadful defense

Ham’s defenders also point to his success as an assistant coach. He was a key part of the Milwaukee Bucks’ championship team in 2021 and has a reputation as a defensive-minded coach. While the Lakers’ defence has not been dominant this season, there have been signs of improvement, particularly in recent weeks.

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It’s important to remember that Ham is just second year into his tenure with the Lakers. Building a championship team takes time, especially when there are significant roster challenges. While the Lakers’ current situation is frustrating, firing Ham would likely only set the franchise back further.

But then, the Lakers have a history of firing coaches quickly. In the past decade, they have had six different head coaches. This instability has made it difficult for the team to develop a winning culture.

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The Lakers are a team under immense pressure to win. With LeBron James nearing the end of his career, the team is running out of time to contend for a title. This pressure can lead to rash decisions, such as firing a coach before giving him a fair chance.