Darvin Ham took the LA Lakers to the Western Conference finals in his first yr as a head coach. Ham was on the helm when the workforce roared from a 0.3% probability of creating the playoffs to battling the eventual champions within the convention finals. The former NBA journeyman led the workforce to win the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament.
The Lakers are 15-14 this season heading into their sport on Saturday in opposition to the OKC Thunder. It’s a greater win-loss slate than their 13-16 report on the similar level final season. However, Ham’s workforce is struggling, and plenty of assume he could also be within the scorching seat.
Already, there’s a record of potential replacements for Darvin Ham that has gone viral:
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Phil Handy: +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 Handy, one in every of 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 has to get replaced, it won’t occur this season.
An fascinating identify within the combine is LeBron James, the face of the NBA and the franchise famous person. The final time the league had a player-coach was throughout the 1978-79 season. The late Dave Cowens had a 27-41 report with the Boston Celtics in that capability.
“King James” is the LA Lakers’ coach when he’s on the ground. However, asking him to do it full-time and likewise put within the work as a participant could also be an excessive amount of at this stage in his profession.
Finally, there’s Skip Bayless, the longtime LeBron James critic on the record. The Lakers would have to be past determined to even think about 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 Wood within the offseason. Darvin Ham nonetheless has LeBron James, Austin Reaves, Anthony Davis and Rui Hachimura and D’Angelo Russell as the primary gamers.
With a star-studded forged at his disposal, the Lakers are remarkably struggling on offense. Heading into their sport on Saturday in opposition to 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 fear as the workforce is struggling.
The LA Lakers are additionally twenty fifth in 3-point effectivity, the second-worst workforce in offensive rebounding and backside 10 in turnovers. Having mentioned that, Darvin Ham’s workforce confirmed within the NBA In-Season Tournament that they’re nonetheless robust to beat.
In a knockout format, they’re as legit title contenders as any. A seven-game collection, although, is perhaps a completely totally different factor if the offense continues to sputter. Ham is aware of the stress of teaching the Lakers and has embraced it. His stint in Hollywood might rely on how his workforce will carry out this season.
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