Darvin Ham took the LA Lakers to the Western Convention finals in his first yr as a head coach. Ham was on the helm when the staff roared from a 0.3% likelihood of creating 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 in opposition to the OKC Thunder. It’s a greater win-loss slate than their 13-16 report on the identical level final season. Nonetheless, Ham’s staff is struggling, and plenty of assume he could also be within the sizzling seat.
Already, there’s a checklist 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 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 following 10 choices are nonetheless concerned as head coach or assistant coach within the NBA. If Ham must be changed, it may not occur this season.
An fascinating title 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 through 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. Nonetheless, 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.
Lastly, there’s Skip Bayless, the longtime LeBron James critic on the checklist. 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 solid at his disposal, the Lakers are remarkably struggling on offense. Heading into their recreation on Saturday in opposition to the OKC Thunder, they’re ranked twenty fourth in offensive effectivity. The Washington Wizards, who’ve gained 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 mentioned 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, could be a completely completely 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 staff will carry out this season.