Despite 11 straight losses to Clippers, Darvin Ham remains unfazed as LA Lakers drop to 7th seed - "We are together"
LA Lakers coach Darvin Ham saw his team lose their 11th straight game to hometown rivals LA Clippers on Wednesday. Nevertheless, Ham was unfazed as the Purple and Gold dropped to seventh in the West following a 125-118 loss.
The Lakers were dealt a tough hand as they faced the Clippers on the second night of a back-to-back. Although the Purple and Gold were coming off an OT win against the Utah Jazz on the road, the Lakeshow were fatigued.
The exhaustion slowed early on as the Lakers came out slow and sluggish. LeBron James and Anthony Davis, who were game-time decisions, took time to find their legs.
The Lakers faced unfavorable odds against the Clippers, and the problems were only exacerbated during the game. Ham, though, chose to dwell on the unity in the group regarding their season goals. As per Los Angeles Times' Dan Woike, he said:
"They want to put it on the line," Darvin Ham says of Lakers players/team decision to play LBJ and AD tonight. "...That's the silver lining. We are together."
"They want to put it on the line," Darvin Ham says of Lakers players/team decision to play LBJ and AD tonight. "...That's the silver lining. We are together."
Ham was positve in the aftermath of the loss, but the gamble of starting LeBron James and Davis didn't pay off. With two games left in the season, the Lakers can still make it back to sixth, but it's going to be an uphill battle.
Also Read: "Clippers run LA at this point"- NBA fans troll LeBron James and the LA Lakers after they lose their 11th straight game to their city rivals
LA Lakers to face Phoenix Suns next
Now 41-39 on the season, the LA Lakers are certain to be in the play-in tournament, but a position in the top half of the bracket is far from guaranteed.
Tied with the New Orleans Pelicans, the Lakers must create some difference to secure their position. Unfortunately, with the Phoenix Suns up next on Friday, the Lakers have their task cut out.
Much like the Clippers, the Suns have also dominated the Lakers in the last few seasons. Although LA beat Phoenix recently, the Suns were without Kevin Durant. A healthy Suns team is a title contender.
Nevertheless, LeBron James and the LA Lakers have no option but to go for the win.