The Los Angeles Lakers continue to struggle in their current NBA season. After their ninth loss in 12 games, concerns have been raised both within and outside of the organization about the team’s direction.
There are growing frustrations and a deepening disconnect between head coach Darvin Ham and the Lakers’ locker room. Six sources with direct knowledge of the situation have highlighted the issues, with concerns about the head coach’s standing within the team. It is reported that extreme rotation and starting lineup adjustments recently implemented by Ham have led to a fluctuating rhythm for several players across the roster.
The latest loss came at the hands of the Miami Heat, who beat the Lakers 110-96 at Crypto.com Arena. This loss dropped Los Angeles to a 17-18 record, marking the first time they have fallen below a .500 winning percentage since November 11. They are now just .001 percentage points ahead of the Golden State Warriors for the No. 10 spot in the Western Conference.
Despite several measures to turn things around, including using different starting lineups, the Lakers have failed to establish consistency and determine the best lineups, even when the team has been healthy. The decision to bench D’Angelo Russell and make various lineup changes has been considered a head-scratcher by multiple parties within the organization.
After the recent loss, there was clear tension in the locker room. Both Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves spoke about the team’s need to execute better, showing a sense of dejection and urgency to improve the team’s performance.
Head coach Darvin Ham also expressed his concern, attributing the team’s inconsistencies to injuries and multiple rotation players being in and out of the lineup, making it difficult to establish a rhythm. Despite the challenges, Ham emphasized the need to explore all possibilities to find solutions and “right the ship.”
The team’s struggles have led to the locker room atmosphere being described as “sh—y” by Reaves. However, he clarified that it was not a matter of the players disliking one another, but rather a result of the frustration of losing games.
The Lakers find themselves in a challenging position, with growing pressure on head coach Darvin Ham to guide the team back on track. As the team navigates through its current issues, time is of the essence for the veteran players, LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Patience is running thin, and there is a sense of urgency to address the ongoing struggles to salvage the season.