Lakers' lineup changes reportedly causing 'disjointedness' between players, head coach Darvin Ham
The Los Angeles Lakers have lost nine out of their last 12 games and sit 10th in the Western Conference with a 17-18 record.
It has not been rainbows and sunshine after winning the NBA's inaugural In-Season Tournament over the Indiana Pacers on Dec. 9. Since that night LeBron James and Co. are 3-9, which has led to reports of discontent in the team with head coach Darvin Ham.
According to a report by Shams Charania and Jovan Buha of The Athletic, it's not a happy locker room right now, and that has put Ham's future in question. Considering the story used six sources, that's not a good sign for him remaining on if winning days don't return very soon.
Those sources have described that the disjointedness between the coach and team has stemmed from the extreme rotation and starting lineup adjustments recently from Ham, leading to a fluctuating rhythm for several players across the roster.
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Ham’s decision to bench D’Angelo Russell and start James, Prince, Reddish, Jarred Vanderbilt and Anthony Davis in a lineup without a second guard ballhandler beginning Dec. 23 in Oklahoma City was considered a head-scratcher by multiple parties internally, according to sources spoken to for this story.
In trying to end the current slide, Ham used a third different lineup for the third straight game for Wednesday night's defeat to the Jimmy Butler-less Miami Heat. (It was the Lakers' 10th different lineup this season.) It didn't work and Ham has been unsuccessful this season finding the right, consistent mix for the team.
“We’re losing,” Reaves said after the loss to the Heat. “Anytime you lose, the vibe should be off, you know? If I went in [the locker room] and the vibe wasn’t off after the rough stretch that we’ve had, then I’d be concerned. That’s really it. You know, I don’t expect for us to be happy with how we’ve played. So, until we figure that out, you know, the vibe should be off. We got to win games.”
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"When I say the vibe is off, it's not like we don't like each other. It's we're losing. ... But I don't want to get that twisted on us not liking each other. Everybody in the locker room gets along."
Reaves has started only 10 of the Lakers' 35 games this season and is their third-leading scorer, averaging 15.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5 assists per game.
D'Angelo Russell, right behind Reaves in scoring with 14.8 points and 6.1 assists per game, has seen his minutes drop since the In-Season Tournament ended.
Ham spoke after Wednesday's game and tied the team's lack of consistency with injuries affecting the lineup all season, though the Lakers' four leading scorers — James, Reaves, Russell and Davis — have played all but eight games together.
"We can't find any consistency until we get healthy. It's as simple as that. We've got to get healthy," Ham said. "When you're dealing with different guys being in and out of the lineup that frequently, it's damn near impossible to find a rhythm. That's just being real."
Ham added that there is the possibility he will go back to a starting lineup of James, Davis, Reaves, Russell, and Jarred Vanderbilt — a lineup that worked at the end of last season — once Russell returns from a tailbone contusion.
"I think everything is on the table that makes sense," Ham said. "No stone shall go unturned. We're here to explore whatever we can to right the ship."
