Darvin Ham’s decision to change his starting lineup paid off Friday as the Lakers snapped a three-game losing streak, writes Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times.
Ham replaced Austin Reaves with Cam Reddish in a move designed to create a better situation for both players, Woike explains. Reddish doesn’t need the ball as much, which frees up LeBron James, Anthony Davis and D’Angelo Russell to handle the majority of the offense. Reaves has a greater license to create with the second unit, which he did Friday, making all four of his shots in the second half and dishing out five assists in the fourth quarter.
“I don’t think, in my mind, it’s a demotion. Because in my mind, I believe in what I do. And I believe that I will finish games and play the right way,” Reaves said. “… But I think if I come out and was playing fine or shooting the ball fine, I don’t think any of this would’ve happened.”
A string of dreadful early-game performances led to Ham’s move. Before Friday, L.A. had been outscored by 74 points throughout first quarters so far this season. Ham said the idea for a change came to him following Wednesday’s blowout loss in Houston and he told Reaves the next day, promising a plan similar to what Manu Ginobili used to do in San Antonio.
“He said all the right things. And I totally believe him. But he’s a prideful dude,” Ham said. “He’s been our starting two guard. It’s an adjustment. But I told him, one, it’s going to balance us out. And when you come in, you’re going to have your own crew. Ball’s going to be in your hands and you’re not going to have to take turns with Bron, D-Lo and AD. Number two, your minutes are not going to go down. … And number three, you’re going to finish the games for us. You’ll be in at the end.”
There’s more on the Lakers:
- Ham didn’t say how long the new starting lineup will last, but noted that he’ll have more rotation decisions whenever Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent return from injuries, per Jovan Buha of The Athletic. In Buha’s view, the team needs to stagger the minutes for Reaves and Russell, who are similar players and weren’t effective together in the starting five.
- James is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against Portland after suffering a left calf contusion late in Friday’s contest, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN. The injury occurred when his shin collided with Kevin Durant‘s knee on a drive to the basket. “It never loosened up,” James told reporters after the game. “(It) pretty much locked up right then and there. So I tried to keep my composure, make sure I was OK and try to keep it stretched out and as loose as possible and play the game and be effective. Pretty sore right now. Obviously because the adrenaline is calming down and iced it, now it’s pretty sore.”
- Davis said he felt good in his return to the court Friday after sitting out Wednesday’s game with left hip spasms (Twitter link from Spectrum SportsNet). “It took some time to kind of get into the game just with the shots and stuff, kind of just trying not to aggravate it,” Davis said. “But as the game kind of got going, I just stopped thinking about it and started playing. Felt it a couple times throughout the course of the game, but for the most part, it felt good.”
Didnt Reaves end up with like 35 mins vs the Suns?
Yeah he did. Ham said he envisions a Ginobli like role, in his prime Ginobli averaged between 27-31 MPG.
They might have stumbled upon a closing backcourt of LBJ/reaves with those PnR’s really opening up the offense/spacing
Vandos health could help that particular rotation as LBJ would have a difficult time guarding 2’s on the other end for long stretches.
Id like to see a LBJ/Reaves/Vando/Ad rotation with either Wood Rui or Prince flanking the 5th spot from the corner 3. That rotation could defend, space, shoot and get in the paint
Reaves and LeBron screening for each other has already shown itself to be a lethal set. The only team in last year’s playoffs that could deal was the Nuggets, and that was largely because they’d just respond on the other end. Need to re-emphasize that, as Ham has hardly called for it at all this year.
In the end I think it’ll have to be Bron Reaves Prince AD and Wood. 3 main scorers/ball Ah sleds in Bron Reaves and AD, Wood and Prince can space the floor. Much bigger sized line up which helps with the rebounding struggles aswell. Dlo then gets to be the sixth man and take games over from the bench along with Rui Hachimura. Then around them to provide some defence you have Gabe Vincent, Cam Reddish and Jarrod Vanderbilt with Jaxson Hayes getting occasional minutes.
But for now I like Reaves on the bench and Dlo starting as that what the form suggest. DLo’s been playing great and Reaves has struggled and then you make the change and get the win. So keep with it for now but don’t be afraid to change it in the future.
Cam had a nice game against Suns. Bron might actually save his career. No one better to learn from. When the NBA Goat in scoring shows you he’s the best team player. You’d be a fool not to learn.
Anthony Davis injury and daylight savings time…
If Anthony Davis goes down, the Lakers have no shot at wins. If LeBron goes down, the Lakers have no shot at wins against a playoff team. Whole season rides on keeping an injury-prone AD, and 40 year-old LeBron healthy.