SUMMARY
- The Los Angeles Lakers are facing challenges in the current NBA season, holding the No. 11 rank in the Western Conference.
- The upcoming game against the Los Angeles Clippers is considered crucial for Darvin Ham's position as the Lakers' head coach.
The Los Angeles Lakers are trailing and seem to be marred by the decision-making skills of Darvin Ham. This is the narrative that revolves around the league, and many legends and players second this motion. The No. 11 rank in the Western Conference supports the claim, as the Lakers are just one spot ahead of the No. 12 Utah Jazz.
While the changing lineups disgruntle the Lakers’ players, the comments by head coach Darvin Ham also portray the disconnect between the core team and the coach. Although there has been no official statement from the Lakers’ front office, the seat has started to get warmer for Ham. Adding to the stress, the Lakers are about to face the Los Angeles Clippers.
I’d still be pretty surprised if Ham was fired midseason, let alone this weekend, but between how the locker room feels about him, recent results, and his own comments, things feel pretty damn dire. A blowout Sunday with more showers of boos would be impossible for the…
— Anthony F. Irwin (@AnthonyIrwinLA) January 6, 2024
Anthony F. Irwin on X (formerly Twitter) pointed out how the face-off between the two teams is going to be crucial. Irwin claimed, “I’ve spent tonight asking around, and this is the general consensus I’ve gotten: Sunday is crucial for Ham.” Reiterating the fact that if the Lakers are unable to snap the four-game losing streak, Ham’s position as head coach will be in danger.
After sweeping the in-season tournament, the Lakers have played 13 games and won just 3 of them. Furthermore, the Clippers are standing at No. 4 in the Western Conference. Riding on a five-game winning streak, the team has conjured up 8 wins in the last 10 games. An NBA legend even supported the claims while praising the Clippers.
Charles Barkley ignores the Timberwolves and Thunder to praise the Clippers
The ‘round mound of rebound’—Charles Barkley made a bold claim in a recent episode of ‘Inside the NBA.’ Barkley said, “The scariest team in the West is the Los Angeles Clippers.” Praising how Kawhi Leonard deserves a spot as one of the five best basketball players in the world, ‘Chuck’ has made the headlines.
Chuck: “The scariest team in the West is the Los Angeles Clippers. … Kawhi Leonard is amazing. If he’s healthy, he’s one of the five best basketball players in the world.”
High praise for Kawhi and the @LAClippers 🙌 pic.twitter.com/4uFO1VZ6Bj
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 5, 2024
What’s astonishing is that ‘Chuck’ took into account how the Clippers are performing after acquiring James Harden but completely ignored the record of the Timberwolves, Thunder, and the Nuggets. Barkley also claimed that the Minnesota Timberwolves still need to showcase their prowess in the playoffs while reprimanding the Lakers and the Suns for their records.
The Wolves (25–9) are the No. 1 seed in the West, followed by the OKC Thunder (23–11). One spot below these two lie the defending champions of the league, the Denver Nuggets (25-12). Part of the reason for the praise seems to be how the roster was smashed with criticism after James Harden failed to perform initially. Amidst all this, it’s a fact that the game on January 7, 2024, will put the Lakers in a tough spot.