SUMMARY
- The Lakers lost to the Warriors 128-110 at the Chase Center.
- Anthony Davis lost his voice ahead of the game which Darvin Ham claims affected their defense.
The Los Angeles Lakers did not have a great comeback following the 2024 NBA All-Star break. There were a couple of major issues moving into the second half of the season. For instance, LeBron James was ruled out due to injuries and Darvin Ham missed team practices due to personal issues. LA ended up losing to the 10th-seeded Golden State Warriors. This enraged a lot of fans across the world as well.
Following the loss, Ham recognized a couple of issues that led to the unfortunate ending. He blamed the Lakers’ loss on Anthony Davis claiming that his losing his voice affected the team’s defensive strategies. “We had a couple of breakdowns off the ball. Just felt like they made some energy plays. this is a time that puts pressure on you to give multiple efforts, constantly,” he said following the game.
There’s always an excuse with this franchise lmaoooo
— 🜸 🪙 (@JaMarrALago) February 23, 2024
Bro I want this guy off my team now
— Hassan Syed (@hassanlakers24) February 23, 2024
Fans were not happy with his excuses as one said, “There’s always an excuse with this franchise lmaoooo.” Another fan added, “Bro I want this guy off my team now.” Some people also urged the Lakers to let go of Davis as well. Nobody else besides Davis had more than 20 points during the game. The Warriors defeated the Lakers 128-110, with Stephen Curry taking charge on scoring.
Darvin Ham claims Jeanie Buss and the Lakers front office are still supportive
While fans have been accusing Darvin Ham of being a bundle full of excuses, he claims that the front office still believes in him. According to Bleacher Report, he said, “I told you, man, I’m just thankful that I’ve got that support from Jeanie, with her always encouraging me, asking me ‘What do I need? Is everything great?'” But in reality, there are a plethora of issues that Ham needs to deal with.
We’re not talking to Anthony Davis tonight, Lakers say he’s lost his voice. I asked Darvin Ham if he thought that affected their defense tonight, and he thought it did. Davis was still productive 27-15-3 blocks but the Lakers really rely on him as a communicator
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) February 23, 2024
Ham had achieved a 73-65 record over two seasons with the Lakers. Despite having a terrible run during the regular season last year, Ham managed to lead the Lakers to the Western Conference Finals. This is probably what Jeanie Buss is holding on to as a sign of hope. But if Ham’s tenure continues to spiral downward, he may not last any further than this season.
LeBron James will most likely return for the Lakers vs. Spurs game
Not having LeBron James on the floor got the worst of the Lakers team. Usually, if James is absent on the floor, AD steps up to be the general on the floor. Losing his voice may have been a genuine excuse this time. James had already warned fans that he would go through treatment for his ankle injury moving into the second half of the season.
According to ClutchPoints, Ham revealed that James’ ankle will be monitored over the next couple of games. He is likely to be listed under day-to-day observation. Ham is hoping that James gets back on the floor against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday.