The Los Angeles Lakers is having a challenging season despite being the winners of the first-ever NBA In-Season Tournament.
The iconic purple-and-gold franchise has suffered three consecutive losses and has been defeated in nine out of their last 12 games since winning the In-Season Tournament, resulting in a 17-18 overall record. This places them in 10th position in the Western Conference standings.
Due to their struggles, six unnamed sources from within the team have indicated a growing rift between head coach Darvin Ham and the Lakers' locker room, as reported by Shams Charania and Jovan Buha of The Athletic.
Given the uncertain status of their season, the optimal decision for the Lakers might be to part ways with Ham now, allowing them ample time to bring in a new head coach and integrate them for the remainder of the campaign.
Why Lakers Should Fire Darvin Ham Amid Major Struggles
1. Darvin Ham's poor schemes
Even with two of the NBA's top talents in LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers have faced offensive struggles during Ham's coaching stint.
While they've demonstrated strength on the defensive end, their offensive performance was lackluster last season, as they ranked 21st in the league in terms of offensive rating.
This season, they currently sit at 24th in the league in the same category with a rating of 113.02. Surprisingly, this position persists despite the team's wealth of offensive talent, including James, Davis, D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, and Cam Reddish, among many others.
Some of Ham's lineup decisions have raised eyebrows, such as deploying James as a point guard in recent games and frequently adjusting the team's combinations. This consistent tinkering has hindered the team's ability to develop cohesive chemistry on the court.
2. The Lakers haven't done well under Darvin Ham
Despite their impressive feats of eliminating the reigning NBA champions, the Golden State Warriors, in last season's Western Conference Semifinals and clinching the first-ever NBA In-Season Tournament this season, the Lakers never looked like an elite team under Ham's watch.
The team faced a challenging start last season, opening with a 2-10 record. However, they managed to rebound and conclude the season with a winning record, securing the seventh seed in the Western Conference.
Despite their commendable comeback, it is certainly not a benchmark for teams vying for an NBA championship.
3. Darvin Ham has lost the locker room
In light of the recent reports indicating player dissatisfaction with Ham's leadership, it appears that the 50-year-old tactician may have lost control of the locker room.
The unnamed sources in The Athletic's report have characterized the rift between the coach and the team as arising from Ham's frequent and significant changes to rotations and starting lineups.
These adjustments have reportedly disrupted the consistent rhythm of numerous players throughout the roster.
Given the players' diminishing trust in their head coach, maintaining momentum throughout the rest of the season could prove challenging.
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