Will Darvin Ham's Inexperience Prevent the Lakers From Making the Play-in?

The Lakers, according to the fine folks at Tankathon (and by other measurements as well) have the league's easiest schedule down the stretch. That includes tonight's game against a hobbled New Orleans squad, and Wednesday against the Rockets, who are awful. They see the Bulls twice, get a beat up Dallas team, the Suns (at least once) without Kevin Durant and the Magic. By the time the schedule grants two games against Utah, the Jazz may or may not still be playing for a playoff berth. (Of course, they're saying the same thing about the Lakers on Locked On Jazz.)

So the idea they could be playing significant games down the stretch, even understanding that LeBron is going to miss a huge chunk of time, isn't at all far-fetched. Not given how the Lakers have played since the NBA's trade deadline, Sunday's loss notwithstanding.

To get there, they need top shelf performances from Anthony Davis, and on days where he's anything less, elevated performances from the supporting cast. They didn't get the latter on Sunday, particularly from Malik Beasley, who has struggled mightily since joining the purple and gold. Like, from everywhere around the floor. Is he in danger of losing playing time to someone like Lonnie Walker IV? What would it take for that to happen? Would the Lakers be better off?

And how about Darvin Ham? His coaching choices have been a point of scrutiny for Lakers fans all season. On Sunday, he was criticized for sitting D'Angelo Russell and Davis at the same time, on a night where the other dudes weren't up to the task. So is he, in his rookie season as a head coach, capable of navigating a situation in which pretty much every string he pulls needs to be the right one?

It's a tough spot to be in. How confident should Lakers fans be?

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: LeBron James is trying mightily to find a way back to the floor this season. Will the Lakers still be playing meaningful games if/when he does?

SEGMENT 2: Malik Beasley needs to pick it up.

SEGMENT 3: Is Ham up to the task?

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