Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers
Sports:Basketball
Multiple Reports: Darvin Ham Has Jeanie Buss' Support. What Does that Mean Moving Forward?
Darvin Ham probably wasn't going to be fired if the Lakers lost Sunday, or even if they were blown out in a listless performance that reminded folks of the Miami game. But that type of showing would have cranked up the heat to extremely uncomfortable levels, where decisions can start becoming more self-fulfilling.
Critically, though, the baseline for Ham was one in which the organization is not inclined to make a move. Reporting on Monday reinforced that Lakers owner Jeanie Buss is fully supportive of Ham, and there is no indication that GM Rob Pelinka is itching to make a move, either.
But what about LeBron James, who spoke with far more enthusiasm about Ty Lue Sunday than Ham?
That said, one game does not turn things around. Tonight's game against Toronto is another opportunity to show not only that Sunday wasn't a mirage, but that moments of reasonably solid play even during this down stretch can be sustained, replicated and then elevated. Can the Lakers bring the same level of intensity on the defensive side against the Raptors? Can the score with more efficiency in order to take a little pressure off the D?
Can D'Angelo Russell build on the impact he had Sunday?
There are still a lot of questions left to answer, and a lot of games the Lakers need to win over this home-heavy stretch of games.
Meanwhile, the Lakers signed another 2-way contract -- former Portland PG Skylar Mays. He's a 26-year old far better suited to soaking up emergency minutes in the backcourt, compared to Jalen Hood-Schifino. The Lakers aren't interested in developing Mays, and this will let JHS get real burn with the G-League squad. It's a move the Lakers needed to make.
HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky
SEGMENT 1: How much cooler did the hot seat get for Darvin Ham after Sunday's win?
SEGMENT 2: Why don't the Lakers want to let Ham go?
SEGMENT 3: What does LeBron think of Ham?
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