Following their defeat to Memphis, Lakers coach Darvin Ham passionately criticized those who viewed the team’s recent performance with a narrow perspective.
Ham emphasized, “This is the NBA; it’s a marathon. You have to consider the bigger picture. I’m tired of the extreme reactions after every game. It’s absurd. Come on, this is a marathon. We hit a tough stretch, but it’s the same team.”
However, this statement faced backlash within the Lakers’ organization and among fans. Before the game against the Clippers on Sunday, Ham sought to clarify his remarks.
He explained, “It’s about evaluating everything in the short term and aligning it with the bigger picture. It’s a process, and you’ll experience ups and downs.”
Determining whether the Lakers are in a downturn is challenging, and Ham humorously remarked, “I guess it’s the speed at which I hit the ground.”
Amid the season’s uncertainties, similar to the uncertainties within a game, gauging the team’s position is complex, as demonstrated in the Lakers’ 106-103 victory on Sunday at Crypto.com Arena.
LeBron James contributed 25 points, and Anthony Davis added 22 which lead to their victory and ended a four-game losing streak. In the initial face-off against the Clippers’ trio of Paul George, James Harden, and Kawhi Leonard, the Hollywood Hoops seemed overmatched. The Clippers demonstrated ease in scoring, pushing the Lakers off their spots on the court.
Despite this, the Lakers stayed in the game, benefiting from the Clippers’ mistakes and missed three-point attempts. The gap between the teams narrowed, and the Lakers’ defensive prowess, absent in recent weeks, returned, limiting the Clippers to a 39.6% shooting night.
Though the Clippers made a late surge, with Norman Powell and James Harden contributing, the Lakers secured the win. Powell’s potential tying shot at the buzzer missed, giving the Hollywood Hoops a 106-103 victory.
Paul George led the Clippers with 22 points, and Ivica Zubac contributed 22 points and 19 rebounds. However, the combined efforts of James Harden and Kawhi Leonard fell short, totaling 30 points on 30 shots.
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