The Lakers are contemplating how to rectify their course following their recent defeat to the Miami Heat. Returning to Crypto.com Arena after a challenging December filled with away games, the Lakers found themselves looking out of place in their own home during the 110-96 loss to the Heat on Wednesday night.
Despite having a seemingly favorable schedule with 11 of their first 12 January games at home, the Lakers struggled to find their rhythm. Lakers coach Darvin Ham acknowledged a combination of issues, citing a lack of execution, effort, and physicality on their part. The team’s recent 2-8 record in the past 10 games has dropped them to the 10th spot in the Western Conference.
The Lakers faced particular challenges early in the game against the Heat’s zone defense, leading to turnovers and a poor shooting performance. The introduction of a new starting lineup, featuring Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Cam Reddish, Taurean Prince, and Austin Reaves, appeared disjointed on offense and disconnected on defense.
Ham attributed the team’s struggles to a revolving door of injuries, making it difficult to establish consistency. He emphasized the importance of getting healthy to address the team’s performance issues.
Despite Anthony Davis’s impressive individual performance with 29 points, 17 rebounds, six assists, five blocks, and two steals, the Lakers struggled as a team. Miami’s effective zone defense forced the Lakers to tie a franchise record for most turnovers in a first quarter.
The frustration within the team is palpable, with LeBron James leaving the arena without speaking to reporters, a rare occurrence for the seasoned veteran. Austin Reaves acknowledged the team’s mood but clarified that it stems from the frustration of losing rather than interpersonal issues.
Coach Ham expressed the need for players to step up and play better, emphasizing the confidence placed in them when they were signed. Considering potential lineup changes, Ham mentioned the possibility of returning to a previous successful starting lineup once D’Angelo Russell is healthy.
With the Lakers’ standing in jeopardy, Ham asserted that everything is on the table to turn things around. The team aims to regroup and compete in their upcoming game against the Memphis Grizzlies, focusing on a must-win mentality to reverse their fortunes and build a home winning streak.