Lakers Lost Austin Reaves
there and the vibe wasn’t off after the rough stretch that we’ve had, then I’d be concerned.”
The disconnect between the players and coach Darvin Ham, which The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Jovan Buha reported on January 4, was in full display in their contrasting postgame interviews.
Ham again pointed to the team’s health as the culprit behind their lack of connectivity on the court against the Heat culture missing their top star.
The Lakers played without reserves D’Angelo Russell (tailbone contusion), Rui Hachimura (calf strain) and ex-Heat point guard Gabe Vincent (knee surgery).
“I think the multiple [rotation players] are more impactful than if you lose one of your big dogs, you’re going to figure out how to try and manage without them,” Ham told reporters. “And when your key rotation players – this guy misses three or four. This guy misses three or four. And they’re happening one right after another, that’s what makes it difficult.”
“It’s tough man but that’s why we get paid,” Ham said. “We’ve got to figure it out. I’m disappointed, but I’ll be damned if I get discouraged.”
Reaves contradicted Ham’s view.
“We can’t use that as an excuse,” Reaves told reporters. “Regardless of what the lineup is, what change is, whatever happens, we got to be better as a team and go win games. We’re more than talented enough to win games.”
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