Typically, first time NBA head coaches get to learn alongside a younger team with lowered stakes. Darvin Ham has no such luxury with these Los Angeles Lakers headed up by a 38-year-old LeBron James and MVP candidate Anthony Davis. He has no time to learn on the job, and mistakes he has personally acknowledged yet repeated have already cost a couple wins. Given the razor thin margins for error that come with a flawed roster, his learning curve is a less a curve than it is a cliff.
On a couple occasions, Ham has apologized for some issues in his coaching that cost the Lakers. It’s a fine sentiment and a coach can’t ask for accountability from their team without taking some of their own but an apology has to come with a willingness to learn from the mistake and not make it again. Ham is good at saying the words, but has to more quickly take action on those issues.
As an example, Ham said after Tuesday’s overtime loss to Boston that he needed to do a better job managing and using his timeouts to either break up momentum or get guys a breather as he relied so heavily on one lineup for all the fourth quarter. Thing is: That issue cost the Lakers earlier in the season against Indiana. So, sure, the apology is nice, but without actually learning, it’s just words.
He hasn’t directly addressed this as something he needs to tweak, but his lineups have also left a lot to be desired. This goes beyond his starters, which will always get hyper-analyzed as it’s the first…
