Original title of “Hangover” is the English term for a hangover. This is also the term Darvin Ham used when asked if the Lakers were suffering the repercussions of this trip to Las Vegas. Two weeks after their success in the first NBA tournament, the results are worth a thousand words: five defeats in six matches, including four in a row!
“The effort was there, but it sucks to lose. Four defeats in a row, it’s tough…” sighs Anthony Davis after the setback conceded to Minnesota, without LeBron James. “We want to get back into the victory column… But I think the effort was there this evening. We played to try to win. We were more united, a little more confident. But it sucks to lose. There is no moral victory. »
“No one is going to feel sorry for you, especially when you are $500,000 richer”
Undefeated in the NBA tournament, the Lakers are struggling to find a second wind in the regular season. There is no break, and the matches come one after the other…
“We in no way regret what we were able to do. It's just something to be aware of.”, explained Darvin Ham before the meeting. “It’s new, and it’s created a bit of a whirlwind in terms of travel. But in the end, no one is going to feel sorry for you, especially when you're $500,000 richer.”
For the Lakers coach, it's classic at this time of the regular season. The players suffer the impact of a lot of preparation and the first third of the regular season. The most worrying thing, though, is D'Angelo Russell's level of play. Author of only 2 points against the Bulls, the former leader of the Wolves had only scored 4 last night after three quarters…
“It's just the ups and downs of an NBA season, right? » asks Darvin Ham. “There are different factors, different matches, and obviously opponents are going to put some of their best defenders on him. He must continue to fight. We have to keep playing. Over the course of an NBA season, there are times and periods where things are a little tougher for you.”
“We must continue to fight and play hard and consider Saturday a mandatory victory”
The good news is that Gabe Vincent is back. After his return against the Bulls, he could have been lined up tonight but Ham preferred to be careful.
“There are boundaries and parameters to respect when trying to reintegrate someone who has been away for so long. It was the same with Jarred Vanderbilt. And the fact of not playing in a back-to-back was something that had been decided in advance.”
A priori, LeBron James and Gabe Vincent will be back on Saturday, but the next match will be just as complicated since the Lakers travel to the Thunder floor…
“At the moment we are in a down period with four consecutive defeats. It’s obvious we know the team we can be.” recalls Anthony Davis. “It's just that we're not having the same experience as last season, when we were considered out of contention, before going all the way to the conference finals. We just have to start winning again. It's as simple as that. We must continue to fight and play hard and consider Saturday a mandatory victory. »
