Sixth Man of the Year: Darvin Ham is already launching the campaign for Russell Westbrook

Anthony Davis started the action by countering Jonas Valanciunas under the circle. Russell Westbrook inherited leather to launch the transition and put the same “AD” into orbit in “alley-oop”. So Russ put his fingers around his eyes as imaginary glasses, as if to support his vision of the game.

A few possessions earlier, he had already distributed a one-handed pass marvel, the left, to a Troy Brown Jr. cutting to the circle in semi-transition. When returning to his bench, the point guard energetically clapped Darvin Ham’s hand. Over-motivated, over-excited.

The former MVP showed his best face tonight against the Pelicans. Again used as a 6th man, he made a remarkable entry into play in the first period. Especially in the second quarter, where the Californians widened the gap with a 12-0.

“ We were dragged through the mud earlier in the game. He came in and gave us a huge boost. He really put his stamp on the game, in a positive and productive way », qualifies Darvin Hamwhose replacement point guard has combined well with LeBron James on several sequences.

“Phenomenal” for three games

We remember his 3-point in “catch-and-shoot” in the corner and his finish in the circle in transition – validated after an illegal counter by Zion Williamson – after two caviars from the “King”. The latter was rewarded by his leader with a pass down after a pick-and-roll ended with a big dunk, without much opposition from the Pelicans.

In 25 minutes of play, the leader has accumulated 13 points (6/10 on shots including 1/4 from afar), 9 assists and 7 rebounds. ” Believe me, Russ had a hell of a game. In the last three games, he has been phenomenal “, Continues his coach in reference to the change of status of the player, from holder to 6th man.

He started with an 18-point game (6/17) on the Wolves floor, then a much more convincing outing against the Nuggets (18 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists and above all +18 while in play).

That’s all it takes for Darvin Ham to already confide: ” One of my goals, selfishly, is to bring him into the conversation for the 6th Man of the Year trophy at some point. And why not start now? »

Do with risk taking

After just seven games played, it is far too early to start this conversation, which could help Russell Westbrook better accept his new role. But such a displayed “objective”, despite the possible rotation changes mentioned by the coach, implies that the leader is on track to occupy this role for a while.

The person concerned was not questioned about these prospects. In a hasty press conferencehe ended up saying: I just try to be myself, have an impact on both sides of the pitch, defend at a high level and do what I do best with the ball in hand. »

Too bad if the bullet losses – six that night – under still there. That doesn’t worry Darvin Ham.

” I told him that I liked his energy, his aggressiveness and that I didn’t care about ‘lost balls on useful risk-taking’. He tries to do things right, exactly what I ask of the team. Missed shots, bad passes… It doesn’t matter, you have to think about the next action. When this is not the case, this action from which you do not recover mentally can generate three or four bad actions more. So I encourage him and tell him not to worry about this one and think about the next one. concludes the technician.