Darvin Ham on Austin Reaves coming off the bench: He's a prideful dude, so it's an adjustment
“He said all the right things. And I totally believe him. But he’s a prideful dude,” Ham said. “He’s been our starting two guard. It’s an adjustment. But I told him, one, it’s going to balance us out. And when you come in, you’re going to have your own crew. Ball’s going to be in your hands and you’re not going to have to take turns with Bron, D-Lo and AD. Number two, your minutes are not going to go down. … And number three, you’re going to finish the games for us. You’ll be in at the end. Don’t be upset because you’re not out there to see the tipoff live and in person, but outside of that, nothing is really going to change.”
Source: Dan Woike @ Los Angeles Times
Source: Dan Woike @ Los Angeles Times
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Reaves said that like most players, he wants to start, but “winning is the main thing.” He spoke to Darvin Ham yesterday and understood from where he was coming:
“My parents taught me at a young age that the coach is the coach, and regardless of the decision, you respect that.” – 1:23 AM
Reaves said that like most players, he wants to start, but “winning is the main thing.” He spoke to Darvin Ham yesterday and understood from where he was coming:
“My parents taught me at a young age that the coach is the coach, and regardless of the decision, you respect that.” – 1:23 AM
Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
Austin Reaves admits you don’t want a conversation with coach on having to be better as team and coming off bench as a competitor. But he said his parents taught him the coach is the coach and winning is main thing. He said he could see move coming and “needed to shake things up” – 1:22 AM
Austin Reaves admits you don’t want a conversation with coach on having to be better as team and coming off bench as a competitor. But he said his parents taught him the coach is the coach and winning is main thing. He said he could see move coming and “needed to shake things up” – 1:22 AM
Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
Darvin Ham said he checked with LeBron James and said James will be OK. Ham said James might’ve been kneed in the leg or side of leg. – 1:13 AM
Darvin Ham said he checked with LeBron James and said James will be OK. Ham said James might’ve been kneed in the leg or side of leg. – 1:13 AM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Darvin Ham says Austin Reaves’ move to the bench isn’t a “demotion” but a “realignment.” – 1:11 AM
Darvin Ham says Austin Reaves’ move to the bench isn’t a “demotion” but a “realignment.” – 1:11 AM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Darvin Ham on Reaves after the lineup switch, citing the Spurs: “Everyone knew Manu (Ginobili) was a starter – it was more about balancing the units. (Austin) still played 35 minutes. His minutes weren’t going to go down; he’s gonna finish the game. He was huge down the stretch.” – 1:10 AM
Darvin Ham on Reaves after the lineup switch, citing the Spurs: “Everyone knew Manu (Ginobili) was a starter – it was more about balancing the units. (Austin) still played 35 minutes. His minutes weren’t going to go down; he’s gonna finish the game. He was huge down the stretch.” – 1:10 AM
Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
Darvin Ham says bringing Austin Reaves off the bench “wasn’t a demotion.” He likened it to Manu coming off the bench and balancing the Lakers unit. Ham thought it would allow Reaves to play freely and still finish. – 1:08 AM
Darvin Ham says bringing Austin Reaves off the bench “wasn’t a demotion.” He likened it to Manu coming off the bench and balancing the Lakers unit. Ham thought it would allow Reaves to play freely and still finish. – 1:08 AM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Final: Lakers 122, Suns 119
A huge win for the Lakers. They improve to 4-5 and 1-4 on the road. They end their four-game road trip on a high note. LeBron had 32/11/6. Cam Reddish had 17 points. Austin Reaves had 15 points and 7 assists.
Up next: vs. the Trail Blazers on Sunday. – 12:48 AM
Final: Lakers 122, Suns 119
A huge win for the Lakers. They improve to 4-5 and 1-4 on the road. They end their four-game road trip on a high note. LeBron had 32/11/6. Cam Reddish had 17 points. Austin Reaves had 15 points and 7 assists.
Up next: vs. the Trail Blazers on Sunday. – 12:48 AM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
The combination of Anthony Davis, LeBron James and Austin Reaves and two bigger frontcourt players (any combination of Rui Hachimura, Taurean Prince, Cam Reddish and Christian Wood) has been lethal tonight. – 12:42 AM
The combination of Anthony Davis, LeBron James and Austin Reaves and two bigger frontcourt players (any combination of Rui Hachimura, Taurean Prince, Cam Reddish and Christian Wood) has been lethal tonight. – 12:42 AM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Grayson Allen hits a 3 to cut the deficit to 4. Frank Vogel challenges the foul call on Bradley Beal, which looked like he got all ball on the inbounds pass to Austin Reaves – 12:41 AM
Grayson Allen hits a 3 to cut the deficit to 4. Frank Vogel challenges the foul call on Bradley Beal, which looked like he got all ball on the inbounds pass to Austin Reaves – 12:41 AM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Despite coming off the bench, Austin Reaves has played the third-most minutes for the Lakers behind only LeBron James and Anthony Davis. – 12:39 AM
Despite coming off the bench, Austin Reaves has played the third-most minutes for the Lakers behind only LeBron James and Anthony Davis. – 12:39 AM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Austin Reaves was 2 for 7 in the first half, but is now 4 for 4 in the 2nd half, including 3 for 3 in the 4th Q, towards 15 points with 5 assists.
But Durant’s been hot for the Suns, and countered a Reaves J w/a lefty leaner to cut LAL’s lead to 2, 113-111, with 3:01 to play. – 12:33 AM
Austin Reaves was 2 for 7 in the first half, but is now 4 for 4 in the 2nd half, including 3 for 3 in the 4th Q, towards 15 points with 5 assists.
But Durant’s been hot for the Suns, and countered a Reaves J w/a lefty leaner to cut LAL’s lead to 2, 113-111, with 3:01 to play. – 12:33 AM
Mike Prada @MikePradaNBA
Amazing that LeBron is still doing this at this age. Alternating between dialing up a big for normal pick-and-rolls or Austin Reaves for inverted ones, over and over. If you’re a guard playing with LeBron, you’ve got to be comfortable doing a lot of different things. – 12:26 AM
Amazing that LeBron is still doing this at this age. Alternating between dialing up a big for normal pick-and-rolls or Austin Reaves for inverted ones, over and over. If you’re a guard playing with LeBron, you’ve got to be comfortable doing a lot of different things. – 12:26 AM
Mike Prada @MikePradaNBA
I’ve never understood why the Lakers don’t use Anthony Davis more as an offensive hub facing the hoop. This goes back beyond Darvin Ham, but they actually have the personnel for it now. Run your guards off him! You might get some actual half-court movement. – 11:40 PM
I’ve never understood why the Lakers don’t use Anthony Davis more as an offensive hub facing the hoop. This goes back beyond Darvin Ham, but they actually have the personnel for it now. Run your guards off him! You might get some actual half-court movement. – 11:40 PM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
Taurean Prince missed the shot but oh my God what a pass by Austin Reaves. pic.twitter.com/WybmJDOC1Z – 11:28 PM
Taurean Prince missed the shot but oh my God what a pass by Austin Reaves. pic.twitter.com/WybmJDOC1Z – 11:28 PM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Drew Eubanks hit with quick tech after reacting to getting called for a foul guarding Austin Reaves. #Suns #Lakers – 10:41 PM
Drew Eubanks hit with quick tech after reacting to getting called for a foul guarding Austin Reaves. #Suns #Lakers – 10:41 PM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
The theoretical reason to bench Austin Reaves for Cam Reddish is defense. I think the defensive gains are dwarfed by the offensive losses, and if you assume Vanderbilt is going back in the starting five when he returns, you’re kind of messing with Austin’s rhythm for no reason. – 9:34 PM
The theoretical reason to bench Austin Reaves for Cam Reddish is defense. I think the defensive gains are dwarfed by the offensive losses, and if you assume Vanderbilt is going back in the starting five when he returns, you’re kind of messing with Austin’s rhythm for no reason. – 9:34 PM
Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
Cam Reddish in starting lineup. Austin Reaves coming off the bench. pic.twitter.com/DlPPT8STDc – 9:32 PM
Cam Reddish in starting lineup. Austin Reaves coming off the bench. pic.twitter.com/DlPPT8STDc – 9:32 PM
Khobi Price @khobi_price
Lakers starters vs. Suns: D’Angelo Russell, Cam Reddish, Taurean Prince, LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Austin Reaves moves to a reserve role for the first time this season. – 9:32 PM
Lakers starters vs. Suns: D’Angelo Russell, Cam Reddish, Taurean Prince, LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Austin Reaves moves to a reserve role for the first time this season. – 9:32 PM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Lakers’ starters vs. Phoenix:
D’Angelo Russell
Taurean Prince
Cam Reddish
LeBron James
Anthony Davis
The Lakers move Austin Reaves to the bench. – 9:30 PM
Lakers’ starters vs. Phoenix:
D’Angelo Russell
Taurean Prince
Cam Reddish
LeBron James
Anthony Davis
The Lakers move Austin Reaves to the bench. – 9:30 PM
Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
Darvin Ham says Lakers have to come out and hit first against opponents. On this road trip: “It’s been an education to say the least.” – 8:37 PM
Darvin Ham says Lakers have to come out and hit first against opponents. On this road trip: “It’s been an education to say the least.” – 8:37 PM
Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen
Rockets insider: Rout of Lakers, Rockets’ 3rd-consecutive blowout, shows strides that began with buy-in under Ime Udoka. Darvin Ham: “If they keep up at this rate, they’ll be a handful for not just us but the other 28 teams beside us.” houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-n… via @houstonchron – 1:34 AM
Rockets insider: Rout of Lakers, Rockets’ 3rd-consecutive blowout, shows strides that began with buy-in under Ime Udoka. Darvin Ham: “If they keep up at this rate, they’ll be a handful for not just us but the other 28 teams beside us.” houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-n… via @houstonchron – 1:34 AM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
New story: The Lakers’ early-season woes continued with a blowout loss in Houston and Darvin Ham continued to juggle the rotation because of injuries. Rui Hachimura might have summed it up best: “It’s almost like we have a trade every day, you know?” es.pn/3Svxh83 – 1:22 AM
New story: The Lakers’ early-season woes continued with a blowout loss in Houston and Darvin Ham continued to juggle the rotation because of injuries. Rui Hachimura might have summed it up best: “It’s almost like we have a trade every day, you know?” es.pn/3Svxh83 – 1:22 AM
Khobi Price @khobi_price
Lakers coach Darvin Ham on the team contacting the league office about what they felt were missed foul calls in Monday’s loss to the Heat:
“The thing I think that needs to be understood is we’re not campaigning for favors. We just want balance and consistency…”
Full quote: pic.twitter.com/QZDhunedqt – 7:53 PM
Lakers coach Darvin Ham on the team contacting the league office about what they felt were missed foul calls in Monday’s loss to the Heat:
“The thing I think that needs to be understood is we’re not campaigning for favors. We just want balance and consistency…”
Full quote: pic.twitter.com/QZDhunedqt – 7:53 PM
More on this storyline
The idea took hold postgame Wednesday in Houston, the team staying overnight after their loss to the Rockets. Ham, his wife and members of his coaching staff had a late dinner at a seafood restaurant across from the team hotel. And as people filtered out, Ham turned to assistant coach Chris Jent with an idea. “‘Man,” he said, “I’m thinking about changing the lineup, bro.” -via Los Angeles Times / November 11, 2023
Jovan Buha: Ham compared Reaves’ move to the bench to the Spurs bringing Manu Ginobili off the bench through the years. -via Twitter @jovanbuha / November 11, 2023
Khobi Price: Darvin Ham says Austin Reaves moving to a bench role tonight vs. the Suns was a “realignment” and not a “demotion”. Reaves finished with 15 points and 7 assists in 35 minutes (third-most on the team). -via Twitter @khobi_price / November 11, 2023
Mike Trudell: Reaves said that like most players, he wants to start, but “winning is the main thing.” He spoke to Darvin Ham yesterday and understood from where he was coming: “My parents taught me at a young age that the coach is the coach, and regardless of the decision, you respect that.” -via Twitter @LakersReporter / November 11, 2023