Darvin Ham on D’Angelo Russell: He needs to go out there and be aggressive

By HoopsHype | May 20, 2023

What’s the buzz on Twitter? Kevin Pelton @kpeltonI understand the concern the Lakers might lose D’Angelo Russell if they bench him, as @mcten reported earlier this week. But they’re about to lose this series by sticking with him, and as a free agent there’s no guarantee Russell will even be on the roster beyond that. – 10:02 PM Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNUNo D’Angelo Russell minutes after Nuggets took a 24-11 lead with 3:09 left in 1st quarter.Interesting to see if Lakers stick with that coming out of halftime – 9:45 PM Michael Singer @msingerThere was a stoppage in play, and Darvin Ham just said something to Jamal. Can’t imagine what that convo’s like right now. – 9:36 PM Tony Jones @TjonesonthenbaDarvin Ham has done the Nuggets a gigantic favor going to the three guards so often in this series. Not sure how it can’t be any more clear that the Lakers can’t guard Denver with those three on the floor at the same time – 8:59 PM Harrison Wind @HarrisonWindJamal Murray scores his 10th and 11th points of the 1st quarter just as Eddie Murphy takes his seat here in LA. Murray’s trying to go at everybody, and definitely D’Angelo Russell. He has that look in his eye. – 8:51 PM Kurt Helin @basketballtalkLakers and Nuggets with same starting lineups. Darvin Ham talked pregame about how important D’Angelo Russell is to their attack, but if he isn’t lighting it up early that leash has to be short. – 8:06 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuhaLakers’ starters for Game 3 vs. Denver:D’Angelo RussellAustin ReavesLeBron JamesJarred VanderbiltAnthony DavisLA is 7-5 in the playoffs with this group. – 8:02 PM Janis Carr @janiscarrHow is LeBron physically feeling at this point in the playoffs? Darvin Ham said, “He’s good. He’s good to go. He was here early as usual. Talked to him. Great spirits. Feeling alive and ready to go out here and have a hell of a game.” – 7:52 PM Mark Medina @MarkG_MedinaDarvin Ham on LeBron James’ poor 3-point shooting: “It looked like the all-time leading scorer in NBA history taking a shot that was being given to him. The numbers say what they say, but I know he’s capable of making those shots. So I don’t want him to be any less aggressive.” – 7:48 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporterTwo things that Darvin Ham said have to be better for LAL vs. DEN: Transition defense and defensive rebounding. He said it isn’t as simple as having fewer players crash the offensive glass; he just can’t have players in “no man’s land” (aka neither crashing nor sprinting back). – 6:51 PM Harrison Wind @HarrisonWindDarvin Ham pregame: “D-Lo is one of our biggest weapons…I just need D-Lo to go out there and play aggressive basketball.” – 6:50 PM More on this storyline