Not that you’d expect otherwise, but Darvin Ham was talking up the Lakers roster earlier this week with Mark Medina of The Sporting Tribune. Ham says the Lakers absolutely have a roster capable of winning an NBA championship. Not that he was saying the Lakers should be prohibitive favorites or anything, but that they’ve got the pieces to get it done.
So is he right? Or is this just a coach delivering the normal platitudes you get in July?
It’s hard to argue with his premise. The Lakers, after all, are coming off a Western Conference Finals appearance, and even if you don’t think they radically improved this offseason, they certainly didn’t get any worse. (And realistically, while the improvement wasn’t massive – that sort of transformative thing wasn’t really available to them – they enter the season with a more balanced roster than last season and the opportunity to build with continuity.
That continuity thing? Ham is a big proponent, calling it a major reason the Nuggets won a title, and noting that it’s becoming a bigger trend across the league. The Lakers might have a history of chasing stars, but this year they are trying a different path. (And, for what it’s worth, a better one.)
So what does the rest of the conference look like? Denver took a small step back, losing Bruce Brown and Jeff Green. What about Memphis? Phoenix? How many known, or even semi-known quantities are there in the West? After Denver, and probably Sacramento, you’ve got the Lakers. Is that it?
And finally, Kobe Bryant became a Laker on July 11, 1996. It feels like a long time ago, in so many ways (because it is) and at the same time, it doesn’t. Perhaps because Bryant, because he died so suddenly and so prematurely, feels frozen in time. Looking back to that day in ’96, it’s interesting to think what would have happened if the Nets hadn’t been scared away from drafting Bryant. The “Sliding Doors” scenarios are infinite.
HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky
SEGMENT 1: Darvin Ham says the Lakers have a championship roster. Is he blowing smoke?
SEGMENT 2: Remembering Kobe Bryant’s arrival in LA, back in 1996.
SEGMENT 3: Looking at the rest of the West. Because how the conference shapes up has a lot to do with the accuracy of Ham’s statement.
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24 Comments
Peace – Mamba 😞
Did they add a movement without the ball specialist to execute SET PLAYS using Pindown Screens and Flare Screens to the 1st Unit to replace Jarred Vanderbilt ?
I say this is a championship roster as well; I do say we are missing another 20 and 10 guy (Christian Wood) but we are right there..
We have 2 20 & 10 guys with a bunch of guys that can still score around them But yeah another 20 point a night guy would be great
Darvin Ham did great for a first year head getting us to the WCF, by far exceeded expectations. This year he should know exactly what he wants and be able to sustain it through the regular season without maxing out Lebron and AD again so they could actually carry us to another championship in the playoffs. I believe 💜💛
Their not copying Denver, their copying the 2020 Lakers. Denver built their team to compete with them. The problem is the Lakers went backwards with LBJ and his Westbrook trade he talked them into. Now their going back to their original formula perfected by Phil Jackson. Yes Phil since the Bulls. That was his #1 request to Krause and to have a center who could at least shoot 16 ft out. 💜💛
Hope he emphasizes transition defense this year.
Fosho – We are a Championship Level Team w/ a Healthy LBJ/AD along with a Solid Core of Role Players (AR/Rui/D'Lo/Vincent/Vando/Prince/Hayes)!!!
We made it to the WCF last Year after a Horrible Start and essentially a New Team after the Trade Deadline.
I didn't think We would be able to win another Championship 🏆 during the LBJ Era but, We have a Great Opportunity while We still have LBJ.
There are so few Lakers news recently and that helped me notice Andy and Brian were born in alphabetical order.
I believe that outside of The Lakers, Memphis will be a problem. Because Smart will make them a monster. Once JM get back. But to me, the Lakers are the frontrunners for the finals.
The west is TOO STACKED!
Outside of Portland name one team you can count on as a W for the Lakers?
The Lakers can win Just if some other teams underperform or if suddenly One of the new guys show allstar talent he has never proved before.. because no way the Lakers are beating a "Denver" with this LeBron unable to close games in the 4th..
What else do you want him to say
They don’t have a championship coach
They have enough real player to have a good 10 man rotation. The key is not letting Lebron check himself back in whenever the the hell he feels like it. He does not need more than 30 minutes
If we do not get to at least the WCF again I think it will be a fading Lebrons fault and lack of defense more than anything. You can’t have offensive sets if you cross half court and have to give the ball to Lebron.
Dribble dribble shoot or maybe a last second pass so he can get the assist. So there it is
I wish we had a championship caliber coach. Despite all of the wings we have, I guarantee you we see Vincent, D.Lo, Reaves lineups.
Well, now that the Lakers are quite suddenly the Kings of the West, they better deliver or this is going to be a very depressing run.
This means coach Ham is very confident in this team
No solid big man and a head coach still learning. They will be good but not a championship team. LeBron was gassed last year and can’t be the #1 guy To win it all. Need AD to step up, been waiting for him to step up. I don’t see it happening.
Calm down, Ham. We’re just a nap away from AD having a career ending injury.
I’m one who believes based on my own eyes Ham is the problem. He locks in on players and forgets about others. It’s nothing wrong with using your whole damn team!! We look soo well rounded but Ham will play just 8 of them
"Lighten up, Lakers should be more competitive, which is a plus……however spoiled milk, should have worked out a deal, for here it comes…l.Ja Morant, no need to think Denver…..whose Next?
Bull!!!. Lakers have a HUGE hole in the middle… as they found out last season. NONE of that is fixed yet.
Let's get Christian Wood. And we got our yourself a floor spacer big man.🎉