Following the Los Angeles Lakers’ crushing 128-94 defeat against the Houston Rockets, head coach Darvin Ham emphasized the need for resilience and unity within the team, acknowledging the challenging circumstances and urging the players to remain focused and competitive despite the setbacks faced on the court, as the Lakers’ road struggles persist.
As the Rockets surged to an early lead and maintained their dominant position throughout the game, the Lakers faced a significant deficit, compounded by their absence of key players, including Anthony Davis, Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jaxson Hayes, and Jalen Hood-Schifino.
Ham’s postgame remarks underscored the team’s collective responsibility to rise above the challenges and deliver a resilient performance, stressing the importance of defensive precision and cohesion, particularly in light of the Lakers’ recent defensive lapses and struggles to contain the Rockets’ offensive prowess.
“No one comes in wanting to be flat or a step slow or whatnot,” he said. “Our guys came in to compete. They had it going a little bit early. Couple miscues, wasn’t really good on the ball defensively. Our off ball defense needed to be better.
“But at the end of the day it’s tough. We’re juggling different circumstances, guys being in and out of the lineup. But at the end of the day, you know no one’s gonna feel sorry for you, especially when you’re a Los Angeles Laker.”
Addressing the Lakers’ ongoing road trip, which has resulted in a string of losses, Ham emphasized the need for a shift in mentality and a renewed commitment to hard work and unity.
“So our biggest thing now, being 0-3 on this road trip, is to go to Phoenix on Friday and be the hardest working and most competitive, most together team on the floor for 48 minutes,” Ham concluded.
