Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Lakers coach Darvin Ham calls out two players

Originally posted on Game 7 | By Anthony Amador | Last updated 12/27/23

Darvin Ham called out two Los Angeles Lakers players this week after the team’s unfortunate Christmas Day loss to the Boston Celtics.

Obviously LeBron James had a particularly strong reaction to that defeat at the hands of L.A.’s archrivals, and he wasn’t alone. Ham also had some thoughts.

Specifically, Ham pointed out two players he wanted to see more from going forward.

After starting James, Anthony Davis, Cam Reddish, Taurean Prince and Jarred Vanderbilt on Monday, Ham called out Reddish and Vanderbilt.

“If they’re trying to play off, Cam has got to step up shooting with confidence or eat up that space on the drive,” Ham said. “Collapse the defense once he touches the paint and try to find the open man.”

Ham didn’t stop there, though.

“Same thing for Vando,” Ham added. “The ball hits him, you just can’t hold it and be confused. You just gotta move on to the next thing, whether it’s a pitch ahead and hit to its teammates, (dribble handoff), or shot goes up and they’re off of him, go hunt down an offensive rebound, get us some extra possessions. Just playing fast, man. Trying to be in rhythm, making quick decisions, and doing things with force.”

It will be interesting to see where Los Angeles opts to go from here.

One way or another, it is increasingly feeling like the Lakers need to make some changes. Will Reddish and Vanderbilt ultimately be a part of those changes? Time will tell.

This article first appeared on Game 7 and was syndicated with permission.

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