Losers of four games in a row and five of their last six, the Los Angeles Lakers need to find something that will spark them once again and result in wins in bunches.
They made a lineup change about six weeks ago when head coach Darvin Ham moved Austin Reaves to the bench and promoted forward Cam Reddish to the starting five. At the time, the Lakers were 3-5, but the move resulted in 12 wins in their next 16 games, including the in-season tournament final game.
Now, with the team set to face the dangerous Oklahoma City Thunder, Ham is making another move. He will start LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Taurean Prince, Cam Reddish and Jarred Vanderbilt versus Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and crew.
The Lakers will start LeBron, AD, Vando, Cam and Taurean today in OKC, Lakers coach Darvin Ham says.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) December 23, 2023
Ham apparently is doing so to give the Lakers more length and disruptors on defense. The move also aims to jump-start the Lakers’ transition game, which often seems to be their bread and butter on offense.
Ham says the move is LAL “leaning into our defense” and with a lineup that can theoretically make plays defensively that can translate to transition opportunities, it can help the offense as well https://t.co/5AtK7Zvj2P
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) December 23, 2023
Vanderbilt hasn’t been in the starting lineup since last season’s playoffs. He is still a poor 3-point shooter, but other than Davis, he’s probably L.A.’s best and most versatile defender.
Perhaps another reason for this change is the struggles of guard D’Angelo Russell. He is shooting 37.5% from the field and 27.5% from 3-point range in December.