The Los Angeles Lakers headed into Game 5 against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday in great shape, holding a 3-1 series lead after claiming the previous two games.
Instead of putting the Grizzlies away for the summer and getting valuable rest before the next series, they fell, 116-99, in Game 5. While it wasn’t totally unexpected for L.A. to lose on Wednesday, the way it lost was.
After falling behind by 17 in the second quarter, it fought back and came within one early in the third quarter. It was still within one with 4:10 left in the period. Then Memphis went on a big run, and the game wasn’t in doubt at any point in the fourth quarter.
Although LeBron James had a very bad shooting game, many are placing a good amount of the blame on head coach Darvin Ham, especially for some questionable substitutions he made late in the third period.
Darvin Ham removing Anthony Davis when the Lakers trailed 75-74 midway through the 3rd quarter was a bad choice.
I couldn’t believe Ham didn’t ride what was working with AD for longer. Grizzlies attacked LA’s lack of size, scored 7 points on 3 plays. It’s when the game turned. pic.twitter.com/NnC6TVHfo3
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) April 27, 2023
Darvin Ham took out AD when we was down 1 point and he didn’t even put Mo Bamba at all where he at least could’ve box out for rebounds and alter some shots but our coach has CTE and is a moron pic.twitter.com/B9kS7oabdG
— 🅿️ainSzn (@cjsweet567) April 27, 2023
Darvin Ham taking AD out while we were down 1 might be the biggest mistake of the seasonpic.twitter.com/6FmsYafnZN
— FADE (@FadeAwayMedia) April 27, 2023
This game is all on Darvin Ham.
— Lakers Empire (@LakersEmpire) April 27, 2023
How Ham may have cost the Lakers Game 5
With the Lakers down by one with 4:10 left in the third quarter and fighting tough, Ham decided to take Anthony Davis out. Davis had an absolutely dominant game with 31 points and 19 points, and he was the team’s only real offensive threat the entire game.
Even worse, Ham subbed in Troy Brown Jr. for Davis. Brown shot very well late in the regular season, but he has been ineffective throughout this series.
When there was 2:41 left, the Lakers’ small lineup that had James playing the 5 was down by eight points, which was when James exited in favor of D’Angelo Russell and Davis returned, replacing Austin Reaves. Memphis then went on a 12-2 run to end the period ahead 94-76.
James normally rests in the middle of each quarter, while Davis often rests later in the third quarter. Perhaps Ham sticking to his usual rotations in Game 5 would’ve at least given the Lakers a chance to win and advance.
Instead, they will have to get the job done in Game 6 in L.A., which means they’ll have to expend more energy and get less rest before the next series if they do indeed knock out the Grizzlies.
