Hamm has a big new trick and thinks he's a master tactician!However, extreme offense and defense may be synonymous with folding
This season, the Lakers' tactical style seems to be becoming more and more "Ham", yes, that's right, we're talking about head coach Ham. The coach, who has always been regarded as a master tactician, has frequently changed formations in recent games, causing a lot of discussion among fans. Let's dive into Ham's new system and whether this is really the Lakers' future winning formula, or just a big gamble with the smell of gunpowder.
Just around Christmas, Ham began to make frequent changes to the team's lineup, especially after Vanderbilt's return, and his decision-making intensified, as if a strong desire was pushing him. According to the team's reporter Buha, Vanderbilt's idea of replacing Prince was actually considered too conservative, so the head coach did not hesitate to field a five-forward combination of James, Bushy Eyebrows, Vanderbilt, Hachimura and Prince. Such a lineup failed to win easily against the Hornets with an unsatisfactory record, and even fell into the dilemma of being suppressed by the opponent.
However, in the end, the Lakers won by making adjustments, otherwise Ham could have once again become a scapegoat for the team's loss. This is not the first time Hamm has defended the wind at a critical moment. Looking back at last season's Christmas War, when the Lakers faced the Dallas Mavericks in the third quarter, Ham unexpectedly sacrificed a super death five-small lineup, but was directly nailed to the shame pillar by the opponent, and was bombarded with 51 points in a single quarter. The lesson didn't seem to have brought Hamm back, instead putting him in a situation where he was often teetering on the brink of losing.
Since the beginning of the season, Ham has made several changes to the backcourt combination, first abandoning the combination of Russell and Rivers, and gradually forming a new lineup with a focus on the front line. While this change didn't happen overnight, the Lakers gradually found a new balance at the tactical level. Behind the five-forward lineup, however, is Ham's response to the development of modern basketball. In the world of basketball, fast-paced offense and three-point shooting have become the keys to victory. Ham, on the other hand, is trying to replicate the Warriors' success with this tactical adjustment.
However, it doesn't seem to have worked out. In the current roster, the Lakers are difficult to find consistent three-point output and speed-type players except for James and Bushy Eyebrows. This puts general manager Pelinka in a dilemma. He needs to strengthen his roster while also considering speed and athleticism, and even for the 3D wings, he has not stopped. And some of the previous recruitment decisions do not seem to have met the expectations of fans. Pelinka opted to re-sign Rivers and Russell at a low price in the offseason to bolster the forward group, but his performance on the court was mediocre and there were constant problems off the court. This also made Hamm have to pretend to be calm.
For Hamm, he's been looking for a more extreme transition between offense and defense, trying to find a new way to win in the game. However, it seems that all of this is underestimated. In today's basketball tide, it is difficult for teams without projection ability to stand out in the fierce competition, and it is even more difficult to get the final championship trophy. Even winning the midseason tournament seems to be just the tip of the iceberg and can't answer more questions about the Lakers.
Behind all of this is the current situation of the Lakers' roster, as well as some difficulties in the management in terms of recruitment. While the five-forward setup may be able to beat a number of potential championship contenders in the regular season, the so-called extreme offense and defense seem to be short-lived. Such a combination may not be sustained in the playoffs, when the Lakers are already at the end of their power.
Overall, Hamm's new tactical system looks impressive on the surface, but behind it lies a host of problems and challenges. It remains to be seen whether the Lakers will find a real winning formula this season, or if they will face a tough challenge on the road to the playoffs again. The world of basketball is always full of unknowns, and the Lakers' tactical exploration may be just a small part of this exciting world of sports.