Lakers News: Darvin Ham Planning To Adjust How He Uses Anthony Davis In Game 3

LA's head coach reflects on AD's poor night.

Yesterday, your Los Angeles Lakers fell 127-100 to the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of their ongoing second round playoff series. After the game, head coach Darvin Ham reflected on both how he expects his team to respond as the series moves to LA, and how he intends to use center Anthony Davis after his underwhelming performance in the contest. Davis recorded just 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists (against four sloppy turnovers), three blocks and a steal, after notching a spectacular 30 points, 23 rebounds, five assists and four blocks in Game 1.

“I fully anticipate our team will respond the right way.” Darvin Ham expects the #Lakers to come out ready on Saturday’s Game 3 matchup. pic.twitter.com/P4MOMXrBjX

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) May 5, 2023

"My gut feeling, my instincts tell.. me that my eyes saw us settle a little bit, mishandle the ball some early, we were right there early on, neck-and-neck, but a couple of possessions got away from us early, and I just thought they did a good job of crowding the paint and trying to prevent us from playing downhill as much, and that in turn affects what we do at the free throw line," Ham said. "I fully anticipate our team [will] respond in the right way [in Game 3]."

Ham was then asked about the efficacy of Draymond Green's distressingly good defense on Davis, after Green was switched onto The Brow as his primary defender in Game 2. Kevon Looney had filled that role in Game 1, with Green providing supplemental help.

"There's a reason why Dray [Draymond Green] is a perennial All-Defensive player. He's going to force tough catches, and when he's on the ball, his on-ball activity [is] second to none. And he's a good communicator. If A [Davis] is not trying to go at him, we're going into a secondary action," Ham noted. "We've got to go back, look at ways we can move A around, put him in different spacing, different actions and just try to diversify his attack."

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