Lakers News: Darvin Ham Reveals the Kings Forced LA to "Do Things Different"

The Kings have been a tough matchup for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Another game, another must-win for the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers are back at it again tonight for their 67th game of the year, and once again, they will face their division rival, the Sacramento Kings, for the last time this season and for the second time in a week. 

This time, the Lakers will travel to Sacramento and try to get at least one win over the Kings. It won't be easy, as they have presented some challenges for the purple and gold. These past few games against the Kings have not been easy, and it's been evident. 

Lakers head coach Darivn Ham spoke to the media yesterday before heading up to NorCal and stated the challenges the Kings present to his team. 

"When you experience a game against them or any other team that forces you to do something different, it allows you to add something to the war chest and allows you to get better in different areas. The way they play off the ball, off-ball screens, their speed, their pace, their passing, forces you to be high level on that side of the ball with that particular area." 

—Darvin Ham, via Spectrum SportsNet

Darvin Ham speaks about facing the Sacramento Kings tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/mjZzKrryW5

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) March 13, 2024

The combination of the speedy guards they have, like De'Aaron Fox and Malik Monk, and their versatile big man Domantas Sabonis, alone, have presented challenges for the Lakers. Players like that have given the Lakers several problems, and the Kings use that to their advantage. 

It doesn't help when the Lakers are missing two key defenders, Gabe Vincent and Jarred Vanderbilt. Nonetheless, they shouldn't be run out of the gym like they have in past matchups. 

Ham and his staff are responsible for devising a good game plan, and the players are responsible for executing it. All hands need to be on deck, as the Kings could be a potential playoff or play-in matchup for the purple and gold.