Lakers News: Darvin Ham’s Starters Unveiled For Golden State Bout

Will Ham ever make the right decision?

Los Angeles Lakers fans have reached a consensus that the team's 2023 playoff starters, that enabled their deep playoff run, is the optimal five to start off games. 

D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Jarred Vanderbilt, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis is a lineup we haven't seen start a single game this season, after it was highly successful last year. 

In fact, in the team's blowout win over Chicago this very five built up a 16-point lead, looking unstoppable on both ends of the floor. 

Yet, Ham doesn't seem to care, as the Lakers are back to starting their usual five, per Jovan Buha of The Athletic: point guard D'Angelo Russell, shooting guard Austin Reaves, small forward Taurean Prince, power forward LeBron James, and center Anthony Davis.

Against a Warriors team that depends so heavily on All-Star point guard Stephen Curry, this is a night where LA power forward Jarred Vanderbilt, who is one of the best perimeter defenders in the league, can use his length, instincts, and athleticism to chase Curry around screens, bothering him in the same way we saw in the Western Conference Semifinals. 

Instead, we'll likely see Taurean Prince taking the matchup, which shouldn't end too well for the Lakers.