Lakers News: Why Darvin Ham Considers Current Team Better Than 2023 Conference Finalists

Is Ham correct with this take?

Your Los Angeles Lakers are on a roll, picking up two big wins against two top Western Conference opponents: the Dallas Mavericks, and the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

Much of their transformation across the past two games can be attributed to the improved health of Jarred Vanderbilt, whom Darvin Ham recently referred to as being back in "game shape," as while he's been playing for the past few weeks, his impact has been far smaller than it was last season.

His defensive impact, ability to run the floor, and athleticism, are difference-makers, enhancing LA's strengths of defense and transition offense. 

This, combined with a red-hot D'Angelo Russell, has made LA look like a completely different team. In the month of January, D'Lo is averaging 21 points on an absurd 50% from the field and 45% from 3-point range. As a third option, those are some of the best numbers in the league.

With LA's lefties from their Conference Finals run back at full strength, coach Darvin Ham, who suddenly looks much smarter than he had before, had this to say, per Broderick Turner of Yahoo Sports: 

"The reality of it is we have what we had down the stretch last year as well as more firepower and guys who are a year closer and experienced in playing with one another,” Ham said. “So we can stop looking around and just look at ourselves, look within ourselves. There’s a ton of excellent basketball that we can play and in a ton of games that we can win with this group as it is constructed. So he’s (D’Angelo Russell) right at the forefront of that and we just want him to feel comfortable and be able to go out and play the game at the high level like he’s been doing here recently.”

Ham's undeniable faith in D'Angelo Russell bodes well, as the 6-foot-5 combo guard is terrific when he's operating with confidence, being able to score at all 3 levels while adding value as a playmaker. 

Combining this with the continuity Ham mentions creates a lethal combo for LA, and if Russell and Vanderbilt can keep this up, LA has an incredibly high ceiling.