Los Angeles Lakers fans weren’t happy looking at new coach Darvin Ham’s potential starting five.
Ahead of the upcoming season, the lineup sees Damian Jones at center, Anthony Davis at power forward, LeBron James at small forward, while Kendrick Nunn and Russell Westbrook come in as shooting guard and point guard respectively.
While Ham maintained that this wasn’t the final group, the move to starting Westbrook comes as a surprise after reports emerged earlier this year that there was a strong possibility of him coming off the bench.
Per The Athletic, the new head coach was pleased with the way things were shaping up and shared his thoughts on the possible lineup saying it was looking positive.
“It’s been good. “It’s been really, really good.”
The Lakers fans though were less enthused. They took to social media to share their thoughts:
https://twitter.com/_Zafari2400/status/1576136730033287168
Where's the shooting https://t.co/LP60nW10yy
— cray (@craymiranda) October 1, 2022
I know it’s just pre season but it’s so much wrong with this lineup idek where to start https://t.co/mlHSxcWhcU
— Oli (@jordano1ison) October 1, 2022
Not cracking 40 wins sadly https://t.co/tAi19zV3r4
— mcbuckets (@creatorjordan23) September 30, 2022
We going 20-62 this season 😂 https://t.co/dKw3iddnlS
— King👑Wuuuudi (@SergeantWudiDa1) September 30, 2022
Should start reaves https://t.co/1LiYWDsjQu
— sleepy (@Sleepy_Steve26) October 1, 2022
https://twitter.com/joseph3jacobo/status/1575966060540747781
People are responding to this like Nunn can't shoot and idk why. https://t.co/LQZHi5SHS5
— Phil the Laker Fan (@lkrfanphil) September 30, 2022
Good to see KNunn making an impact. The question is can he hold up and stay healthy?? #Lakers https://t.co/mEgHB0ThKo
— Chris Camello (@Chris_Camello) September 30, 2022
This gotta be a joke right? https://t.co/p7DirHWIXO
— Brandon (@Finale_24) September 30, 2022
Keep talking about my squad, our personnel ages, the way they play, we’re past our time in this league, etc etc etc!! Do me one favor PLEASE!!!! And I mean PLEASE!!!! 🙏🏾 Keep that same narrative ENERGY when it’s begins! That’s all I ask. #ThankYou 👑 https://t.co/595OZRx1wr
— Kevin Millini (@kA_Millli) September 30, 2022
Nunn will be important to them…he can make shots https://t.co/DD9kXGKjEc
— Nickevius Whittick (@itz_n1ck) September 30, 2022
Worst defensive 5 in the league?? https://t.co/0mDJbf22qF
— Penny (@theAprodigy) September 30, 2022
Every guard/wing gone feast on this team. No perimeter defense https://t.co/qnrtlOuEyP
— El Foosay (@bigguyshak) September 30, 2022
Bruhh start my boy Reaves over nunn lol 😂 this line up ain’t it https://t.co/cCxOABqDR3
— xBeatTheOddsx🌬💨 (@RipSoey05) September 30, 2022
While one section of the fans saw a glimmer of hope with the potential five, most comments centered around how this may qualify for the preseason, but not when the regular games kick in.
Darvin Ham: “It Comes Down to Mixing And Matching Players.”
Per a Clutchpoints report, Ham shed light on the squad and the lineup, and the tinkering that was going on. He also added that he intended to experiment with the starting five during the preseason.
“I’m just looking at everything,” Ham said. “I see what fits with a small lineup, with Bron at the 4, AD at the 5, the traditional lineup. We haven’t paired Russ and (Patrick Beverley) together just yet, but we’ve been throwing out all types of lineups together out there.”
He also added:
“K-Nunn has been with some. Damian Jones and Wenyen Gabriel, Thomas Bryant — we’ve been rotating people all over the place just to see.” “But it just comes down to mixing and matching players. They’ve adjusted to it well and kept it rolling, and made the best of it. It’s been a good camp thus far.”
The Lakers have four preseason games to figure out who their best starters are. They start off their practice skirmishes against the Sacramento Kings, followed by games against the Phoenix Suns, Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Golden State Warriors. They will meet Stephen Curry & Co. in their season opener in an away fixture on October 18.
