Darvin Ham subtly conveyed a message to LeBron James after the Los Angeles Lakers Game 2 loss against the Denver Nuggets.
James struggled to land shots from beyond the arc, going 0-for-6 in the 108-103 loss. Ham had a word of advice when he called James a “highly capable” 3-pointer shooter but wanted him and the side to “live in the paint.”
“He was open, they’re playing off of him. He’s a highly capable 3-point shooter, he let it fly,” Ham said. “Again, like I always say, love and live in the paint. That allows some of these 3-point attempts to be that much more open and that much more in rhythm.”
Darvin Ham says LeBron is a "highly capable" 3-pointer shooter but would like to see him and the team "live in the paint."
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) May 19, 2023
James has struggled in both games against the Nuggets when it comes to shooting 3s. He went 0-for-4 in Game 1, before failing to drain a single one in the second, leading fans to slam the four-time champion.
With the next couple of games slated to be played at home, the Lakers will hope that James can get his mojo back, while also perhaps taking Ham’s advice under consideration.
Austin Reaves Backs LeBron James To Take The 3s Amid His Struggles
Like Ham, Austin Reaves believes in James’ capabilities, but there was one difference — he intends to not question the latter’s ability to knock down 3s.
“Let him shoot all he wants. It’s LeBron James… We want him taking what he feels comfortable with. He’s a winning player,” Reaves told reporters after the game.
On the game front, James notched up 22 points, coupled with nine rebounds, and 10 assists. As for Reaves, he had a strong showing with 22 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists.
This regular season also saw a slide in James’ three-point shooting as well. He hit 32.1% compared to his last season’s 35.9% and the trend was seen in the playoffs too.
All eyes will be on James to see if he can fix his scoring woes ahead of Game 3. Both teams meet on Sunday where the Lakers will hope to cut the deficit. And whether it’s from the paint or from downtown, James and the Lakers will need to up their offensive production.
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