The Lakers finally gained a 119-108 win over the Denver Nuggets. After three consecutive losses, the team finally managed to pull a win over the defending champions in Game 4. However, they still have a big battle ahead of them. LeBron James and his team cannot afford to repeat the same mistakes that have prevented them from dominating thus far. Mistakes from Games 2 and 3 have seen the fans and veterans criticize the team and most importantly the head coach Darvin Ham. After highlighting Ham’s critical blunders, former NBA player James Worthy dished out an important piece of advice for him. 

Following the Game 4 win, Worthy suggested, “I would put up on the board to give them a little bit of insight of where they’ve been and what they’ve gained the positive stuff when they lost. That right there gives you a lot of like incentive if you could just patch up the leaks and the turnovers and execution so those are the type of things that motivate you.” 

He added, “I think it’d be wise if Ham would internalize that and give them something to look at say hey guys this is where we’ve been and you know this is what we’ve done to ourselves let’s not do it to ourselves anymore.”

The retired NBA player advised head coach Ham to take heed of his pointers and use the positive aspects of the game they lost to motivate the team. The host of the show highlighted that while the Lakers improved a few things, there was still some carelessness on their part. Both the team’s similar stats in offensive rebounds and the Lakers’ fewer turnovers compared to the Denver Nuggets were also discussed. 

James Worthy criticized Darvin Ham

Furthermore, the 3x NBA champion also advised Ham to focus on fixing the mistakes. Apart from Worthy, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst is one of the few who highlighted their mistakes. The Lakers’ disappointing performance in Game 2 was the talk of the town. Like many, Worthy also criticized Ham for the defeat. He pointed out a specific mistake by Anthony Davis who only took one shot in the fourth quarter of Game 3. He suggested that Ham should have encouraged Davis for more. He thinks this has happened before and needs to change.

“Sometimes it can’t be left up to the players on the floor. Sometimes you gotta call his play… This is a pattern that hasn’t been broken yet,” Worthy explained. 

Furthermore, the 1988 Finals MVP went on to claim that the Lakers lacked aggressiveness and a killer instinct that is needed to win against the Nuggets. “They (Lakers) lacked killer instinct, (they made) frivolous….unprofessional basketball plays…in the playoffs of the second game of a team that has your number,” the Los Angeles Lakers legend shared.

Many fans have previously raised their doubts and asked the Lakers to fire Ham. While it’s quiet now after the Game 4 win, that could change depending on what happens in Game 3. What is your take on this? Let us know in the comments section below.