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LA Lakers coach Darvin Ham hasn't hesitated to hold his players accountable since joining the franchise. The rookie coach has now called for the Lakers' bench unit to step up and help the team's superstars.
Russell Westbrook has been the only major contributor off the bench for LA so far this season. The likes of Kendrick Nunn, Austin Reaves, Juan Toscano-Anderson and Matt Ryan haven't made contributions at a high level consistently. Neither player has managed more than at least six points per game.
Ham spoke about the lack of support surrounding LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook after the Lakers' loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He said (via Lakers All Day Everyday):
"Russ was huge again off the bench. But you know, guys like Kendrick... Austin, Matt, Juan-Toscano, all these guys... They've gotta step up, we gotta step up and help our big dogs."
Westbrook is the only bench player tallying double-digit scores this season. The LA Lakers have four players, including LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Lonnie Walker IV and Westbrook, averaging more than 10 points per game.
The Lakers' depth was an area of concern before the season started. They needed more help around James and AD, but the front office has struggled to acquire contributing role players again. The two superstars have also struggled to get going at times and LA has massively struggled in those stretches.
The LA Lakers could consequently be forced to revisit potential trade transactions, which could help them improve their roster.
LA Lakers' role players struggle in loss against Cleveland Cavaliers
The LA Lakers dropped to 2-7 for the year following Sunday's 114-100 home loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook produced the goods, but their efforts went in vain as the Lakers' role players failed to contribute.
James scored 27 points, while Westbrook and Davis bagged 19 apiece. Troy Brown Jr. was the only player aside from the superstar trio to score in double digits, recording 12 points.
The LA Lakers got off to a hot start and secured a six-point advantage entering the break. However, their third-quarter woes came back to haunt them. They ran out of steam to begin the second half, getting outscored 29-16 in the first 12 minutes after the break.
That took away their momentum down the stretch as the Cavaliers entered the final frame of the contest with a seven-point lead.
LA's offense went numb across the last two quarters. The team made only 36.6% of its field goals, while the upbeat Cavaliers made 50.0% of their shots during that period.
The Purple and Gold simply couldn't find a way to get Davis involved offensively in the second half. He scored only two points on two field-goal attempts in the final 24 minutes.
LA's defense also lacked intensity in the second half, with Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell scoring with much more ease than they did in the first half.
The LA Lakers will look to turn things around when they face the in-form Utah Jazz team on Monday, the second night of a back-to-back.
The two teams previously squared off on Friday (Nov. 4). The Lakers recorded their worst defensive performance of the season in that game to lose 130-116.
LA is on a two-game skid, so they will hope to secure a positive result and get back on track. However, they will have their work cut out for them against a Jazz team that is 8-3 to start the season.
