"We see these guys making shots in practice and shootaround" - Darvin Ham happy with LA Lakers getting open shots, says team just needs to make them next time

The LA Lakers are struggling to make 3-point shots in their first two games of the season. Despite their poor shooting from beyond the arc, Lakers coach Darvin Ham is happy with the open shots they are getting. Ham thinks that the team just needs to make them next time.

In a postgame interview after the Lakers' 103-97 loss to the LA Clippers, Ham was asked about their shooting. The Lakers are 19-for-85 from the 3-point area, and it's evident that they have to improve. Ham explained that his players are making threes in practice and they just need to start making open looks:

"We want to play fast, physical and free. We see these guys making shots in practice and shootaround. They got to do it in the game floor, it's as simple as that. Whether team one was giving us shots or what not, it is what it is. We like the shots we're getting.

"Once we start making them, we'll see if those shots are still available due to our running habits and our screening habits. You'd like to see the ball go in more, but you just got to trust the process."

The LA Lakers were in the bottom thirds with a 3-point shooting percentage last season at 34.7%. They started the season shooting 10 for 40 on Opening Night against the Golden State Warriors. They followed it up with an even worse shooting performance against the LA Clippers, going 9-for-45.

Shooting was one of the Lakers' main problems last season and it was not addressed this offseason. The Lakers might have gotten younger, but they didn't add a reliable 3-point shooter.

With several teams expected to tank for Victor Wembanyama, the Lakers could have several options via trade. They have already been linked to Buddy Hield and Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers.

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LeBron James gives honest take on LA Lakers' shooting

LeBron James of the LA Lakers.

LeBron James had a very honest assessment of the LA Lakers' shooting following their blowout loss to the Golden State Warriors on Opening Night. James may have sent a subliminal message to the team's front office with his comments last Tuesday.

"I think we're getting great looks, but it also could be teams giving us great looks," James said. "To be completely honest, we're not a team that's constructed of great shooting. That's just the truth of the matter. It's not like we're sitting here with a lot of lasers on our team."

"The King" followed it up on Thursday after shooting 9 for 45 from the 3-point area against the LA Clippers. James wants the team to focus on defense when their shots are not falling. They had the opportunity to beat the Clippers, but came up short in the end.

"I'm definitely not going to sit here and harp on what we can't do every single game," James said. "That's not a leader. What I know we can do? We can defend our a** off. We did that tonight, which gave us an opportunity to win and we just couldn't make it happen."