The win over Warriors has made Ham's excuse worthless on the starting lineup

The Los Angeles Lakers were able able turn last season around thanks to the moves in the trade deadline and had a great close of the regular season and a good run in the playoffs all the way to the Western Conference finals.

For the 2023-24 NBA season, for the first time in the LeBron James and Anthony Davis era, GM Rob Pelinka bet on continuity by bringing back the team's core from last season.

The Lakers' starting lineup that helped the team make it to the WCF had D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Anthony Davis, but this season they have only played 3 min together as coach Darvin Ham threw continuity out the window.

In the last seven games, Ham has almost used that starting lineup, but instead of Jarred Vanderbilt, he has been using Taurean Prince, who hasn't been that great. Now has come out before the game between the Lakers against the Bulls to point Taurean Prince’s durability and 3-point shooting, as well as Jarred Vanderbilt’s health, as the primary reasons he hasn’t used the team’s starting lineup from last season, D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Vanderbilt, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, more.

Darvin Ham used last season's starting lineup to close the game vs. Warriors

Coach Ham used last season's starting lineup with Jarred Vanderbilt to close out the game and took the win, so his excuse isn't worth it anymore. For Monday's night game, Darvin needs to be back in that starting lineup as Vando has been far superior to Prince who is a valuable asset, coming off the bench, even when he didn't score a single point at Golden State.