Darvin Ham, the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, delivered a strong message to the Denver Nuggets after his team’s victory over the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA Play-In Tournament, setting the stage for an intense first-round showdown between the Lakers and the Nuggets.
Despite the Nuggets’ recent dominance over the Lakers, Ham emphasized that his team fears no opponent and is fully prepared to confront the challenges of the postseason.
Refuting suggestions that the Lakers should deliberately lose to the Pelicans to avoid facing the Nuggets, Ham dismissed such notions as ludicrous, emphasizing that the Lakers’ ultimate goal is to win the championship, necessitating a confrontation with formidable opponents like the Nuggets at some point. Ham’s defiance mirrors the Lakers’ collective determination to embrace challenges head-on, even if it means facing a team that has historically had their number.
The animosity between the two teams has been fueled by trash talk, with Nuggets coach Michael Malone and Lakers players like Anthony Davis exchanging barbs. As the Lakers prepare to take on the Nuggets once again, Ham seeks to silence his critics and outmaneuver Malone, determined to rewrite the narrative of their previous encounters.
Despite past setbacks, the Lakers remain resolute in their quest to reverse their fortunes against the Nuggets and prove themselves on the court.