LOS ANGELES – He could’ve played it cautious Friday night after the Los Angeles Lakers demolished the Memphis Grizzlies,125-85, and won their the first-round playoff series.
But Lakers coach Darvin Ham avoided the cliches – like “there’s still work to do” and “let’s not get ahead of ourselves” – and shared his true feelings after the electric victory.
“This thing is just getting started,’’ he said.
As the Lakers stormed their way to a victory that emphatically closed out the best-of-7 series 4-2, Ham clearly saw the potential, if not reality, of this team.
There was LeBron James finishingwith a two-handed reverse dunk, and a hint of the old “Showtime” Lakers in the air as the Lakers scored 24 fast-break points, and a suffocating defense that held Grizzlies star Ja Morant to 10 points and Memphis to 30.2% shooting from the floor.
“That side of the ball’s going to get you places,” Ham said of the Lakers’ defense.
Of course, the Lakers are trying to get to NBA Finals. Aiming to win the franchise’s 18th NBA championship.
There are clear reasons for Ham’s hopes:
Anthony Davis had 16 points Friday night, but the Lakers lauded their 6-foot-10 defensive force – and for good reason. Davis had 14 rebounds and five blocked shots, giving him 26 blocks over six games against Memphis, and he was the key to the Lakers dominant defensive effort in Game 6.
“For us to do what we want to do, what we’re trying to do, (Davis) has to be that anchor for us,” Ham said.
The fear for the Laker faithful is the ultra-talented Davis suffers yet another injury. But for now, he appears to be in peak defensive form.
“I think we all know, the world knows it and the basketball guys know and the competition know how dominant AD is defensively,’’ James said. “So he was AD. He was spectacular.’’
With Davis providing rim protection, the Lakers performed as Ham now expects they will.
“I told them after the game we set a standard for ourselves defensively, on how we have to play and what we have to do on the defensive side of the ball,’’ he said. “… We’re going to find ways to score. But the thing we have to hang our hat on is defense.”
Lakers’ new faces fitting in
The acquisition of D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, Rui Hachimura and Malik Beasley before the trade deadline upgraded the Lakers’ roster and gave them the jolt they needed. But there was limited time to integrate the new players into defensive teams featuring Davis.
The effort to do so began in film sessions and practice, according to Davis. He said Friday night’s game demonstrated the improved communication, which allows him to help his teammates when opposing players venture near the basket.
“I think that was the biggest thing, to kind of fast track our defensive schemes,’’ Davis said, adding of his new teammates, “Now they trust me, which now I trust them.’’
Lakers guard Austin Reaves said Davis exceled with his baseline defense and was a key reason Morant shot 3-for-16 from the floor and Morant’s backcourt mate, Desmond Bane, shot 5-for-16 from the floor.
“I thought AD was way more effect than even what the stat sheet shows,” Reaves said.
At 38, LeBron is ‘unreal’
Whether the Lakers play the Golden State Warriors or Sacramento Kings in the Western Conference semifinals, they’ll have only one day of rest between games during the best-of-7 series. This is not ideal for the 38-year-old James.
The good news is the Lakers will remain in California.
Though six playoffs games, he is averaging 22.2 points per game, down from his regular-season average of 28.9 points per game. His assists output has dropped to 5.2 per game from 6.8 per game.
That said, James is averaging 11.2 rebounds – and had the first 20-rebound game of his career – up from his regular-season average o f 8.3 rebounds per game. He appears to be playing on fresh legs, evidenced by the two-handed dunk during which James appeared to defy gravity and Father Time.
“It’s unreal,’’ Ham said of James’ play during his 20th NBA season. “I’m telling you, man, it’s unreal.’’
Home-court advantage
Jack Nicholson was sitting courtside for the first time this season, and all was right in Laker Land.
“It’s like the building was shaking, was just roaring, and the guys never heard ‘Let’s go Lakers’ so loud,” Ham said. “Our crowd is behind us… Like 1,000 percent, and we have to do our part and give them something to scream loudly about.”
If Ham is to believed, this is just the beginning for the Lakers and their fans.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lakers’ NBA playoff run ‘just getting started’ after ousting Grizzlies
