Kenyon Martin Criticizes Lakers Coach Darvin Ham for Underutilizing Anthony Davis Against Nuggets

Former NBA player Kenyon Martin has criticized Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham for not featuring star forward Anthony Davis enough in the team's offense during their playoff series against the Denver Nuggets. The Lakers currently face a 2-0 deficit in the first-round matchup after losing Game 2 by a score of 101-99.

Despite Davis scoring 32 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in Game 2, Martin believes Ham should have involved him more, especially in the fourth quarter. "Anthony Davis had only one shot attempt and did not score in the fourth quarter of Game 2, despite the Lakers leading for most of the game," Martin pointed out. He emphasized that the Lakers need to keep Davis involved in the offense, particularly in crunch time, and run more two-man game plays with LeBron James and Davis.

The Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokic's triple-double and clutch plays from Jamal Murray, were able to overcome a 20-point deficit in the second half to secure the victory. Martin stressed that the Lakers' defense must maintain discipline and focus for the entire game, not just the first half, to contain the Nuggets' potent offense. He also highlighted the importance of rebounding and limiting second-chance opportunities for Denver in Game 3.

Why this matters: The criticism from Kenyon Martin, a respected former player, puts additional pressure on coach Darvin Ham to make adjustments and better utilize Anthony Davis, one of the Lakers' key players. The outcome of this series could have significant implications for the Lakers' future, as they aim to contend for a championship with their star-studded roster.

Lakers legend James Worthy also echoed Martin's sentiments, stating that Ham should have called more plays for Davis and criticized the team's lack of killer instinct in the second half. As the series shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3, the Lakers will need to give everything they have to avoid falling into a potentially insurmountable 3-0 deficit against the top-seeded Nuggets. Ham acknowledged the need to make in-game adjustments and emphasized the importance of adhering to the game plan that worked well in the first half.

Key Takeaways

• Kenyon Martin criticized Lakers coach Darvin Ham for not featuring Anthony Davis enough.
• Davis had only 1 shot attempt in the 4th quarter of Game 2 despite Lakers' lead.
• Nuggets overcame a 20-point deficit to win Game 2, led by Jokic's triple-double.
• Lakers legend James Worthy echoed Martin's criticism, calling for more plays for Davis.
• Lakers face a 2-0 deficit and must win Game 3 to avoid a potentially insurmountable 3-0 hole.