During the 129-120 victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night, Jarred Vanderbilt assumed the starting position previously held by D’Angelo Russell. The other starters—LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Taurean Prince, and Cam Reddish—remained unchanged.
Ham, speaking prior to the game, clarified the rationale behind the decision: “We chose to highlight our defensive approach. A strong defensive game contributes to smoother offense. Therefore, we aimed to concentrate on that aspect and initiate the game with a slightly larger lineup.”
In a span of 24 minutes on the court, Vanderbilt contributed with two points, six rebounds, one steal, and one block, while Russell, during his 17 minutes of play, tallied 15 points, one rebound, and three assists.
Darvin Ham is benching BOTH D’Lo and Reaves.
— 🎗NBA•Fan🎗 (@Klutch_23) December 23, 2023
The starting lineup tonight will be:
PG: LeBron James
SG: Taurean Prince
SF: Cam Reddish
PF Jarred Vanderbilt
C: Anthony Davis
LeBron James is back at point guard.
Video is from 2017. pic.twitter.com/4IxOuBSQEH
Russell’s move to the bench aligns with potential opportunities for playing time in the Lakers’ backcourt. Gabe Vincent, returning after a seven-week hiatus due to left knee swelling, played 14 minutes against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. Reports suggest he is contemplating an arthroscopic procedure on his knee, which might sideline him for six to eight weeks.
Following knee swelling post the Chicago game, Vincent was absent from Thursday’s match against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Saturday’s game against the Thunder. A decision on the procedure is anticipated as early as Sunday. Ham underscored the team’s top priority of ensuring Vincent’s health, stating, “Our foremost priority is to understand his situation and position him for a healthy recovery.”
Russell’s shift to the bench reunites him with Austin Reaves in the backcourt, a duo that started the initial eight games. Ham highlighted their positive synergy and expected a faster, more offensive game with the second round of substitutions.
Before the Saturday triumph, the Lakers had suffered defeats in the preceding four games, maintaining a 2-5 record since their victory in the in-season tournament in Las Vegas. Davis deemed the Thunder game a “must win,” and Ham acknowledged the difficulties of the road trip, expressing the team’s determination to conclude it on a positive note before a crucial Christmas Day game at home.
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