Darvin Ham and Lakers using a extra severe solution to preseason

No butterflies. No pregame pics on the courtroom. No added moments of reflection on the push to the arena.

Just do the job.

“It’s recreation working day,” Darvin Ham explained right before his very first sport as coach of the Lakers, projecting the calm, self-confidence and management that helped him land the job this offseason.

If Ham wasn’t in the temper for sentimentality, new Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown cooked up some, offering a number of stanzas when requested whether there was any poetry in the year starting off with a matchup involving the two gentlemen.

Right after all, it was Brown, when he was the Lakers’ mentor, who employed Ham to get the job done with the crew as an assistant in 2011.

“I guess so. Let me see. ...

“Darvin Ham. I brought him in the league a when ago.

“I hope to kick his a— tonight.

“If I see him in the avenue, ... I would in no way challenge him to a battle.”

The preseason is a superior time for laughs, and Brown’s pregame poem furnished some. Very last year’s preseason for the Lakers, nevertheless, turned out to be more dilemma than poetry, the team on the lookout negative in likely -6.

This time began the very same way, a 105-75 reduction to Sacramento.

Lakers star LeBron James, still left, shoots about Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis throughout the to start with fifty percent Monday.

(Mark J. Terrill / Linked Press)

On Monday evening at Crypto.com Arena versus Sacramento, the Lakers took a additional critical solution, Anthony Davis, LeBron James and Russell Westbrook all actively playing in the preseason opener alternatively of sitting down out the exhibition. Davis even appeared on the team’s initially harm report, however he was “probable” with lessen back tightness.

“Just a minimal brief exam operate,” Ham reported. “Sticking the toe in the water for the 1st time, so to communicate, so it must be enjoyment. I’m searching forward to observing how they contend and how they have what we have worked on for the last 7 days or so.”

That 1st appear started with Damian Jones and Kendrick Nunn becoming a member of James, Davis and Westbrook in the starting off lineup.

Lakers guard Russell Westbrook jumps as he guards Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox for the duration of the 1st 50 percent.

(Mark J. Terrill / Connected Push)

“They all suit,” Ham stated, although he reported the starters would be fluid. “Like, the way they’ve played with a person an additional and the ball moves, we’re keen to see what that seems to be like tonight.”

For Nunn, it was the to start with on-court docket motion since a bone bruise shut him down past yr in the preseason. He promptly made his to start with shot — a corner 3-pointer off an support from Davis.

And although Austin Reaves, Patrick Beverley and Lonnie Walker all could fill that location in the lineup, Ham stated Nunn deserved Monday’s option.

“Kendrick has been one of the a lot of vivid spots in camp. His offense, he’s shot the ball extremely effectively. I have challenged him defensively, and he’s designed strides,” Ham stated. “He’s earned it.”

Nunn concluded with 9 details in 20 minutes. He and Davis were two of the lone offensive bright spots in a video game the place the Lakers shot 31.2 percent from the subject, quickly dropping a halftime lead after the starters sat at the commencing of the third quarter.

Notes: Talking of Walker, Ham said the Lakers’ most important cost-free-company signing is established to be cleared from an ankle damage and should enjoy when the team faces the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night time in Las Vegas. ... Former Lakers Malik Monk and Kent Bazemore are with Sacramento. Monk was a single of the Kings’ initial guards off the bench. … Troy Brown Jr., Walker and Dennis Schroder all missed Monday’s sport. The Lakers nonetheless are hopeful to have Schroder join the team this 7 days pending problems concerning his perform visa.