He has time. It's not like he was blowing up during preseason. People get too much in awe with young guys and I think lose sight of the big picture. Maybe too much video games, this is real life, real jobs and real decisions. We are building a team to win NOW. Today. Not tomorrow. I love Max and I'm pretty sure he will have a great career, hopefully on the Lakers. But we are deep and there's other options. As a matter of fact, the one taking his place is actually playing pretty well. Max is still growing and there's no time to have that development (which means mistakes) happening in core minutes, when you're trying to build a 'win all games' culture I was actually the one mentioning Cam over Max in GameTime during opening night, I was surprised too. But Ham decided to go with Cam and it's not any sort of a ridiculous decision. There's pro and cons, it's actually working out individually and it's close to go with either one so I don't get the whining unless you just want to prove your point regardless of the context. It would be wise to trust coaching too, the man just took this team to WCF after starting the season with the worst scenario possible. Max will have to earn his place and be ready when injuries appear (they will) or when any of the backup guys is slacking or when Ham decides to test something new to solve collective issues. Not because he is the new shining toy or because he played well in Summer League. I have no doubt he will play enough minutes this year to prove he deserves more. That's what Reaves and all young guys did in contending teams, and that's how it will be with Max. And I trust he will respond well, sooner or later. I wouldn't be surprised if he only breaks the rotation next year, and that's absolutely fine as well.
Yes Cam is playing surprisingly well on defense and it has seemed watching Max move his feet and be technically sound he should be able to come very close to that at a bit shorter height. But Cam’s got to be able to hit shots as it has seemed with Max’s 40 % from deep last year and expanding offensive repertoire that he should get a chance to do that if Cam can’t. But apparently Ham’s going to give him every chance to do so. Otherwise he’s Vando from last season, if even close to as effective on D.
Ok, Max is not Kobe, but watching a clearly less talented player in Vincent chew up 32 guard minutes while Max is on the bench with a DNP-CD gave me flashbacks to Del Harris gluing Kobe to the bench his first two years.
Man, I’ve been watching Laker team’s closely for over 30 years now. This has NOTHING to do with video games or not having patience. It has to do with a young player who has put in the work, cares about playing defense, and can shoot. I have evidence that Ham holds young players back when they can contribute more: Austin Reaves. I’m not asking for the kid to play 30 minutes a night. I’m just asking to see him out there, to be given a chance, just like Reddish has.
Lakers ain't winning a title with DAR and worse Gabe Vincent in the closing lineup . I would bet my house on it
It’s a shame that he STILL can’t shoot after being in the League this long. Come on man! Put in the work! Maybe he has and it’s a confidence issue?
HBK should do what his namesake / idol would do too …. tired or not, and put in extra shooting practice on his own time out of this slump he’s in. Of course no one is Kobe any more.
I don’t want to come across as making an excuse for the baffling decision to not play Max… but in the long term this could be good for him. I think he came into the year expecting to be elevated to a rotation player. That hasn’t happened for what appears to be political reasons, and I’m sure it’s incredibly frustrating. He’s got to keep his head up, continue working hard in practice, and stay ready to snatch that rotation spot if/when he gets an opportunity. (This is assuming he eventually does get an opportunity, sooner rather than later. If a month from now he’s still getting DNP-CD’s that’s just straight incompetence)
Did Max run over Hamsters dog or something???? Tired legs on a back to back and Ham shortens his rotation??? Man is this annoying!
100% agree. Max can help us come playoff time if he gets some minutes now. Especially second night of a back to back when we have tired legs. Hambone learned nothing from his mistake with Reaves.
I am typically not a big youth movement guy and realize that coaches want the experience of vets in their lineups ............ .......... .......... But Max deserves some burn, get him up to speed. Too much potential to just force him to move on. If I were him and this went on for more than a couple of months, I would leave first chance I got.
I honestly feel like he’s the better 3 and D player right now over Reddish. We should at least find out right?
