Lakers News: Fans Demand Darvin Ham Bring LA Big Into Playoff Bench Rotation

Tonight, your Los Angeles Lakers will resume their 2-7 first round playoff series matchup against the much more injured Memphis Grizzlies, and hope to avenge a lackluster Wednesday loss with a much-needed Saturday win.

Fans have taken to Twitter to advise head coach Darvin Ham on how to adjust his rotations today, and there is one common refrain that our scouts have discovered: they want 3-and-D center Mo Bamba in the rotation.

are we going to see Mo Bamba minutes today?
— David (@imposibol) April 22, 2023

Another fan prescribed some other tweaks they'd like to see out of Ham's strategizing as the series arrives in town, following two games in Memphis:

Get AD on the move on offense to get JJJ out the paint, give Mo Bamba some damn minutes, less threes and more driving to the rim. https://t.co/fgVDADY5gv
— fantasma (@chieflotsadoee) April 22, 2023

In addition to agitating for Bamba bench minutes, another LA fan believes D'Angelo Russell's backup, Dennis Schroder, should replace him as the team's lead point guard, and that sharpshooting power forward Rui Hachimura should be subbed in for Jarred Vanderbilt.

Start Schroeder reaves Rui bron and AD, and give Mo Bamba like 10 min please! https://t.co/cglA97V1OF
— Triston⚫️🟡 (@TrisAnt24) April 22, 2023

Again, that sentiment has been reiterated throughout Twitter:

Why don't the lakers play MO Bamba?
— Papi Frigo (@Kyle_kt_taylor) April 22, 2023

Another fan is hoping to get the Crypto.com Arena home crowd demand Bamba minutes:

We should start a mo bamba chants at cryto tonight
— المواد الكيميائية (@Checmicals) April 22, 2023

Los Angeles holds a $10.3 million team option on Bamba this summer, and seems unlikely to pick that up at present, given that Bamba was slotted behind even reserve backup power forward/center Wenyen Gabriel for much of the regular season's home stretch, before being demoted even further to a healthy scratch as LA has tightened its playoff rotations.

That said, the team has struggled on both sides of the ball, but especially on defense, whenever Anthony Davis has sat throughout the series. Ham has opted to use Rui Hachimura, LeBron James and Jarred Vanderbilt as his small-ball backup centers, but perhaps returning the seven-footer Bamba to the rotation could help add a bit of rim protection t

Time will tell if Ham hears fans' pleas.

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