The score is 108-107 with 8.9 seconds left in the game. Your team is down and needs a score to win. You have your choice of LeBron James, Austin Reaves, Taurean Prince, Christian Wood, Cam Reddish and Max Christie to take the court for the final possession.
Who would you trust to take the game-winning shot if James couldn’t take it? Many would take Reaves. Some would say Wood, and some would even argue Prince would be a decent second or third option.
That was the situation the Los Angeles Lakers were in on Monday night against the Miami Heat after battling back from a 13-point deficit. James drove the lane but was hemmed in, so he passed the ball out to Reddish.
Reddish? Was he really the best option? And for a 3-pointer when L.A. only needed a 2-pointer?
If Reddish were the only option, that would’ve been understandable. But it looks like head coach Darvin Ham drew up the final play for him.
I’m speechless Ham really drew up the play for Cam Reddish to take the game winning shot😭pic.twitter.com/SaeewgMrkQ
— 𝓛𝓛💫 (@HoodiiBron) November 7, 2023
Darvin Ham really drew up the play up for a Cam Reddish 3 with the Lakers down 1 😭 pic.twitter.com/WWRAxlnYJh
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) November 7, 2023
Reddish missed the shot, dropping the Lakers’ record this season to 3-4 and 0-4 on the road. Afterward, Ham seemed to defend the fact he took the shot.
Darvin Ham says Cam Reddish got an "awesome look" at the buzzer and that's a shot they would encourage him to take. He praised Cam for his overall effort tonight.
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) November 7, 2023
It’s easy to question this decision afterward. Could James have safely made a pass to Prince, who was also open? Should they have run a pick-and-roll with Wood, or with Reaves the ball-handler and James the screener? Should James have somehow gotten off a shot himself or looked to draw a foul?
In reality, the loss is more the fault of the Lakers’ prior four possessions before Reddish’s miss after they drew within one. They attempted treys on three of those possessions, and on the other possession, James was called for charging.
Ultimately, the bulk of the blame should go to the team for allowing itself to fall behind by 13 in the first place.
