LOS ANGELES — Midway through the fourth quarter Sunday afternoon, Lakers coach Darvin Ham stood near midcourt, slumped slightly to his left with both of his hands in pockets.
There was no magic card to be played, no tweak to be unearthed as his team came face-to-face with one of the best teams in the NBA and retreated into the offensive shell that has been the defining trait of a team now five games under .500.
After the Lakers' loss Friday to Utah, Ham 's voice crackled as he said the Lakers' defensive energy and intensity were unacceptable. This, he said, would not be how they played.