Lakers considering major starting lineup change for Game 2 vs. Nuggets

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham has been masterful in his adjustments throughout the 2023 NBA playoffs, and it appears he's now considering another major change. In Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals matchup with the Denver Nuggets, center Nikola Jokic went off to the tune of 34 points, 21 rebounds and 14 assists while shooting 70.6 percent from the field.

The Lakers had no answer for the man known as Joker, but as we've seen with Ham and the Lakers throughout this postseason, they seem to have little to no interest in standing pat and just hoping things improve.

According to NBA on TNT's Chris Haynes, Ham is considering moving Rui Hachimura into the starting lineup for Game 2 against the Nuggets.

"Sources tell me Darvin Ham is considering starting Rui Hachimura for Game 2. It's a decision he's keeping very close to the vest." Haynes stated.

The move makes a lot of sense considering the Lakers were somewhat restricted when Anthony Davis was guarding Jokic. Davis has showcased an impressive ability to guard all five positions on the floor, but he was pulled out of the paint specifically to guard Jokic too often, essentially eliminating L.A.'s best rim protector from defending inside at times.

If the Lakers opt to move Hachimura into the starting lineup, the 6-foot-8 forward will likely be tasked with guarding Jokic, which has been a near-impossible task for any team or defender throughout the entire season. With that said, the move to have Hachimura on Jokic would free up Davis to dominate on both ends as well, and the Lakers big man is fresh off his own 40-point performance in Game 1.

If Hachimura is able to do even an average job defending Jokic, this move could be massively beneficial for the Lakers and may very well be their path to winning this series and advancing to the NBA Finals. If all goes to plan, and the Nuggets have to figure out how to defend Davis and LeBron James (among others), this series should quickly shift in favor of Los Angeles.