ANOTHER DISAPPOINTING LOSS weighed on Los Angeles Lakers coach Darvin Ham as he maneuvered Saturday night I-110 traffic to catch a redeye flight back to his personal basketball bliss.
It was March 16, and Ham's Lakers had just been handled at home by the Golden State Warriors for their third loss in their last five games. It was L.A.'s second straight defeat to a team they were battling with for playoff seeding -- the Sacramento Kings had controlled the action three nights earlier.
Ham's trip wasn't just taking him 2,300 miles East, but 20 years back in time.