MOST READ: In Game 4, Darvin Ham claims to have instructed D’Angelo Russell to “go crazy.”

After a poor Game 3 from D’Angelo Russell, Darvin Ham’s message to his point guard was one of still having confidence in him before Game 4.

D’Angelo Russell’s playoffs have been a wild roller coaster ride of ups and downs. The lows have been as bad as he’s played in a Lakers jersey in Games 1 and 3. The highs, though, have featured about as important production as he’s had in his purple and gold career as well.

In a do-or-die Game 4 on Saturday, Russell poured in 21 points, 14 of which came in the second half. The scoring alone was critical in the win, but the fact that it came one game removed from going 0-7 from the field made it even more impressive.

D’Lo is a supremely confident player who doesn’t need much in the way of pep talks. However, head coach Darvin Ham provided him some words of encouragement before the important Game 4.

“I told him to go crazy,” Ham said. “‘Be confident. You’ve been doing this your whole life. Go crazy and be aggressive.’ He looked at me – his little nickname for me is Big Dog – and said ‘I got you Big Dog. I got you.’ Shook my hand, gave me a hug and did what he did tonight. So proud of that kid.”

And D’Lo’s response to that? Well, just the most D’Lo quote you could imagine.

“I appreciate that,” Russell said. “But I believe in myself, simple as that. I don’t need that, but I appreciate that.”

Russell’s belief powered him to a very important performance. For the first time these playoffs, all four of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves and D’Lo played well in the same game. And it’s not a coincidence that the Lakers finally earned a win as a result.