Ham was unfairly scapegoated, at times, because the team had a ceiling that it wasn't ever going to surpass, and cats were quick to blame him for everything that went wrong. That doesn't mean he was faultless, but it was in large part to their personnel which hindered them, and to some varying degree it still does.
The team has a completely different identity to when he was in control. The entire coaching staff is different this season (not just JJ).
I don't think they'll be a contender until next season when they can address their frontcourt situation, which by that time, Bron will be another year older.