Austin Reaves has not only been one of the best players on the Los Angeles Lakers this season, but he’s been one of the best in the league. Reaves has performed at an All-Star level, and when LeBron James and Luka Dončić have missed games, he has stepped up even more, leading the Lakers team to victories when most would assume a loss was inevitable.
Reaves had his worst game of the season in the Lakers’ victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday with just 11 points on 3-of-16 shooting. With how good he’s been, many were looking for a bounce-back game in the Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinals against the San Antonio Spurs, and while Reaves wasn’t awful, he still didn’t have the game everyone has become accustomed to seeing from him.
Reaves finished with 16 points on 6-of-16 shooting and made it to the free-throw line just one time in the Lakers’ 14-point loss. The Lakers’ record is now 17-7, and while basketball odds shift throughout the season, they remain relatively long shots for a championship. Head coach JJ Redick isn’t concerned with Reaves’ recent struggles, however, acknowledging the workload the guard has been shouldered with and expressing belief that he will quickly turn things around.
“Look, the reality is the guy’s carried us for six weeks, and that takes a toll on you,” Redick said after the game. “And he kept fighting, and I appreciate that, but he’s going to have a lot more great nights than frustrating nights.”
Reaves, once again, however, wasn’t willing to use that as an excuse and offered a much simpler expectation as to why he struggled for the second consecutive game.
“Just didn’t get the ball to go in the basket,” he said.
One thing that has become apparent is that Reaves is not one to offer up any excuses when he performs poorly. It was the case in the playoffs last season, when he played through a toe injury, and it was the case on Sunday against the 76ers as well.
If Reaves is on the court, he feels he should deliver without question, and that mindset is what has gotten him to this point in his career. With what he has done this season, Reaves can be afforded a couple of off-nights, and the fact that he doesn’t accept them gives everyone even more belief that he will soon bounce back.
Redick Believes the Lakers Issues are Being Exposed
Austin Reaves’ struggles on offense were not the reason the Lakers fell to the Spurs as the team has far bigger issues. And JJ Redick believes those problems are continually being exposed in the team’s losses.