Austin Reaves Discussion: Overachiever Who Underachieved

Who says you can't have any expectations you want or you can't have your own opinion? OTOH: you replied to this post which clearly states when IMO I would think about salary and expectations. If you as stated believe expectations are for a whole season then I would say that Lebron/AD despite injuries have done very well - they are going toe to toe with the defending champions!

 

I agree. He definitely didn't have a good game and he’s a fan favorite for most due to his back story. I get it though. It’s wild sometimes to see the vitriol aimed at even LeBron who was one of the only guys playing well while Reaves who was clearly having a bad game was pretty much spared.

He’s not immune from criticism though and we will need more from him. He can’t stop Klay but he can play better

 

I dont care if Reaves get his pounts. Just dont let Klay get going. In the Kingsvseries Klay never hit the 30pts game once. I believe most of his points were in the teens and that series went 7 games. This is all about matchup. Its been two games and Klay is around 30pts in each game. How many more games will we have to watch before something is done?

 

Lebron has several things going against him but it is what it is so it's not unexpected:
1) think Lebron/kobe thing is going to make it naturally difficult for many Lakers fans to like Lebron
2) He's not shy about his political leanings and there is a level of hypocrisy with anyone with a political opinion
3) The dude is old and you are not getting even bubble Lebron let alone Miami Lebron

I think the Lakersguru twitter stream did have an interesting comment that I'm not sure is true or not but has a ring of truth to it: despite the Lakers allure it comes with it the expectation and comparisons to past stars. Some of these expectations are probably mythologized as well so not all stars would want that burden to comes to fanbase that really care about title (lakers fans are not Miami fans for example lol).

Reaves is homegrown and a feel-good story - the "problem" as I see it unlike even Caruso is that he's been so good he's on another level now - i.e. the 3rd star/Desmond Bane like role. The Lakers need him to be like that for them to have a chance at a title and they are playing him the minutes and calling the plays for him as if he is. He's proven he deserves it but with that comes expectations. It's first playoff run and whether people like it or not, I do think both his and AD's performances were just dead legs from going all out in game 1

 

Great back and forths on the salary / expectations topics.

 

I'm more worried about Austin spending too much energy on chasing Klay which limits his impact on offense more than Austin's defense itself ..

Got to find a way to do the same to Klay on the other end

 

He'll be much better today at home

 

In AR I trust. He is a winner.

 

When you trust a kid who’s only in his second year, with the ball, more than you do LeBron, you shouldn’t worry.

 

If Austin Reaves is our 3rd best player in this series, our goose is already cooked. He's a great young role player, but he is overmatched in this series. Wiggins and Thompson are superior players on both sides of the ball. Play hard, play smart and don't try to do too much. He'll be OK as long as he does that. We have some other guys that need to step up besides Reaves. We should temper some expectations with the kid IMO.

 

Where HIM at?

 

Don't get it. He's getting the shots I want him to take but hes just missing.

He is working his but of on D.though and the best lineup is still him, DLo, DS and Lebron and AD

 

Better. Even good.

 

Let the kid play his role...it's not as our 3rd best player though. That's cap.

 

Tough matchup for him against Klay and the shots not falling for him but he’s got to just keep playing hard.

 

Played great. Got fouled a few times that didn’t get called. Played GREAT defense.

 

No we don't ..we need Austin to stay calm..learn from this experience of going up against some Championship winning players. The young man will be fine for this experience. I really believe in Austin but, we can get carried away sometimes, pinning too much on him.