Austin Reaves Discussion: Foundation Piece Or Trade Piece?

Was expecting Reaves to bust their a**** tonight but didn't happen.

He has a tough matchup coming up with Booker and the Suns.

 

I thought he played well. Missed some shots that he normally makes, was able to get to the FT line, and the Lakers stuck him on some rotations that didn't quite make any sense so it hurt his +/-. Like the way he hustled for every possession and rebounded the ball. Reaves just has a tough time guarding dudes who have a quick first step. Murray and KCP are good at getting free and Reaves just doesn't have the speed or athleticism to defend them properly. Honestly, the Nuggets are just a very bad matchup for the Lakers. They have the size, shooting, and talent to beat the Lakers. I've come to the realization that the only way the Lakers can beat the Nuggets is if AD outplays Jokic. Anything short of that and the Lakers are just at a disadvantage.

 

the responsibilities of representing an entire segment of the population.....

 

First triple -double of season
14 points 11 boards and 12 assists

 

This was nice because f*** Allen, but his impact has yet to be felt in either game. He hasn't been one of our better players and hasn't been the connective player that locked him in as a starter. Defense isn't there. Reads are late as a facilitator.

I thought the Team USA play would spring board him but it looks to have started him in a funk.

Gotta be better Austin.

 

That block on KD after getting the “too short” from him a couple games ago was awesome and a hell of a play. Pic tomorrow …. he was perfect in the verticality in the circle and timed it perfectly … way the hell UP both hands. I thought he played pretty well.

 

Was he credited with the block?

 

I think Reaves is either tired from playing so much basketball last year + olympics...and he hasn't properly rested or something.

OR...Ham is f***ing around with too many lineups and not playing Reaves in optimal lineups?

OR...is Reaves just not in good positions last couple of games having to guard bigger guys or constantly being switched onto bigger guys?

Either way...we need him to play a lot better. A lot of the Lakers ceiling kind of hinged on Reaves being our 3rd best player...

 

The announcers called it and I assumed he was? He’s the guy who got it I saw going frame by frame. And they doubled down after the fact that he got it.

 

i saw no blocks in the boxscore in the LN pod

 

Wow NBA.com doesn’t have it for him either. Just checked my freeze frames and AD is coming from behind but his hand’s moving forward behind KD and about 4 inches off the ball and Austin’s hand is already “on” the ball meeting it from the front … very clearly.

 

so he still is too small for KD

 

Crappy quality both of these but see Austin already on the ball here.



..... and from this angle rolling the ball off KD's hand.



.....

 

It's Pimple Goblin. It's ALWAYS Pimple Goblin.

 

I thought he played much better tonight than against Denver. And a lot of that was just f****** Denver with their size and the pressure they come with on defense.