Austin Reaves Discussion: Overachiever Who Underachieved

yes and no. DFS and gabe took a total of 7 shots between them last night. goodwin took 4.

it's hard to expect consistency/rhythm in those conditions.

vando just can't shoot, and knecht can't play defense. the other three are the ones we need to have a steady expectation of how many shots and where those will come from. and we don't have that right now.

 

So short sighted how many (especially one guy if he’s still even here after having stopped posting once he’d failed trading AR for some mythically better non star player [not meaning AR is “non star” level] all season up to the deadline) …. felt once we had Luka there was duplication there and we should be looking to move Austin for a better fit next to him. Those two guys together going forward are going to be just fine/no make that great! If you squint even the tiniest bit you’d see/realize we now have Not one But 2 stars with the Mamba Mentality on the team. There’s no alternate universe in which that is a bad thing regardless of how else the rosters are built around them.

 

He's killing it on wide open 3s since the ASG

'44 of 97 good for 45.4%

unlike DFS who is 33 for 87 good for 37.9%

 

Goodwin hasn't been able to buy a 3 lately. Good thing about Goodwin though is he is willing to attack the basket. Yesterday he got an assist off the drive.
I hope he continue to develop because that is something you don't get from DFS or Gabe - it's make or bust for them on offense. You get nothing from them unless they're hitting shots so the variance is bonkers.

If Goodwin continues to improve, shooting get back up that could be a big plus for the lakers as only Rui and to a lesser extent Knect can score in multiple ways outside of the stars

 

My guy.

 

12 for 36 on wide open threes after the ASG ..

 

Bron talked about it during his pod. Austin is now seeing a team's 3rd best perimeter defender most nights. Some teams don't have a net positive 3rd best perimeter defender. It's BBQ chicken out there.




The company he's keeping with these statistical achievements... we're talking jersey in the rafters, HOF ceremony kinda career. We got a long way to go until then, just proud of our find and development of Arkansas' finest.

 

Good read with fun stats and some quotes

 

He went from someone you hoped could give you 15/4/4 to being someone who if he goes for 26/7/7, you aren't even surprised anymore because you kinda expect him to be able to get that.

I'm not even sure why he doesn't get the ball more often in late-game situations. I feel like teams know what you're gonna get from Luka and Bron so it's not exactly the best shot the Lakers have going. They're going to run the clock down and settle for a jumper. Reaves, you have no clue what he's going to do because he can dribble past you, bait you into a foul, make a pass, floater, etc., He's got every tool in the book to get you a good shot.

We saw this in the Memphis series a few years back when he took the game over.

 

It’s just crazy to me that because of his massive improvements across the board since his rookie year, the “Hillbilly Kobe” moniker isn’t one that I scoff at anymore.

 

Not just “every tool,” but some of those rare ones that only the All Time greats know how to use at an expert level!

 

Yes he does. Because he's worked his a** off practicing and perfecting all of them .... just like you know who.



Plus the fierce competitiveness, toughness and IT in big moments. Luka and AR .... like two mambas sittin’ in a tree

 

Super efficient 20 points. Still terrorizing from 3.

And apparently added this to his bag


If I'm OKC, I put Dort or AC on him cause both were BBQ chicken against Bron and Luka. Might as well try to stop someone with that best defensive rating in the league tag and all.

 

Austin will cook anyone who OKC chooses to put on him.
He’s just that good now.