The Los Angeles Lakers got out to a painfully slow start this season but things have slowly been turning around as of late. With the schedule easing up and entering a much more manageable stretch, the Lakers have won three games in a row including a blowout win over the San Antonio Spurs.
There are several positive highlights for the Lakers in this stretch with Anthony Davis front and center. Davis has been an absolute monster over the last week-plus and is reminding every NBA fan that he is a bonafide top-10 player when healthy.
Davis is not the only bright spot for the Lakers, though. Second-year undrafted guard Austin Reaves is really starting to come into his own this season and has played fantastic basketball as of late. Reaves’ presence off the bench has been incredible and with his strong play, he has put himself in some elite company.
50/40/90% players this season (minimum 6 FGA per game):
— pickuphoop (@pickuphoop) November 21, 2022
Stephen Curry
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Austin Reaves
Stephen Curry is one of the 10-15 best players in NBA history and Shai Gilgeous-Alexader has been the breakout player in the league this season and currently looks like an All-NBA First or Second-Team player. For Reaves to be in the same conversation? That is special.
The Lakers must continue relying on Austin Reaves and not give other players the benefit of the doubt.
Austin Reaves‘ emergence this season as an extremely valuable rotation player has been directly contradicted by the play of two veteran guards in the rotation, Patrick Beverley and Kendrick Nunn. Nunn has probably been the worst player in the entire league this season while Beverley has been downright horrible offensively and hasn’t made it up with his defense.
Prior to the season, Darvin Ham preached the fact that those who play hardest and play well will get the most minutes. Ham was not going to play favorites or give certain veterans the benefit of the doubt.
If the Lakers are going to turn this season around, they have to keep that same energy and continue calling on Reaves to play a big role on this team. Even when LeBron James returns, Reaves should be playing 30+ minutes at minimum.
Reaves is averaging 32.4 minutes per game in his last six games played and he has been great. He is averaging 15 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists while playing good defense and shooting 52.7% from the field and 40.9% from three.
Lakers fans should be seething over reported trade LA turned down
The Los Angeles Lakers had another chance to make a great trade with the Toronto Raptors and turned it down. Fans should be seething.
If Reaves starts to regress and is not playing at that high of a level at some point then you re-evaluate. However, the Lakers must continue riding the hot hand who has emerged as the team’s best shooter this season.