Austin Reaves came into the second-round matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder rusty and shaky after returning from a grade 2 oblique strain. Unfortunately, that showed up in all the worst ways for the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1. It is tough to overlook Reaves as a detrimental factor in the Lakers' disappointing 108-90 loss to the Thunder.
Reaves' offensive production was woeful. The Lakers guard finished the game with only eight points, shooting 3-of-16 from the field and 0-5 from beyond the arc. Beyond that, there were six assists to bring some form of value to the offense, but that was largely canceled out by his four turnovers.
On a night that featured a strong start, and even a manageable halftime deficit, Reaves' lack of production looms incredibly large. LeBron James had a strong outing, leading the team with 27 points on 12-of-17 from the field and 3-of-6 from deep. LeBron also chipped in six assists to get his teammates involved. When the Lakers forward was on the court, his team was at their best.
James was in desperate need of a secondary offensive creator and playmaker behind him throughout the night. That should be Reaves' role on that end. In Game 1, the results in that department were downright ugly for the soon-to-be free agent.
Austin Reaves needs to shake the rust before it's too late for Lakers
Reaves clearly has not been at 100 percent since returning from his injury. It was a rough performance for him in his first game back during Game 5 of the first round against the Houston Rockets. Game 6 was a little better, but still far from excellent.
Game 1 against the Thunder was the worst outing for him yet.
In all fairness, Reaves deserves some slack given the injury turnaround. However, eventually, the Lakers will need him to deliver.
Going up against the likes of Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso, and the elite perimeter defenders of the Thunder is no easy task for a fully healthy player, let alone a hobbled one. Even so, if this is the version of Reaves that sticks around for the Lakers, it will be a quick series in the other direction.
It mattered so much here in Game 1 too. The Lakers came out with great energy in the first quarter. James was humming, but this is not 2018 LeBron. The aging star cannot play all 48 minutes of a basketball game anymore.
When James sits, someone needs to reliably run the offense. Reaves is who the Lakers will look to again and again. In his current state, that is a losing formula.
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