The Los Angeles Lakers are looking like a serious title threat after winning 14 of their last 16 games, but Austin Reaves’ first-half struggles can’t continue into the postseason. Fans have surely noticed. The star is shooting just 37.9 percent from the field and 18.6 percent on threes in the first 24 minutes over this hot stretch. His full game numbers look fine because of blistering second-half shooting, but every point matters in the playoffs.
Reaves’ attempts are virtually identical per half. He takes 0.2 more shots per game in the opening 24 minutes. His second-half scoring average is six points per contest higher because he shoots 57.4 percent from the field and 49.1 percent on his 3-pointers in the final two quarters. AR basically goes from being Talen Horton-Tucker in the first half to 2014 LeBron James in the final 24 minutes.
The Lakers can’t afford to have their number two option be a non-factor in the first half of playoff games. They are an elite clutch team, but everything will tighten up. Reaves has no hope of continuing to shoot like prime LeBron in the last 24 minutes. His half numbers must improve, or the Lakers will have a serious issue on their hands.
The Lakers have to get Austin Reaves going in the first half
Luka Doncic is playing like the MVP and is on an incredible scoring run that rivals prime Michael Jordan. Fans have quickly discovered that number 77 loves to get off to a fast start and dominate the first quarter. Nobody averages more points in the first 12 minutes. The purple and gold certainly need Doncic locked in, but things should quickly flip to Reaves when Luka heads to the bench.
The solution is simple. AR has to attack the basket more in the first half. He is shooting 18.6 percent from long range and still taking 2.7 attempts per contest in the opening 24 minutes. It takes Reaves time to get his jumper going, so he has to get easy buckets in the paint.
Head coach JJ Redick should find ways to get him downhill to reverse this troubling trend. This is even easier early in the game with Luka still on the floor. Defense will tilt heavily to number 77, so Redick should be drawing up second-side actions that get Reaves free to go to the cup.
The Lakers have won 14 of their last 16 games and look like a serious threat. They have found continuity amongst their three stars. Reaves is the number two option and needs to play like it in both halves. LA needs more in the opening 24 minutes if they want to defeat the best teams in the Western Conference and make a deep playoff run.
Los Angeles Lakers fans know Austin Reaves struggles in the first half, and the team is often right there with him. They can’t rely on coming from behind every night in the playoffs. Luka Doncic can still go off in the first quarter. The Lakers just need to make sure AR gets a few easy buckets to get rolling. If this problem persists into the playoffs, it could doom Los Angeles. Hopefully, they put a stop to it before it is too late.