The Los Angeles Lakers have improved their defense in the 19 games Austin Reaves missed, but how does head coach JJ Redick make it work when he returns? Reaves was playing like an All-Star and will get 35 minutes every night. The Lakers need his offense, but it is all about finding a balance. Reaves will start and replace Marcus Smart or Jake LaRavia. They are already a bad defensive team and can't afford to be any worse.
LA is unlikely to make a significant trade before the Feb. 5 deadline. The two players they were most linked to were traded for each other on Saturday night, and the Lakers don’t want to take on long-term salary. They need a 3-and-D wing, but acquiring one at their desired price point is virtually impossible.
Coach Redick must decide how to balance the groups using the players he has. Jarred Vanderbilt was the odd man out of the rotation early in the season when everyone was healthy. It would mean benching one of their best defenders and only playing one of Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia, or Vando on the floor at nearly all times. Their defense will struggle.
Austin Reaves is leaving Lakers head coach JJ Redick with an impossible decision.
Los Angeles had a 118.1 defensive rating through the Christmas Day game and has gotten it down to 116.4 since AR went out. Playing two stout defenders makes life easier, but the Lakers can’t bench Deandre Ayton entirely. That leaves a difficult decision around every turn.
The Lakers have a negative-9.8 net rating in the 140 minutes that Luka, LeBron, and AR have played together so far this season. That should not be the case. Their 118.7 defensive rating is a problem. There is no finding balance with three subpar defenders, a struggling rim protector, and one option asked to clean up the mess every night.
Redick must find ways to get Smart and LaRavia on the floor. If it means shaving a few minutes from Doncic or James, this issue would already be solved. Nobody wants to make the wrong move and be the bad guy. The stars will play massive minutes, and it is on coach Redick to put them in positions to succeed.
There are several swirling questions as Reaves could return as soon as Tuesday night from a calf injury that forced him to miss 19 consecutive games. The Lakers need his scoring, shooting, and playmaking. They will rely on their star trio to win games. It will be on coach Redick to balance the lineups and find enough defense, which is easier said than done.
The Los Angeles Lakers have their sights set on title contention. It will be an adjustment to integrate Austin Reaves back into the mix. He was playing like an All-Star before his injury and should immediately provide a boost.
The Lakers will likely start him over Jake LaRavia and try to find balance by staggering the star trio. The closing group will be worth watching. Can LA get enough defense to finish things out? It is on coach Redick to make those impossible decisions.