The Los Angeles Lakers were excited to get LeBron James back after he missed the first 14 regular season games, but his return has made life difficult for Austin Reaves. The 27-year-old looked to be breaking out when LeBron was sidelined. Reaves averaged 28.3 points, 8.2 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.4 steals before James played his first game. Those are All-Star numbers, but things have fallen off in the last three games with their superstar trio in the lineup.
Reaves was elite as the number two, but he slips to the third option with LeBron back. He scored just 16 points with five turnovers to three assists in a loss to the Suns. Luka missed the next two games to see the birth of his daughter, and Reaves again thrived as the number two option. With Doncic back, Reaves had 11 points in Philadelphia and just 15 in the NBA Cup Quarterfinal loss to the Spurs.
There are massive questions about the Lakers’ defense with Luka, LeBron, and Reaves on the floor. It will never be elite, so Los Angeles needs to be one of the top offenses in the NBA. That means maximizing their three stars. Sadly, LeBron’s return has stunted Reaves’ production.
LeBron James is making it impossible for Austin Reaves to succeed
King James has shifted his offensive game at 41 years old. He is reliant on his jumper, and it has slowed down Reaves. AR is used to LeBron getting into the paint and kicking out to him. The shift has made the ball a bit stickier and has Reaves searching for his offense.
In the last three games with their star trio, Reaves has shot just 15 of 44, or 34.1 percent, from the field and averaged 14.0 points per game. He is a problematic defender, so the Lakers need elite offense. LA has been outscored by 15 with AR on the floor and has just one victory over those contests.
Before Wednesday’s game, LeBron and Reaves had a negative-1.1 net rating when sharing the floor. Both players want to get going with Luka on the bench, but they are struggling to find the balance. Reaves has struggled in the last three with James playing better.
Head coach JJ Redick has to figure this out. They can’t have AR shooting under 35 percent from the field or averaging 14 points per game if they want to defeat the best teams in the world. It should all be about striking a balance. Right now, Reaves isn’t getting enough chances as a scorer and creator. The Lakers are certainly paying for that.
Luka and LeBron are two of the smartest basketball players in the world. They will get this figured out, but it must happen fast. The Western Conference is loaded with talent, including surprise teams like the Spurs and Suns.
The Los Angeles Lakers can’t compete with the best teams without an elite Austin Reaves. He is struggling when playing next to LeBron James, and the two stars must solve the problem ASAP. They have defensive issues and are not getting Reaves going offensively. Fans should be watching this issue closely. Hopefully, it gets resolved quickly, but the fix may not be that simple.