Over the previous two years, Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves has develop into a official stud within the NBA. The undrafted Arkansas native can rating fairly successfully and function a secondary ball handler and facilitator, and he is confirmed he can deal with the brilliant lights of the playoffs.
However many identified that Reaves struggled to deal with sure defensive matchups. He tends to wrestle when matched towards greater wings, which first emerged through the 2023 FIBA World Cup and has been more and more uncovered by different groups within the NBA final season.
New Lakers head coach JJ Redick mentioned after Tuesday’s observe that he was impressed with Reaves’ protection, particularly when it got here to the participant’s effort on that finish of the courtroom.
Through Los Angeles Occasions:
“I by no means thought he was an fool defensively, however he competes along with his [expletive] on that facet,” Redick mentioned after Lakers observe Tuesday. “He is aware of what he’s alleged to do. He is in the suitable locations. If he is supposed to show, he turns. If he is alleged to be the low man, he is the low man. If it is alleged to be on level, it is on level. He simply does lots of actually good issues on the basketball courtroom.
Reaves will not wow anybody along with his primary defensive stats – he averaged 0.8 steals and 0.3 blocked pictures per recreation final season. However what might be essential is his potential to remain in entrance of his man, tie his man up, and forestall greater gamers from backing him up and mauling him in or close to the paint on switches.
The Lakers had been an admittedly mediocre defensive group final season. It might assist them significantly if Reaves took a major step ahead on this class.
This text was initially revealed on LeBron Wire: JJ Redick compliments Austin Reaves’ protection
