The Lakers are waiting on Austin Reaves to find his rhythm. But right now, it has not shown up.
Reaves finished with eight points on 3-of-16 shooting in Game 1 against the Thunder, continuing a rough postseason stretch that has him at 30.4 percent from the field. He is not pointing to his recent injury as a reason, saying he simply has to be better, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
“I mean, nobody cares about that,” Reaves said. “I got to go out there and play better.”
Reaves missed about four weeks with an oblique strain before returning, and LeBron James acknowledged that kind of layoff can have an impact.
“His presence alone helps us no matter what,” James said.
Still, the reality is clear. With Luka Doncic sidelined, the Lakers need more shot creation and efficiency from Reaves if they are going to keep pace with Oklahoma City.
There is also a bigger picture.
Reaves is widely expected to decline his $14.9 million player option this summer and enter free agency. His recent struggles have not gone unnoticed, though the organization remains firmly in his corner.
According to reporting from The Athletic’s Sam Amick, the Lakers still value Reaves highly and are expected to prioritize bringing him back. The belief inside the team has not wavered.
Now it becomes about production catching up to that belief.
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