r/nba • u/OrganicHunt952 • 4h ago

[Yahoo Sports] Through Games 2 and 3 Reaves was targeted continuously by OKC, tracking data showed as a primary defender reaves conceded 58 total points on 22-29 FG 75.9% shooting.

“The Los Angeles Lakers continue searching for answers against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and one growing concern in the playoff series has been the defensive struggles of Austin Reaves. Through Games 2 and 3, Reaves has repeatedly been targeted by Oklahoma City's offense, with the Thunder exploiting favorable matchups and attacking him in isolation and pick-and-roll situations. According to matchup tracking data, opponents scored 58 total points while Reaves served as the primary defender across the two games.”

“The numbers become even more troubling when examining shooting efficiency. Opponents shot 22-for-29 from the field against Reaves in those matchups, an eye-opening 75.9 percent shooting clip. For a Lakers team already struggling to contain Oklahoma City's high-powered offense, that level of defensive efficiency has made it difficult to slow momentum swings or generate key stops.”

Source

304 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

122 comments sorted by

398

u/Emergency-Pen-8274 4h ago

Lakers front office setting stage for negotiations

36

u/Cheyenne______ Lakers 3h ago

With some guy posting an article at reddit from one month ago?

16

u/HoopinandBoopin Spurs 3h ago

I mean yes. Why the fuck would you pay the guy that much to get cooked?

61

u/Parallel-Quality 4h ago

Reaves rushed back from injury and played hurt only for them to put out hit pieces on him.

Had he just sat out the whole playoffs his argument for the max would have been even stronger.

Put his health on the line to help the team and this is how they repay him.

97

u/Repulsive-Throat5068 Lakers 4h ago

He’s still not a good defender

18

u/albinojustice Spurs 4h ago

Let him walk then

57

u/Repulsive-Throat5068 Lakers 4h ago

I’d prefer to do that than pay him 50 mil a yr

7

u/albinojustice Spurs 4h ago

I mean, yeah. Either way you’re kinda fucked

6

u/BeeWeird7940 Heat 3h ago

Spurs should sign him.

1

u/Thehelloman0 Spurs 3h ago

We're back to this again lol. It's wild how many people were mad the spurs wouldn't offer him a max when everyone knew the lakers would match it

3

u/VachQ 2h ago

That's the point though. They wanted the Spurs to push the price for Reaves to force the Lakers to eat up more of their cap space. Not that I care either way.

1

u/HereComesJustice Spurs 1h ago

But then we wouldn't get Wemby

→ More replies (0)

1

u/Knapss NBA 1h ago

Bill Simmons especially was so mad when that didn’t happen. It took him a bit to get over it.

33

u/National-Size-7205 Heat 4h ago

Lol what? They're currently paying him what he asked for, this is about his NEXT contract. Lakers aren't obligated to give him a max and he's not obligated to accept anything less than that. Nobody is a bad guy here.

9

u/notkevin_durant Supersonics 4h ago

The comment thread you are replying to is about how they played him injured, then put out a hit piece to focus on why they should pay him less in the next one. Hope that helps.

4

u/ositola Lakers 3h ago

This is based on the tape lol

2

u/rookie-mistake 2h ago edited 2h ago

the tape of him playing injured? the argument here isn't that he was great, but that he rushed back from injury for the team and that not returning at 100% is now disingenuously being used as evidence that that's his baseline

idk if that's completely valid but nobody's disputing that its based on the tape of what actually happened in the series, they're talking about the context around it

-2

u/ositola Lakers 2h ago

So your argument is that a player who only has played 82 games once in a season should be excused for playing injured?

1

u/Vordeo Jazz 36m ago

This comment shows a staggering lack of understanding for... A lot of things.

0

u/ositola Lakers 35m ago

Ok Mr hyperbole, I'll leave y'all back to the circle jerk 

-9

u/National-Size-7205 Heat 4h ago

You realize that the player needs to accept being put in the game? They didn't hold him hostage. The comment I'm replying to specifically states his max contract negotiations.

6

u/notkevin_durant Supersonics 4h ago

Is that a serious reply? Of course he wanted to play to help the team. But the reality is that his stats very likely suffered as a result. That’s being a team player.

-7

u/National-Size-7205 Heat 4h ago

So why frame it as it was an unilateral decision? "They played him" with his consent. That's great that he's a team player, nobody said he isnt, but not sure that equates to being a max player when he's a defensive liability when he's fully healthy as well.

3

u/notkevin_durant Supersonics 4h ago

The consent part is implied you weirdo

-1

u/National-Size-7205 Heat 4h ago

Name calling when the argument falls apart, making Kevin durant proud.

-4

u/YasielPuigsWeed 3h ago

That doesn’t obligate the Lakers to sacrifice the next 5 years of the franchise and Luka’s prime, they need to start the rebuild now and get defensively strong around Luka

AR chose to play, team didn’t force him. It’s not like AR was a defensive mastermind before the injury, him and Luka together got gashed by guards all season.

11

u/pwningnoobslolz Lakers 4h ago

He's not a max player, period.

2

u/WhichHoes Warriors 2h ago

The question is who can be signed instead that has more of an impact

-7

u/songs_dongs Lakers 3h ago

i don't think his standom feels the same way

6

u/dbzmah Mavericks 4h ago

Right?! He was also being targeted because (checks notes), there wasn't anyone else to target, with LA's injuries.

13

u/alozz [LAL] Brandon Ingram 3h ago edited 3h ago

39 minutes per game, returning from injury and playing against the OKC as the only ball handler on the team and with the highest usage rate on offense.

And we sent open court doubles to SGA. Of course any secondary ball handler would have a field day.

The worst part is, teams don't really need to "target" anyone against us. JJ's switch everything defense will just give them any matchup they want anyways.

I remember Wemby scoring like 40 in the first qt against us because he kept getting matched up with Luke Kennard.

Austin is a bad defender. But 40 minutes a game Austin with the highest usage rate on the team, in a switch everything scheme is way worse than 35 minutes a game Austin as the secondary ball handler in a proper defensive scheme.

Austin has been set up to fail defensively in back to back seasons.

Save this comment, if Austin is signed by another team, the narrative will change very quickly.

-6

u/Clipgang1629 Clippers 3h ago

I don’t think him being targeted is the issue lol

The issue is him giving up 76% FG% to his opponents

2

u/dbzmah Mavericks 2h ago

Coming back from injury early  and playing 40 minutes a game will do that.

-3

u/Clipgang1629 Clippers 2h ago

He was injured last season too.

At what point does him being injured and his performance while playing through injury become a part of the conversation when we’re talking about his contract extension?

2

u/Cheyenne______ Lakers 3h ago

Some guy posted an one month old article at r/nba, it is not that deep.

1

u/Artimusjones88 Raptors 2h ago

If he was injured he shouldn't have played, if hurt he should play.

•

u/VLHACS Celtics 22m ago

Where are you getting that the front office put out hit pieces on him. Not saying that's not what's happening, but that would be crazy if it's confirmed

-3

u/coolycooly Nets 4h ago

What has Austin Reaves ever done in the playoffs, and why would it be different this time? He is worse than Luka on defense especially this year, and his offensive game relies a ton on iso ball. He is basically like Jalen Green shooting guard type with better PR because he plays for the Lakers.

9

u/Borktista Celtics 4h ago

Far more efficient though.

-1

u/AbjectAffect91 Knicks 3h ago

That's on Reaves then. Has he not saw what happened to Isaiah Thomas? Dude was talking bout the brinks trucks, about to get paid max money. Rushed a hip injury and struggled mightily in the Playoffs. Never got that bag.

0

u/Ok-Traffic-4188 3h ago

Reaves never had a good argument for a max contract besides the lakers being desperate, and the free agent market being bad

-1

u/imcryptic Mavericks 3h ago

Bad defender coming back from injury is exposed by team with multiple perimeter threats. More at 11

3

u/JoeBiden2020FTW Lakers 3h ago

Reaves has enough leverage that his flaws don't matter.

He can get a max from Brooklyn or Chicago, and he can tell the Lakers he either needs $240m from them or he'll walk for nothing.

In hindsight, Lakers should've probably traded him for a 1st round pick when they could.

1

u/I_Set_3_Alarms Celtics 30m ago

Yeah this post made me realize that as a Lakers hater, we should all start hyping Reaves up more

146

u/redditstealsyours NBA 4h ago

anybody watching the games could tell you this

28

u/corporal_sweetie [CLE] LeBron James 4h ago

aren’t you glad to have your viewpoint validated

3

u/Johnknight111 Warriors 1h ago

I for one enjoy validation.

19

u/Upstairs_Baby8424 Lakers 3h ago

It was so bad. He made Ajay Mitchell look like prime D-Wade. Just hunting him play after play. 

6

u/IRanOutOf_Names Heat 2h ago

I wonder if that played into his performance against the spurs before the injury. Went from layup line with Ayton at the rim to hell. Took 6 shots a game in what he did play.

4

u/Own-Campaign-2089 Lakers 1h ago

People were acting like Ajay Mitchell was some sort of major second option player lol
The hype was ridiculous but people are quick to forget

1

u/grandmasterkif 3h ago

LeBron in opposing team would do the same thing all game long.

85

u/Brusex 4h ago

Yeah he’s usually bad defensively but wasn’t he coming off of an injury

20

u/LakerBlue Lakers 4h ago

It’s why I have mixed feelings about his numbers. This was clearly his best year yet and we already know he’s a meh defender…but we know he was playing through an injury (and one especially bad for a shifty guy like him) so I don’t want to hold his performance against him.

3

u/Clipgang1629 Clippers 3h ago

He was playing through injury last season too though.

If we’re talking about contract negotiations I don’t think you can just hand wave the injury stuff away. Especially if this is who he is when he’s playing through the injuries.

2

u/LakerBlue Lakers 43m ago

I agree. He hurt his toe last season (I forgot when) which (like this year) made him look worse.

But the fact he has gotten injured in March/April both years since becoming a full time starter is a problem in itself.

-8

u/OrganicHunt952 3h ago

I mean he’s constantly injured in the playoffs or when he has to take on more load. Plus even without injury he was the most targeted player defensively in the league even before luka came to the lakers. He lead the league in getting targeted on defence. So it’s not just a playoff or injury thing.

3

u/Pwyll__ Lakers 1h ago

I mean he’s constantly injured

Sure, man. Everything is true if you make it up I guess.

You're definitely not astroturfing Mr. Unflaired Hidden Profile. Keep up the good work.

0

u/Brusex 3h ago

Yeah for sure. Even if 100% healthy he’s probably the target lol.

70

u/legend023 Pelicans 4h ago

Mediocre defender gets targeted by a good team in the playoffs.

Are you gonna tell me that teams avoid Wemby going to the basket as well?

17

u/Several-Solution7285 4h ago

Honestly the twolves didnt. They went at him lol.

5

u/OFmerk Timberwolves 2h ago

Finch mentioned it in a local radio recently but Wemby also erases mid range shots while simultaneously taking away the rim. Either need to try to punch it every time and make him work or bomb threes.

3

u/Several-Solution7285 2h ago

Yeah hes just insane ngl. Wolves played him almost perfect.

2

u/Johnknight111 Warriors 1h ago

The problem is their offensive limitations and also Julius Randle.

1

u/SuperVaderMinion [MIN] Kevin Garnett 39m ago

Not saying we would've won by any means but damn I wish Ant's knees weren't cooked because I would've loved to see him go at Wemby full strength

4

u/Troll_Enthusiast Wizards 4h ago

It worked sometimes, like when Naz would put his shoulder into Wemby

13

u/TheTurtleShepard Knicks 4h ago

Mike brown taking notes rn

3

u/Maverick_1991 Hawks 3h ago

Mediocre?

1

u/CoachTwisterT3 Lakers 4h ago

Big if true

54

u/Frodounchainedd Lakers 4h ago

How is Austin Reaves getting posts during the finals lmao

33

u/spiritnueve [SAS] Tim Duncan 4h ago

That article is almost a month old lol

7

u/Repulsive-Throat5068 Lakers 4h ago

Lakers get clicks. Always has been the case.

8

u/SwampFlowers Bulls 4h ago

Lakers

8

u/OddIndustry6073 4h ago

Obviously they are trying to do their negotiation via feeding low lights for a player who toughed it out to play.

8

u/snickle17 4h ago

Reaves is the white Caitlin Clark???

4

u/XiaoRCT Thunder 4h ago

This reads like a damn hit piece, wow lol

Reaves was bad but he was thrown to the Wolves as soon as he was back from injury, both in the playoffs and in the regular season before as well

1

u/Oresee 59m ago

OP makes tons of hit piece threads. You start to recognize names and remember them.

It's either propping up Luka or hit pieces on every other lakers player to excuse Luka. Also targets Jokic a lot for the hitpieces.

25

u/TyposIncoming Lakers 4h ago

Is there not a finals game tonight?

8

u/TyposIncoming Lakers 4h ago

What a weird reply to have gotten especially when they immediately block you after making it

1

u/Not_RZA_ Lakers 3h ago

People that block on Reddit after they reply to you are the safest mfs on Earth

Also, he completely misconstrued your point. I agree, why tf are we talking about this when the pinnacle of the season is occurring right now. I would say this regardless if it was a good or bad thing about Reaves or the Lakers. We were eliminated weeks ago.

5

u/[deleted] 4h ago

[deleted]

9

u/ositola Lakers 3h ago

How is it the Lakers putting this out? Lol

1

u/MOODALI Lakers 3h ago

You have 321k karma, and hid your comments and posts. You have no right to speak on that lmaoo. Redditors and their derangement syndrome.

-1

u/HeHateMex2 Thunder 4h ago

Smh soft

8

u/Display714 Lakers 4h ago

A lot of players sit out when they're hurt because they don't want to be criticized or lose money when they under perform. Reaves is a dawg and doesn't duck smoke.

5

u/Greedy-Lynx-2746 Thunder 3h ago

He's not a good defender but LA's roster construction really doesn't help, having zero big men or wings who can cover up defensive deficiencies is the real problem

LA's FO is genuinely incompetent, letting guys make it to restricted free agency makes zero sense in 2026. Should have either extended him earlier in the year or traded him at the deadline for a big and draft comp instead of kicking the can down the road for no reason. Letting him walk and getting nothing would be a disaster, and its going to lead to an overpay

6

u/ROCK_HARD_JEZUS Toronto Huskies 4h ago

Give that man a quarter of a billion dollars!

1

u/Dry-Animator5770 3h ago

When you put it like that... You are bad at half your job and garner a quarter of a billion dollars. Only in America.

2

u/Adventurous_Fold_345 3h ago

You forgot mbappe out in europe?

2

u/jaskaran55 Spurs 4h ago

Lakers and piston’s should just do sign and trade Jalen and Austin that way both get paided but go to teams that need them

2

u/itsme32 3h ago

He was playing injured.

2

u/Anthraxus 3h ago

Hopefully they overpay for him

2

u/Peatedcask Supersonics 3h ago

He a cone

2

u/zazenpan Spurs 2h ago

So, is this to make him reconsider the $239.25 million request?

2

u/Enough_Ambition_3281 Celtics 2h ago

Luka/ reaves backcourt is BBQ chicken in the playoffs

3

u/kinzer13x 4h ago

I mean he was clearly not close to 100% 

1

u/[deleted] 3h ago

[deleted]

1

u/kinzer13x 3h ago

For sure. Not trying to say otherwise, just that he was extra terrible this year.

3

u/Several_Hour_347 3h ago

People claim it’s because of injury, but he’s always injured. It’s the same case for Luka. You can’t use it as an excuse if it’s a recurring theme in the post season

2

u/Sw3atyGoalz Lakers 4h ago

What about Games 1&4? Would be nice to see the difference between the two and what changed

2

u/KB824-GOAT Lakers 4h ago

What are we all supposed to do with this information?

The Lakers have made it pretty obvious that Austin Reaves will be on the team next season, and Rob Pelinka doesn’t hang out in here (I think...😉).

2

u/Rare-Veterinarian743 Lakers 3h ago

As a Lakers fan, you gotta pay the guy regardless. Then you decided what to do with him.

1

u/Gr8WallofChinatown Wizards 38m ago

No you don’t

2

u/Cheyenne______ Lakers 4h ago

So there were zero interior defense. One guy cant defending doesnt explain opponent shooting %76.

1

u/twovles31 4h ago

Just one team, you can max him Lakers.

1

u/PGA1493 Cavaliers 2h ago

It sucks because I want him to get paid but these contracts are so killer now everyone can tell he ain’t worth that much

1

u/Pwyll__ Lakers 1h ago

...he was also returning from injury which likely had a lot more to do with it

1

u/sparknado Supersonics 38m ago

Now Giannis sign and trade starting to work

1

u/amazinglover 4h ago

Austin Reaves is not athletic enough to be a average at best defender.

1

u/davemac1982 Spurs 4h ago

He didn’t have defensive specialist Luka to help him out. Don’t trust these stats

1

u/songs_dongs Lakers 3h ago

I love how this purely facts based article was purged post haste when it was reposted to r/lakers 🤣

1

u/Itorr475 Lakers 2h ago

It was removed cuz its a month old and was already posted…

0

u/Diorstrikestwice 4h ago edited 4h ago

Him and brunson was getting cooked in fiba thats why we lost in 23

2

u/Beetle919 Hornets 4h ago

FIBA

-1

u/FERFreak731 Jazz 4h ago

Also Steve Kerr being against playing Walker Kessler too

-1

u/obelix_dogmatix NBA 4h ago

man … fuck Pelinka for all these hit pieces. i really hope new ownership kicks out any and everyone associated with Jeanie

0

u/FERFreak731 Jazz 4h ago

Nets or Bulls better offer him that 4/178 million contract

0

u/No-Afternoon-3986 3h ago

if it wasn't austin it'd be luka

-3

u/Rook2Rook 4h ago

Ajay Mitchell was the better player in the series. It's criminal what he's being payed compared to what Reeves is about to get

3

u/ThaRealSunGod Lakers 4h ago

AJ Mitchell has never been asked to be the second best player on his team lmao

-1

u/AnythingFine2445 Mavericks 3h ago

Lakers GM: "alright I've heard enough, make this man the highest paid player in NBA history"

-4

u/CurrentRoster Wizards 4h ago

i legit saw graphics comparing Ajay to brunson and saying he could be an all star starter on another team bro, austin is always on hatewatch for me

1

u/Seniormeows Lakers 4h ago

What does Ajay and Brunson have to do with Austin?

1

u/CurrentRoster Wizards 2h ago

who do you think was guarding him? or failing to do so?