After a slow start to the year, it seemed the addition of fellow plodding scorer Luka Doncic into the Los Angeles Lakers mix gave guard Austin Reaves new life. Before Doncic, he’d averaged 18.2 points on a 45/37/83 shooting line.
Once the Slovenian Stallion arrived, though, Reaves really turned it up. In the final 32 games (during which L.A. went 21-11), the fourth-year man jumped up to 22.8 points on a slash line of 48/39/91 that would have nearly added him to the 50/40/90 club if stretched over a full campaign.
However, he’s dropped back down to his pre-Doncic levels right when they need him to step up the most: in the playoffs. Reaves is a pylon on defense, so a team would need him to be even more efficient than usual on the offensive end to make his presence on the court worthwhile. Instead, he’s averaging just 17.3 points on a 42/35/86 shooting line.
Lakers fans turn on Reaves due to playoff struggles
The worst part about Austin Reaves’ recent performances, especially in Game 4, is his inability to get anything done down the stretch in the fourth quarter. Reaves went 2-for-7 from deep in the final frame of that Game 4 loss, missing more than a couple wide open looks that could have changed the complexion of the game.
Overall, he’s 4-for-13 from the field in the fourth quarter during these playoffs. That 30.8 shooting percentage is tied for 10th-worst among players with 10+ FGAs in this postseason. Exacerbating matters is the fact that Doncic is shooting just 29.4 percent in the fourth.
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If he’s not hitting three-point shots for you, Reaves is not doing much else, which is why the Lakers’ faithful has become extremely, and perhaps slightly disproportionately, frustrated with Reaves during this four-game series, which the Minnesota Timberwolves lead 3-1.
One fan on Twitter shared a gif of Reggie Miller’s infamous choking sign with the caption: “Austin Reaves in the playoffs. HE’S A BUM… TRADE HIM“.
Another comically gifted user, who likely supported Reaves during his hot stretch, shared a gif from the movie Django Unchained of Samuel L. Jackson’s character holding and crying over the dying Leonardo DiCaprio with the caption: “Reaves playing his way into trade rumors this offseason“.
Other fans were a little more straightforward in communicating their disappointment with Reaves: “Trade Reaves as soon as he’s available to be traded“.
Others simply pointed out (arguably correctly) that “we gotta trade Reaves while we still can, he’s literally a non factor this series” while others were thinking more strategically: “Trade reaves for a center, I’m done bro“.
It’s clear that the Lakers need size and defense, neither of which Reaves provides. So, while the fans are placing more blame at Reaves’ feet than he probably deserves, he also doesn’t bring anything unique to the table for this Lakers team.
Reaves and the Lakers will look to bounce back and save their 2025 skins in Game 5 against the Wolves back home in L.A. on Tuesday night.
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