The Los Angeles Lakers’ biggest weakness has been exposed, and it’s not a pretty sight. In a recent game against the Dallas Mavericks, Austin Reaves was put to the test, and let’s just say he didn’t exactly pass with flying colors. The Mavericks’ strategy was to isolate Reaves 15 times, which is more than any other team has done to him all season. The result was a ruthless roasting of the young guard, with the Mavericks taking full advantage of his defensive limitations.
It’s no secret that the Lakers’ perimeter defense has been a concern all season, and Reaves’ struggles against the Mavericks only highlighted this issue. As Reaves himself admitted, the team’s defense needs to be more physical and aggressive, and they need to find a way to contain opponents’ top scorers. The Lakers’ inability to stop Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray in a recent game against the Denver Nuggets is a prime example of this weakness.
Reaves has been open about the team’s shortcomings, saying that they need to “clean up a couple of things on the weak side” and “get the shooters run them off the line.” He also emphasized the importance of being more physical and aggressive on defense, which is an area where the Lakers have struggled all season.
Despite these weaknesses, Reaves has shown promise as a player, and his recent performance against the Cleveland Cavaliers was impressive. He scored 35 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, and dished out 10 assists, showcasing his all-around skills. Anthony Davis praised Reaves’ performance, saying “he’s a hooper” and that he looked good on the court.
The Lakers’ biggest weakness is clearly their defense, and they need to find a way to address this issue if they want to make a deep run in the playoffs. With Reaves’ emergence as a key player, they may have found a piece of the puzzle, but they still need to work on their overall defensive strategy and execution ¹ ² ³.
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