LOS ANGELES — Lakers coach JJ Redick acknowledged that every NBA team, even good to great, cycles through multiple identities during the regular season.
And his team is in the midst of a new identity change. The change is to characterize fourth-year guard Austin Reeves even more as a ball-handler and on-ball playmaker than he was earlier in the season.
Throughout the offseason and preseason, Redick and Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka talked about Reeves taking on more on-ball responsibilities.
That happened in large numbers over the first month of the season as the Lakers cycled through the starting lineup and offensive hierarchy. But in recent weeks, especially in the last three games, Reeves’ on-ball responsibilities have skyrocketed.
And the Lakers are reaping the benefits. Reeves’ increased workload was on display in Tuesday’s 122-110 home loss to the league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers, in which Reeves had 10 assists, nine rebounds and tied career highs with 35 points. Lined up.
“He’s a hooper,” Anthony Davis said of Reaves. “Obviously, when Gabe (Vincent) is out, when LeBron (James) is out, he has a little more ball-handling responsibility, but he’s used to that. He’s been around a long time and knows how to run the point guard position, so there’s going to be more reps and he’s ready for it and we’re huge on him getting to the point. I trust you.”
Through his first 19 games before being sidelined with a pelvic injury, Reeves was third on the team in usage rate (21.3%), which was slightly higher than the 19.8% usage rate in 2023-24 and Davis ( (29.7%). That’s slightly ahead of James (26.8%) and recently traded D’Angelo Russell (20.4%). He averaged 16.7 points (44% shooting, 35.5% 3-point shooting), 4.8 assists, and 3.5 rebounds in 33.7 minutes per game.
In the eight games since his return from injury against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Dec. 13, Reaves’ usage rate has increased (24.1%, third on the Lakers) and he has contributed an average of 22.1 points (on 46.8% shooting, 37.7%). did. 3 seconds), had 7.8 assists and 6.3 rebounds in 36.3 minutes.
And over the last three games, Reeves has climbed even further into the stratosphere, averaging 29 points (50% shooting, 44.4% 3S), 12 assists, and 8.3 rebounds in 39.3 minutes while posting a team-high 28.7% usage rate. did.
“Like I always say, just play the game the right way and do what the game calls for,” Reeves said of his mindset playing a bigger role in the offense. “If we’re going to score, we’re going to score. If we’re not, we’re going to make plays. But at the end of the day, it’s just getting us organized and working on what we need to work on.
“Obviously, give the ball to Bron and the AD because good things will happen. Just trying to be a floor general, a coach you can rely on to get things done.”
Over the past eight games, the Lakers’ offensive rating (points per 100 possessions) was 116.7 when Reeves was on the floor, compared to 85.1 when he was on the bench.
Over the past three games, when Reeves played, he had an offensive rating of 126.4, compared to when Reeves sat, he had an 86.8 offensive rating.
Some of Reeves’ increased usage is circumstantial.
James has missed two of the last eight games. After a loss to the Timberwolves on Dec. 13, Reeves had a career-high 16 assists, 26 points, and six rebounds in Saturday’s home win over the Sacramento Kings. Vincent missed most of Saturday’s game and missed Tuesday with a strained left oblique muscle.
The Lakers traded Russell, who ranked fourth on the team in usage, to the Brooklyn Nets for lightly used forward Dorian Finney-Smith and Vincent’s role could diminish if he becomes available again. acquired Shake Milton, who had a high
But there is a purpose for Reaves to increase his ball-handling responsibilities. A continuation of the preseason emphasis, helped by multiple starting lineup changes that made Reaves the primary ball-handling option in the backcourt.
“Obviously he’s going to get the ball,” Redick said Saturday. “He’s the main handler. He’s obviously going to be involved in pick-and-rolls and dribble handoffs.
“A lot of what we do at the start of each half or the start of a quarter is all movement-based, and he’s a major part of the movement that we do. He’s a part of the movement, and he’s the main handler. This is him for me.”
There will be growing pains, Reeves and Reddick acknowledge.
Reaves has also averaged three turnovers in his past eight games and four turnovers in his past three games, up from an average of 2.3 turnovers in his first 19 games.
“I’m excited,” Reeves said. “I’m going to do something stupid. I’m going to mess up. I’m going to do something stupid and I’m going to learn from it. That’s really all I can do.
“I’m taking this role on the fly, trading D-Lo and getting more on-ball reps. I’m just going to learn. This is my fourth year in the league. I still learn something new every day and I’m really excited to continue learning and growing and becoming a better player.”
lakers trail blazers
When: Thursday, 7:30 p.m.
Location: Crypto.com Arena
TV/Radio: Spectrum SportsNet, 7:10 a.m.
First Published: January 1, 2025 3:14 PM PST
