Austin Reaves’ response to LeBron James’ reaction to the Lakers’ win against the Wolves was, “That’s real.” Even with James missing more than 20 games this season, and sitting out his third straight due to left foot arthritis and a hip contusion, the LA Lakers managed to find a surprising rhythm, stringing together three consecutive victories.
Stepping up in James’s absence, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have taken charge of the offense, showcasing a balanced attack on the hardwood. As a result, after defeating the Timberwolves, the Lakers now have a 9-6 record in their last 15 games and boast a defensive rating of 112.3.
Austin Reaves Talks About Lakers’ Accountability Culture
Austin Reaves, who has evolved into an offensive cornerstone for the franchise, believes that the team’s recent success stems from a shift in the locker room chemistry and a collective refusal to make excuses for not taking accountability.
He told The Athletic, “I think accountability is being held, not more so from coach to player, just person to person.”
Reaves added, “I’m not saying I’m running around holding people accountable, but if you say something to somebody, it’s not, ‘Throw your hands up in the air.’ It’s not like, ‘Poor pitiful me.’ It’s, ‘OK, yeah, I’ll do it.’”
Los Angeles Lakers this season:
+70 with LeBron ON the court
-95 with LeBron OFF the courtThe story of his entire career. pic.twitter.com/obi7VaKQjm
— BronMuse (@BronMuse) February 23, 2024
Reaves spent 38 minutes on the court and had the game’s highest point total with 31 points. He had 7 rebounds and 8 assists while shooting 10-of-20 from the floor and 4-of-10 from beyond the arc.
Dončić, who also scored 31 points, with 11 rebounds and 11 assists, and carried a massive load as the primary engine, credited the collective effort of the roster. “Everybody that stepped on the court did an amazing job,” Dončić said. “Everybody fought until the end.”
The LA Lakers are currently 4th in the Western Conference with a 40-25 record and will face the 27-38 Chicago Bulls at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick has been focused on optimising Rui Hachimura’s two-way brilliance and Luke Kennard’s shooting to create an impact alongside Doncic and Reaves.
They are boasting the league’s 8th-best offensive rating this season with 117.7. The Lakers are 14-7 in the 21 games LeBron James missed this season, averaging 115.4 points per game while shooting 49.0% from the floor and 34.4% from the three-point line.
Talking about LeBron James’ absence from the playing five and his shifting roles, Reddick said, “We’ve seen some positive signs, and I know LeBron recognizes the importance of having Luka as the engine. All he really wants is to impact winning. I’ve said this now for the last two weeks: We’re going to get there.”
