Lakers News: Pundit Underrates Austin Reaves In Listing Top 30 Guards For 2023-24
Over the last few seasons, the Los Angeles Lakers have dealt with more drama than they have cared for. It caused them to miss the postseason in 2021-2022 and almost did the same last season.
Luckily for the team, they completely revamped the roster at the trade deadline and made a run to the Western Conference Finals. Now entering this season, the team has a lot to prove and some unfinished business to attend to.
One of the main reasons why the Lakers found success toward the end of last season was the growth of guard Austin Reaves. His play gave LA a legit third option on the team, someone who could get the attention of the defenses away from LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Now, Reaves isn’t a star player just yet, but he has done enough to get the attention of others around the NBA. He just signed a new contract with the Lakers to remain with them long-term and got a spot on the Team USA team. But where does he rank among the guards in the league?
The NBA Staff at Bleacher Report put together a top 30 ranking of the guards in the league, and Reaves did make the cut. He came in tied for 29th with Chris Paul of the Golden State Warriors.
“He's quickly become a core piece for the Lakers, who hope to improve upon last season's impressive run. Reaves is a fan favorite in L.A., in part because he plays hard on both ends of the floor but also because he puts up numbers. Those numbers also (mostly) climbed in the postseason to 16.9 PPG, 46.4 FG%, 44.3 3PT% and 89.5 FT%.”
Reaves comes in ranked below some notable players like Derrick White of the Boston Celtics and Tyler Herro of the Miami Heat. This feels a little low for the Lakers guard, as he has shown that he can take over a game in a way that these others haven’t.
But a ranking is a ranking, and the play on the court will do all the talking.
The jump he made overall unlocked something in the Lakers offense, and the team wants to continue taking from that. He will see more time running the show this season, something that brought much success in the playoffs.
LA will be counting on Reaves more heavily this season, and he seems to want that pressure upon him. His work ethic has helped him get to this point, and now it will be what sees him take that next step.
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