The Los Angeles Lakers faced a challenging setback when Austin Reaves, one of their promising guards, was diagnosed with a Grade 2 gastrocnemius strain in late December, sidelining him for at least four weeks. This injury came at a time when the Lakers were already struggling, and while the team has shown defensive improvements recently, they are feeling the impact of Reaves’ absence on the offensive side.
Before his injury, Reaves was enjoying a breakout season, averaging an impressive 26.6 points per game with a shooting efficiency of 50.7% from the field and 36.5% from beyond the arc, alongside 6.3 assists. His performances had put him on track for a potential All-Star selection. Lakers head coach JJ Redick highlighted Reaves’ engagement during his recovery, noting that he has been actively communicating with the coaching staff and even offering suggestions on strategy.
“He’s been great,” Redick stated. “High level. He didn’t travel with us, so today was the first time I’ve seen him in a few days. During this stretch, and it kind of started with the first calf injury, we spent some time together before the game in my office in our locker room. It could be talking about golf, it could be talking about his recovery. A few times he’s come in there and gone over all the ATOs with me and [other coaches] and made some potential suggestions and tweaks. As much as he tries to do the ‘I’m a simple Southern kid who only likes golf,’ he’s a basketball nut job.”
In Reaves’ absence over the last seven games, the Lakers have struggled offensively, averaging just 111.7 points per game and recording an offensive rating of 110.8, both numbers falling below NBA averages. This issue of lack of scoring around superstar teammates Luka Doncic and LeBron James has been exacerbated without Reaves, highlighting the need for additional offensive support.
As the Lakers continue to adapt to Reaves’ absence, there’s hope that his commitment to staying involved with the team will pay off during his recovery, leading to a stronger return that could help elevate the team’s performance in the coming weeks. Reaves’ dedication both on and off the court could be a crucial factor in their quest for improvement as the season progresses.