Luka Doncic Has An Austin Reaves ISSUE With Lakers?!
Is Austin Reaves REALLY the biggest issue facing the Lakers? Trevor Lane discusses an argument that he simply does not fit with Luka Doncic…
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49 Comments
Basically luka is James harden 2.0. Can't play off the ball. Probably should start dfs.
Austin probably going have to come off bench
We will see if LeBron can do this
Lebron is only great off ball if he's actually engaged. He talks a lot about wanting more help but he always ends up defaulting to Lebron ball
Agree Trev. The would swap DFS or Vando out for Rui
I would also say, why not (in the off season especially) have Austin and Luka do some major work on improving their defense? If Lebron can continue to improve his game year after year for 22 years, why can't these two talented players improve their defense? Anyone who can do what they do on offense can definitely improve on defense if they're really committed.
The ONLY part of this narrative that has any truth is that Luka needs the ball. Trying to frame this as an Austin Reaves “problem “ is ignorant. It is objective fact that Reaves has played the majority of his NBA career as shooting guard NOT PG. Even within this season, despite a major increase in time as Point guard , he has played slot off ball as well.
LeBron has also been wanting a PG to take more a a load of himself – why he wanted Westbrook, why they almost went after Kyrie. He also conceded a lot to both DLo ad Austin.
While the DLo/AR pair had defensive issues, that was NOT the biggest issue. The biggest issue was DLo disappearing during the playoffs. Scorers can be streaky, but when the shit isn’t falling you need to contribute SOMETHING, and that was the biggest issue. Offensively he was ineffective during playoffs but also contributed nothing else, not even effort. That is NOT an issue with Luka.
Another HUGE fact that is ignored and shows a level of cluelessness. Is that BOTH Luka and Bron are two of the best passers in the NBA. We aren’t talk about 2 ball dominant players that are pure scorers and/or need the ball fed to them.
AR has NEVER been what Windy says as a player who “NEEDS” the ball in his hands. A large part of his value has been versatility. I also don’t think AR would think of being more off-ball as a sacrifice. He’s constantly about whatever it takes to win
Reaves and Rui should come off the bench.
C – Hayes
F – DFS
F – Vando
F – Bron
G – Luka
Lakers have 2 Point of Attack Defenders in DFS and Vando
Vando and DFS can guard 1-5, Lakers have enough offense with Luka-LeBron
Bench
C – Len
F – Rui
G – Knecht
G – AR/Goodwin
G – Gabe/Milton
AR and Rui will demolished the 2nd Unit of other teams. Lakers still have Gabe as a Point of Attack Defender.
Starter should be Luka, LeBron, DFS, Vando and a Center, put Reaves and Rui off the bench so Reaves can be Reaves and Rui is a 4 not 3.
I have a feeling Luka won't score 30 pts again with this current roster and offense
Luka lebron rui dfs hayes
Then bench
Gabe, ar, vando
I think there will be a defensive issue. It is like the AR and DLo again. A tanking team and C-L-A-R-K-S-O-N exposed them defensively. I hope JJ would adjust the starting 5.
The Lakers are fine, don't act like Austin is the problem when he could play under Lebron and AD. We lost that game because Jaxson Hayes Gabe Vincent and DFS were out. Also, Luka has to adjust and now he can practice during the all-star weekend to get back into his rhythm.
One issue I’m seeing with the comparison of this lineup to the DLo-Reaves-Vando-Bron-AD lineup is AD himself. Yes, moving dfs/vando into the lineup helps but a big reason that team worked at all is ADs colossal impact on the defensive end and ability to clean up mistakes. We don’t have that right now with Hayes/Len, and frankly I don’t know if there is another player like that on the market right now… Claxton is close-ish, but not quite there, and Kessler just lacks a lot of switchability and agility as a helper
Trade AR, Dalton and 1st pick for Mark Williams and Brandon Miller?
You’re in a pretty good spot if Austin Reaves is your biggest problem
We need Rui and Austin in the bench to fuel bench scoring.Gabe,Luca,dfs,lebron, Hayes. Gabe & Dfs will balance the starting 5 as defenders
Id start
Luka
AR
Bron
DFS
Vando
Lets lean in to the small ball
Lakers now have the same problem as Mavs had when they get Kyrie in midseason. Fans and media were saying Luka/Ky can´t play together. At first they were right, because it didn´t look good that season. Last season Luka/Kyrie was the best backcourt duo in league (they did their job), Mavs FO did their job when they add 2 big defenders ( PJ, Gafford) and went to the Finals…
I think they will sort the ball handling out. Let's give them more than 2 games to sort themselves out. The 3 of them are very smart players and will work it out.
DeAngelo wasn't worth the money being paid. When you earn those bucks you do not cease up in the playoffs…
Gabe/Luka/DFS/Lebron/Hayes—in this starting 5 you got two POA defenders to ease the load off LeBroncic, plus the lob threat. Off the bench youve got Austin to handle the ball for the second unit, plus Vando for defense and Rui for offensive punch. Another big would be perfect for a solid 9-man Playoff rotation
I've thought this, he's ideal for a second team, like what Dlo was doing. Let Doncic and LeBron lead the first team.
I think they should switch AR15 at point guard and Luka Doncic at shooting guard, I don't know maybe I'm stupid but what does Lakers Nation thinks about that?
Now that they have Luka and if this would result to a Dlo-Austin-like-problem in defense, the Lakers might have to choose this offseason if they would continue having Austin Reaves on the Lakers or trade him
Reaves usage rate is already low its like 14%-19% yet hes still efficient austin is not a problem at all. Yes he should come off the bench but only because luka and lebron need time to rest but lakers still need a good playmaker out there while theyre resting
You guys cant realize that previous results are not a guarantee of future results.
Uh oh – now Trevor's daughter is going to want her own YouTube show 😄
Mfkers Crying for only one game. Trashing austin like he and lebron didnt carry us in top 5 standings
Trevor I love you from the bottom of my heart but I am never watching another all star break video from your channel again. If you don’t take your goofy behind down to the beach and sit on that sand I’m gonna come take your camera away
Trev the goat go enjoy ya all star weekend
Love your dedication, Trev. You're definitely a Laker's savant. WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE YOU. IM GIVING YOU YOUR 🎉NOW
Lakers will never win a championship with Austin Reaves. I don’t get this white-privilege he is getting. How come we got our cheeks clapped by Denver the last two playoffs other than Darvin Ham’s inadequate coaching? I’m tired of these Austin Reaves fan boys.
Correction. Reaves is not a good “off ball” player. Luka needs to have the ball.
Also, Lakers will never win with a Pelinka front office. Give me Magic Johnson and Mitch Kupchat back! The Mavs just hood winked us. And why did he try to give the Hornets Knecht and 1st round pick for Mark Williams. Lakers got lucky to rescind that trade. And seriously, Alex Len?
Lakers need AD. We have a serious concern with defense.
Jeanie Buss wants to just sell tickets and sell jerseys.
Failure. pitting Luca and Reaves against each other is stupid talk Talk about them working together instead.
I feel like maybe Reaves should be coming off the bench. Maybe start Gabe?
The problem is lebron and luka. The one who is affected when it comes to winning is austin reaves. AR and others wants to win by having effort defense but this luka and lebron are both having a childish act to refs. AR is right on his interview that if you fail on offense then go with defense.
Maybe they need to run the triangle offense… it benefited MJ and Kobe.
heres a wild thought
let AR continue to facilitate like he's been doing.
luka has to learn to play more in this system and off the ball
I believe that they need to play some games together first!!! Then, see where the deficiencies are and adjust accordingly!
Put Austin in the 2nd unit, one must give up? there focus is to win & not fighting the issue.
I'd start DK alongside Luka and Lebron. Many benefits to that. You get a pure shooter who doesn't need the ball in his hands PLUS you can raise DK's trade value in case they need to move him in the off-season
I agree. Austin thinks it's his team.
Put Bron in the post like AD. Problem solved
JJ is going to shackle AR's game for Luka the same way he shackled Dlo's game for AR. LOL
Starters Doncic, Reaves, LeBron, DFS, Hayes
2nd unit Gabe, Knecht, Rui, Vando, Len
One quick fix I can think of is to ignore the mainstream sports media. They don’t watch all of the games, they regurgitate narratives that’s been used over and over. And how could they watch every single game, in multiple sports, every day? So when they say LeBron wants the ball in his hands or during that hot stretch we had playing excellent defense winning a bunch, that they’re concerned about our defense. It’s because, that’s what they hear being said by their colleagues.
Hopefully Reaves fits between LeBron and Luka and our defense is fine. If it becomes a struggle then and our defense is bad then maybe you trade Reaves, Rui, Dalton, and a first round pick for Bam. Get LeBron to take a big pay cut like Jalen Brunson did and use that extra money to sign Bruce Brown and Luke Kennard.
Next Season
PG Luka Doncic
SG Bruce Brown
SF LeBron James
PF Dorian Finney Smith
C Bam Adebayo
Bench
PG Gabe Vincent
SG Luke Kennard
SF Jordan Goodwin
PF Jared Vanderbilt
C Jaxon Hayes
This is dedication. My family would literally kill me if I cracked open my laptop and tried to do some work on vacation. Salute Trevor! Enjoy your family time
Why would you do this after 2 games? Let JJ tweak his offense. He is a hell of a coach.