Austin Reaves Calls Out Lakers’ Biggest Weakness

Austin Reaves called out the Los Angeles Lakers’ biggest weakness this week in the aftermath of their disappointing loss to the Denver Nuggets.

Heading into this week’s match-up against the team that has bounced L.A. from the playoffs for two consecutive years, many were hoping to use the game as a litmus test. Was this Lakers squad truly different under J.J. Redick?

In the end, Denver thumped Los Angeles 127-102.

While Russell Westbrook incessantly mocked his old team on social media obviously rubbed some salt in the wound, Reaves took the L particularly hard in addition to that. And he admitted to as much after the game, confirming that the Nuggets are in fact the Lakers’ daddies.

As far as Reaves is concerned, Los Angeles has a huge weakness when it comes to the team’s defense.

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“I think if you watch basketball for a long time, the teams which are ‘physical’ defensive teams, they might get away with a little more because every possession you can’t call a foul,” he said.

“We’re trying to get to that, be physical, and we’re going to have to make the refs call fouls. Our personnel if we’re going to be honest with ourselves, isn’t the best defensively. Obviously, we got AD and that covers up a lot but we have to be physical.”

Reaves, as a whole, was very clearly upset about how L.A. looked against the Nuggets.

“Last year was last year,” he said.

“The year before was so long ago, I could barely remember what I did yesterday. Yeah, tonight they beat the s**t out of us. I mean, I think that’s kind of just what I said. I’m sure JJ said as well, just wasn’t good enough.

“That should never be the problem. If we compete and lose off of not making shots or the other things, other than not playing hard, then you can live with those results. Tonight, in that third quarter, just didn’t play hard.”

Reaves is right. The Lakers have a lot of work to do in order to become a legitimate contender in the Western Conference. Time will tell whether they take the criticism to heart and actually do anything with it, though.

Charles Kruger

Charles Kruger has been credentialed to cover two Super Bowls, four NBA Finals, and one World Series. A 20-year veteran in the Sports world, he has sources spanning the NBA, MLB, NFL, UFC and NASCAR. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Calif., he is Game 7’s go-to source for rumors surrounding the Lakers, Clippers and Dodgers.