Austin Reaves Discussion: Overachiever Who Underachieved

Austin is an all-star level player. His challenge is not to defer too heavily to Luka and disappear. This is on JJ as well. AR needs responsibility to flourish. The bigger the load he carries, the better he is. As good as he is, he is going to keep getting better.

 

He’s a “connector ….. this is his thing. Wait til they gell and the passing they All bring.

 

Thought he had that Ginobili magic when he started getting minutes and luckily he just just keeps getting better
There is really one big 3 in the league and it's because he has grown his game to fulfill his destiny as this generations Manu.

The way he just brings the sauce every night now man is so fun to watch

 

His real value is he knows how to blend in to any lineup. Because he started his career as a rather unknown player who had to earn his minutes, he is comfortable off/on-ball.

Many players are talented but they have no clue how to adjust to being a 3rd-5th option on the court depending on who is out there.

Reaves fits in perfectly regardless of whether he has the ball or not. I've noticed his defense has improved since AD has been gone. Making a great block on Murray today.

I feel bad for Reaves, honestly. Only getting paid $12 million per year... He deserves at least $30 million.

 

Another good game for Elmer.

 

Nice showing. Tied Luka for a team high 7 assists. Can't ask for a better stat line from your 3rd option.

 

Having Luka and Bron give him the ball and letting Reaves just call the play is insane.

And he's delivering every time. He's the real deal.

 

HIM is going to show out more frequently now that Luka is here.

 

They're all super smart and skilled, should be great.

The way AR has been adapting on the go to so many different iterations of this team and his role, shows he's really special

 

I was more concerned about our defense with a Luka-AR backcourt, but—at least for the time being—AR has really stepped up his D and my heartburn these last couple games has been de minimus.

 

With the offensive load split between the three of them, AR will have the legs to get after it with this kind of defense more often

 

The first clip is more scheme/personnel issues from Denver than great defense (AR and the rest did their jobs and I'm not taking anything away from the guys on the floor) but the twitter poster is missing that it is Brick in the opposite corner.

This allows the Lakers to be some sort of zone where they have 2 guys guarding 1/2 the court with Bricks guy sagging onto Gordon in the dunker spot. Not really sure what to call this defense but it's looks NFL zone where you sometimes have an elite free safety decide which guy to target (Bricks' defender is guarding both Gordon and him fro stretches). This lets basically 3 Lakers to swarm onto that Murray/Jokic PnR.

Lakers didn't really care how many shots Brick took (or even made) and this clip shows why.

 

Great stuff!

 

His handle and passing has gotten so good. How many 3rd creators can do this?




Wow

 

No question Reaves is a gem, but I just wanted to point out that Ja is overrated and the Grizzlies are better with him taking a back seat.