Game 2: The Lakers Need More From Austin Reaves, Better Execution as a Team

There was a lot that didn't work for the Lakers in Saturday's Game 1 against Minnesota. For starters, the Lakers simply lacked the needed physicality and intensity required to compete with a team like the Wolves in a playoff setting. Why? It's hard to know. But it needs to change on Tuesday, and it's hard to believe the Lakers—hyper aware of their failures in that regard—won't bring it at a higher level. 

From there, it starts to get to execution and performance. And regarding the latter, it starts with Austin Reaves and LeBron James. Reaves was particularly ineffective, starting slow and (save a couple of minutes in the third quarter) never really getting untracked. He needs to raise his level, and the Lakers need to do a better job of putting him in positions offensively to succeed. James wasn't great either... but he's LeBron, and has a very long track record of Game 1 losses that turn into series wins. But the Lakers need to find him ways to not have to try and generate so much offense in isolation. 

And as a group, that physicality that was lacking extends to the offense as well. Harder, more purposeful (and plentiful) cutting and screening. More intentional off-ball movement. And then on the other end, the Lakers have to pick a direction against Anthony Edwards, who was far too effective as a distributor on Saturday, in part because the Lakers made things too comfortable for him, collapsing the defense too late in possessions, and making it too hard to recover on shooters after Edwards dished. 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

 

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers need more from Austin Reaves. 

SEGMENT 2: How do the Lakers defend Ant? 

SEGMENT 3: Are they going too small? 

 

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