Austin Reeves played 1418 minutes. lakers Last season he seemed to have a special fondness for 273 of them. I look forward to the minutes of
Interview with Jake Fischer on the Callin app, Reeves said he was thrilled to be playing with a healthy Anthony Davis. Especially because of what AD brings defensively that the Lakers lacked a year ago.
“Health is key for him and like you said, when he’s healthy he’s a problem to say the least. He’s very active defensively. What’s missing is his defensive presence, because you can make a big difference in defence.Last year Bron played a lot of small balls when he was 5. Bron is great But just like he’s not, he’s a great transition shot blocker, but AD’s shots block beings from drives and pre-drives when he’s guarding.Dunker is insane. So you can guard the ball differently, put more pressure on the ball, or be more aggressive because you know you’re ready for AD to come and block shots. I can do it, so that’s what I’m most ready for.
In the 2021-22 season, even when AD was at his least healthy, he and Reaves still formed a formidable defensive duo. He spent at least 100 minutes on the court last season. No two of the 17 Lakers were as good on and off defensively as Davis and Reaves. The Lakers allowed him 3.8 fewer points per 100 possessions when the Raves played, and 6.4 fewer points per 100 possessions when Davis played. His defensive rating last year for the Lakers was 114.3, placing him 24th in the NBA. Both Davis and Reeves’ lineups had him 102.9, miles better than leading the league. boston celtics (106.9).
As Reeves said, Davis will clear up a lot of the mess at the rim and allow the Lakers guard to play more aggressively. Last year Reeves couldn’t bet on steals without a solid defense his center in the paint. Even with Reeves going strong for his second season, it still makes sense for him and the Lakers to have more containment options Davis offers.
If a limited Davis can have that degree of impact on the Lakers’ defense, it’s clear why Reeves is excited to play a healthy version. Hit one of the most memorable shots in franchise historywho can Key to Durbin Hamm’s vision in Los Angelesand Reaves is eager to be the guy’s teammate:
“He’s one of the best players in the league when he’s healthy, as he’s shown in the last few years, especially in 2020, the year he won the championship, the year of the pandemic, the year of the bubble. He’s another, another human being. As he does it all, I can’t wait to see it in person. But I’ve seen him in the gym every day for the past few weeks, and I can’t wait to make it happen.”
While there are many concerns about this Lakers roster, this duo is reason for optimism.
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