Lakers News: JJ Redick makes something clear about Austin Reaves’ defense

After a disappointing 1-4 NBA road trip, Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick so a need to shake up the lineup and refocus Austin Reaves on key defensive responsibility – a shifts that paid dividends in subsequent games.

Back in Los Angeles, the Lakers won two straight at home, and Reaves’ defensive improvement was evident, a response to Redick’s challenge before the Lakers’ win against the 76ers. After their win against the Raptors, Redick praised Reaves’ renewed focus on defense.

“His level of competition on the defensive end has been better for both games,” Redick commented. “He doesn’t keep the night off. His mindset is to compete. I trust, night after night with our group, that he will go out there and compete.”

Reaves, in turn, expressed his gratitude for Redick’s constructive criticism. “I hang my hat on playing hard every possession, and on that road trip there were a few instances where I wasn’t,” Reaves admitted. “(JJ) sat me down and showed it to me. I appreciate it because I love being coached. I respect what he has to say. Once you see it, you can’t argue with it.”

Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket between Austin Reaves #15a and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a 116-106 Lakers win at Crypto.com Arena. Harry How/Getty Images

Reaves appreciates the dedication of the Lakers’ coaching staff

Reaves acknowledged that the team’s struggles motivated them to improve as he reflected on the rough five-game road trip. “You want it to go smoothly all the time.” Reaves said. “You are going to go through ups and downs. I think it might have been a good thing for us that we didn’t play well on the road trip, to completely buy into what we knew we had to do to be successful.”

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NBA News: Austin Reaves clears up Lakers’ disappointing road trip

“Our coaches put us in the positions to be successful,” he added. “When we buy in and do it, good things happen. Even if it’s an adjustment to the game plan, they come in and say, ‘We messed up, we’ve got to do this instead.’ Everyone kind of holds each other accountable, so it’s a beautiful thing to see.”

Reaves’ season stats so far

In ten games with the Lakers this season, Reaves has been average 18.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.4 steals per. His shooting splits of 48.5% from the field, 37% from beyond the arc and 77.4% from the free throw line mark career highs in points, rebounds and steals, reflecting his overall growth.

Gianni Taina is a bilingual journalist, fluent in English and Spanish, specializing in football, NBA and tennis. He began his professional career in 2020 with Mundo Deportivo US, where he made his first progress as a writer. Gianni has covered major sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the NBA Finals and Grand Slam tournaments such as Roland Garros. His ability to report on events in real time and write under pressure has established him as a valuable member of a top-tier team of journalists. In 2024, he joined Bolavip US, where he covers a wide range of sports, including European soccer, MLS and the NBA. Gianni earned his degree in communications from Deportea in Buenos Aires, Argentina.