As coach JJ Redick began to extol the virtues of Austin Reaves‘ and how the Lakers have asked a little more from the guard, Redick also mentioned the word defense.
No, Reaves is not a shutdown defender, but he has shown Redick during training camp and the first two preseason games that he knows how to defend.
“I never thought he was a fool defensively, but he competes like hell on that end,” Redick said afterward. the lakers‘practice on Tuesday. “He knows what he’s supposed to do. It’s in the right places. If it’s supposed to turn, it does. If he’s supposed to be the short man, he’s the short man. If it’s supposed to be spot on, it’s spot on. He just does a lot of really good things on the basketball court.”
When Reaves spoke to the media, he was told about Redick’s comments. Reaves raised his eyebrows and smiled.
“So, you said I was playing good defense, didn’t you?” -Reaves asked.
In a sense, yes, Reaves was told.
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“Oh, he said that? Oh, wow,” Reaves responded.
Redick said Reaves knows where to be on defense. Does Reaves think that’s a good thing?
“Yeah, I hope so. It’s better than not being in the right place,” Reaves said. “No, I think it’s just, you know, having a foundation, having a system, when you know exactly where the rotation is going.” be, where you’re supposed to be, where the help will be. It gives you a good feeling while protecting the ball, knowing, ‘Okay, well, I can be a little more aggressive because.’ I have AD (Anthony Davis) in the back row and I know he will be there. But not just AD, if he gets jumped into the corner, then X (teammate) will be there.”
“So just having faith in what we’re doing and the foundation we’re laying is the most important thing to me.”
Throughout his three years with the Lakers, Reaves has shown the ability to do quite a few things. He has been able to run the offense, make the right pass for an assist, shoot the three, drive the lane and shoot the floater.
Redick wants more from Reaves.
“We’ve talked a lot during the offseason. We’ve already seen it in the gym,” Redick said. “He’s had a specific type of pie to choose from, a menu to choose from so far in his career. Let’s try to give it a little more on the menu. Just make it a little more dynamic. I wouldn’t actually say “surprised,” (but) I’ve really been pleasantly surprised by how much he can do without the ball. He is a fantastic passer. He is capable of creating rhythm both without the ball and with it. “He’s just a really dynamic offensive player.”
More three please
Then, Redick said he was “joking about the 50” times per game the Lakers should shoot 3-pointers this season, but 40 is a good number.
Last season, the Lakers made 31.4 three-pointers per game, the third fewest in the NBA. They shot 11.8, which was seventh-lowest, while shooting 37.7%, which ranked eighth.
In two preseason gamesThey are 21 of 72 (29.1%). So the Lakers are going up from three, they just aren’t winning enough. They’ll get another chance when they face the Bucks in a preseason game in Milwaukee on Thursday.
“Yeah, I think 40 is a lot, but if you put up good numbers, it’s a great number,” Redick said. “I would like us to average five or six more three-pointers per game. But we have to be aware of how we are generating those three.
“I actually think we did a good job of getting good looks. There were a couple of forced rebounds in transition off the dribble in the first half. Then there were a couple of offensive rebounds in the second half that I thought maybe we could have kept the ball moving and getting a better shot. I like the general mentality to shoot when you’re ready and make good threes.”
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This story originally appeared on Los Angeles Times.