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

After a disappointing 1-4 N.B.A road trip, Los Angeles Lakers Head coach JJ Redick saw the need to shake up and refocus the lineup Austin Reaves in the key defense Responsibilities – a Shift that paid off in the following games.

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

“His defensive performance level was better in both games.Redick commented. “He doesn’t take the evening off. His attitude is to compete. I trust night after night that he will go out and compete with our group.”

Reaves, in turn, thanked Redick for his constructive criticism. “I’m a firm believer in playing hard on every possession, and there were a few times on this road trip where I didn’t do that.” Reaves admitted. “[JJ] sat down and showed me. I appreciate it because I love being coached. I respect what he has to say. Once you see it, you can’t deny it.”

Reaves appreciates the commitment of the Lakers coaching staff

Reflecting on the difficult five-game journey, Reaves acknowledged that the team’s struggles motivated them to improve. “You wish it was smooth all the time.” Reaves said. “You will go through ups and downs. I think it would have been good for us if we hadn’t played well on the road trip to fully commit to what we knew we had to do to be successful.”

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NBA News: Austin Reaves makes something clear about the Lakers’ disappointing road trip

““Our coaches put us in a position to be successful,” he added. “If we commit to it and do it, good things happen. Even if it’s an adjustment to the game plan, they come and say, “We screwed up, we have to do this instead.” Everyone just holds each other accountable, so it’s nice to see.”

Reaves’ season stats so far

In 10 games with the Lakers this season, Reaves has averaged one 18.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game. His shooting distribution was 48.5% from the field, 37% from distance and 77.4% from the free throw line He set career highs in points, rebounds and steals, reflecting his overall growth.

Gianni Taina is a bilingual journalist fluent in English and Spanish who specializes in football, NBA and tennis. He began his professional career in 2020 at Mundo Deportivo US, where he made his first strides 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 made him a valuable member of a world-class team of journalists. In 2024, he moved to 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.