Austin Reaves believes the LA Lakers confirmed indicators of a long-standing downside that has plagued them for the final 4 years.
The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t make a very good account of themselves of their opening evening loss to the Golden State Warriors.
Regardless of Luka Doncic’s good 43-point efficiency, the Lakers simply couldn’t get issues going in opposition to a well-prepared Warriors aspect.
One of many largest points for the Lakers was turnovers, as they gave up 19 turnovers in the course of the recreation, a lot of which got here at first of the primary and third quarters.
Their incapability to begin both half sturdy has lengthy been an issue, one which Austin Reaves believes dates again to his arrival in 2021.
Austin Reaves spoke after the LA Lakers’ disappointing loss to the Golden State Warriors, and what precisely went mistaken for them.
Reaves admitted that the Lakers didn’t execute within the third quarter, one thing that has been an issue since he joined the workforce in 2021.
“It was only a unhealthy third quarter. The final couple of years, ever since I’ve been right here, we’ve had an issue with third quarters. Simply gotta determine a approach to come out with a little bit extra vitality.
“That’s the very first thing JJ talked about afterwards. Simply determining a approach to be higher within the third quarter. That’s on us gamers.
“That’s not on the coaches. They arrive in right here and provides us what we want, give us the solutions to the take a look at. We simply didn’t exit and execute, in order that’s on us. We’ve got to be higher.”
Luka Doncic echoed Austin Reaves’ sentiment after the sport, noting that their third-quarter woes have been an enormous downside final season as properly.
“Actually, I might say that the third quarter, the beginning. We had these issues final 12 months, too. I feel that was many of the downside.
“We have been shut by one at halftime. However then, simply the beginning of the third quarter, they went on a run.”
Doncic is true, because the Lakers have been behind by only one level on the finish of the primary half, having closed the hole with a powerful second quarter.
However their failure to ship within the third quarter was an enormous downside. Jonathan Kuminga was glorious within the third quarter, scoring 13 factors and never lacking a single shot.
If the Lakers are critical about competing for an NBA championship, then they can’t have these weak performances within the third quarter so constantly.
