Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers - Is Austin Reaves Sacrificing Stats Alongside Luka, LeBron? Plus, are the Pelicans a Trap Game?

Starting point is 00:00:00 Big three to thrive. There needs to be sacrifice. Why it's Austin Reeves, who usually is the one who does it. That's next. You are Locked on Lakers. Your daily Los Angeles Lakers podcast, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. Thanks to everybody for making Locked on Lakers first listen to every day.

Starting point is 00:00:27 Monday through Friday, sometimes on weekends, even on holidays, and now more than once a day, no matter how or where you're getting your podcast. You could be an Apple person. You could be a Spotify person. Andy, some of these people might be some of the 37,000 plus subscribers, the Lockdown Lakers YouTube channel, but no matter how they do it, they're part of making Locked on the number one sports podcast network. And this or any other known universe, I'm Brian Komenetsky.

Starting point is 00:00:53 With Andy Kamenetsky, we've covered the Lakers for nearly 20 years with ESPN, the LA Times, the athletic. It is a challenge. can be for a team with multiple sort of high-end players when you have a lot of guys at the top of the roster to figure out how to make it work. It has been a particular problem with the Lakers because of the redundancy and the overlap and the skill sets of Luca Donchich, LeBron James, and Austin Reeves. It does at least appear that they're getting the hang of it, but sacrifices need to be

Starting point is 00:01:35 made. To me, it seems often like Austin is the one who is sort of taking a little bit of a backseat to make this work. Well, if nothing else during these last six games where they'd had Luca Donchage back after the hamstring injury. And since Austin's now been back in the starting lineup, no minutes restriction. Also, Luke Conard being in the mix, I think has affected these numbers as well. Yeah, I would agree. Basically, in these six games where you've had Luca, LeBron, and Austin in the starting lineup together with no restrictions of any kind on any of the three. To put this in perspective, Austin's numbers for the season, roughly 24 points per game on 50% 37% splits, 50 from the field, 37% from behind the arc. About 15 shots a game, 7.5 free throws per game, about 5.5 assists per game against three turnovers.

Starting point is 00:02:35 One steel plus 2.7 in the plus minus for the season, a usage of about 27 usage percentage, an assist percentage of 25%, and an effective field goal percentage of 58%. In these last six games that we were referencing, Austin is averaging a shade under 18 points a game on a little under 47% from the field, but almost 45% from behind the arc. And I do want to make sure to note the three point tick, uptick that's gone among the big three, but also the team in general.

Starting point is 00:03:15 A little over 12 shots a game, a little over four free throw attempts per game, a little under three assists against two turnovers, a usage that has gone from 27 to just under 22, an assist percentage of 25 now to just around 13, and an effective field goal percentage of 55%. So, and the minutes, again, these are Austin's minutes since he's been off a minutes restriction.

Starting point is 00:03:42 Like this is his normal playing time. It could be skewed a bit just because they've had a couple blowout wins. But there's no question that Austin is the one that is taking less of a direct role in the offense, like in terms of ball in his hands, dictating the way the offense is going to be run. He is definitely the guy that has taking more of a backseat if you want to think of it that way. It's like when you think about what we're going to talk about

Starting point is 00:04:18 how this relates to questions about the offseason in next year because that is top of mind for everybody. First and foremost, if the Lakers have two pieces of, business this off season, the, you know, the, the, the two most important are finality on LeBron. I think, you know, you and I, I think both are of the mind that right now it doesn't look like LeBron's going to be here next year, but you've got to get some finality there. There needs to be some kind of closure. And then what do you do with Austin? You know, how much money is it going to cost? What, you know, those are the first two primary pieces of business.

Starting point is 00:04:57 And just really quick. And do you like what you see with as much of an extended look of Luca and Austin together? Like I think this is this is an information gathering stage as well. Right. And so, you know, that's why I think this is an interesting question because, you know, people, there are fans. I don't know, like saying people are saying, well, some people are saying. There are fans who are. People are saying.

Starting point is 00:05:26 Yeah. So some of the best people. people are saying that Austin is you know he's not worth the money he's not producing look you know they played two games this weekend he didn't put up big numbers in either one like all you know he was fine but when you get all these went all three of these guys in the floor all three of them thrive particularly with the ball in their hands I think that is unquestionable I think Austin and LeBron are the most comfortable without the ball in their hands, particularly AR with the shooting, the spot-up shooting has been better for him.

Starting point is 00:06:09 He's the most one that's probably most suited right now to be a catch-and-shoot guy to finish a play or something like that. and you know just the you know the sort of the the the hierarchy or whatever it is that's that develops it makes it tougher I think in some ways to kind of make those evaluations because Austin's numbers are going to go down I think this is just kind of natural like something they have to figure out a way for it to work with all three of them in those moments we're on the floor. JJ's done a pretty good job of finding ways to get time for everyone to kind of do their thing. But you can't have those three guys on the floor on the team without understanding

Starting point is 00:06:59 there's going to be 15 minutes a night or whatever that they're all going to be together. When that happens, if you're going to win games, guys have to give up a little bit. I think everybody is to some degree, but Austin is the most. It's interesting. They're looking to serve two different purposes right now that in many respects, I think, are at cross purposes. Like, obviously, they want to win as many games as they can heading into the playoffs. And they want to make as deep of a playoff run as they can. While I do think the front office is clearly prioritizing this offseason and the bigger picture building around Luca more than they have this season as evidenced in the way that they,

Starting point is 00:07:43 built the team last offseason with very little eye towards real permanence and, you know, without giving up any assets of value, but also, too, like we both, you know, we just did a bonus show about Luke Conard and we both like the trade when it happened. We both like what we've seen since then. I personally feel like there is a non-zero percent chance that Luke Conard will be re-signed this offseason. I hope so. Right. But Luke Conard, does not constitute anything remotely close to going all in. So they have prioritized the off season. And again, big picture 5,000 foot view around Luca more than this season.

Starting point is 00:08:28 But they're not punting this season either. Right. They want to win. It's right. So it's not like an experimental season where I've seen people, for example, you know, complaining the Lakers don't develop their young players. Like, oh, they're not going to go anywhere, you know, give Fero, you know, 10 minutes a night, you know, try to see what you have in some of these, you know,

Starting point is 00:08:50 and Timmy and some of these other kind of closer to the end of the roster. No, like they're not doing that. They got there, they're trying to win as many. Like the Lakers are like a game and a half or a half game, whatever it is out of third. It's like they're not, they are not a team that really screams title contention, which is something we're actually going to get in. to, Rui had some interesting comments about that after the Sacramento game. But just in terms of like the gap between the Lakers ceiling and their floor got us thinking.

Starting point is 00:09:26 But they're not doing anything that would sort of take the focus away. They got to win games this season with what they have. I totally agree with you. But that's also where I was saying the cross purposes come into play because on one hand, they are trying to figure out. JJ's trying to figure out. And I think Luca, LeBron and Austin, you know, kind of in concert with him,

Starting point is 00:09:52 trying to figure out the best way to make this work for this season. But making it work for this season could sacrifice some of the reps that you would prioritize with Luca and Austin, if for no other reason than to get the most information possible about how the two of them work together as a foundation, which we both think will not include LeBron moving forward. So put it this way.

Starting point is 00:10:24 They're doing things differently than they would if LeBron was not on this team. So again, like it's they are trying to do a few different things at once and they're trying to do it in a imperfect world setting. and I think they're making the best of it. After the break, though, I've been thinking about like kind of what you're that aspect of what you're talking about in terms of like what do you do? How do you maximize the information that you need?

Starting point is 00:10:55 I actually don't think it's about Luca and Austin as a pairing so much as it is something else related to that. But I'll explain what I need next. Lockstone Lakers is brought to you by Indeed. Workplace chaos, deadlines stacking up, the inbox is overflowing. You got one position really now in desperate need of filling, everything I just described. And it's open. And when the pressure's on and you need to find the right hire, this is a job for sponsored jobs.

Starting point is 00:11:29 Indeed, sponsored jobs helps you reach the people who actually fit what you're looking for, skills, experience, location. So you're not just hoping the right candidate stumbles across your post. And here's a stat that says it all. The minute, you can be talking with you. Companies like yours made 27 hires. on Indeed, according to Indeed data worldwide. Spend less time searching, more time actually interviewing candidates who check all the boxes. Less stress, less time, more results.

Starting point is 00:11:55 When you need the right person to cut through the chaos, this is a job for Indeed sponsored jobs. Listeners of the show will get a $75 sponsored job credit to help get your job, the premium status it deserves at Indeed.com slash podcast. Just go to Indeed.com slash podcast right now. Support our show by saying you heard. heard about Indeed on this podcast. Indeed.com slash podcast.

Starting point is 00:12:18 Terms and conditions apply need to hire. This is a job for Indeed sponsored jobs. So it's interesting to me because I think the Lakers certainly have seen what they need to see from Austin. You know, that stretch that he had at the beginning of the year when he, when LeBron was out, particularly in the stretch where LeBron and Luca were out. Yeah, I know the criticism of, you know, Were those the elite teams? Were the best defenses or whatever?

Starting point is 00:12:52 Austin had whole defenses oriented to stop him and was putting up all-star numbers. I think the Lakers have seen everything they need to see from Austin. I don't think that him shooting, like it's like you read the numbers in the beginning, like some of the efficiency from three is up, whatever. It's purely volume, really that's gone, that goes down. you know, in this portion of the season. It's really a volume thing. When LeBron's not here, presumably next year,

Starting point is 00:13:26 that volume goes back up and the production goes back up with it. So I think the Lakers are fully sold on Austin. I think they're sold on the pairing of Austin and Luca together, short of something falling into their laps that they're not expecting. I would be very surprised if it isn't the two-sum that's at the top of the team next year. What I do think they're really losing out there and they're having trouble figuring out is, okay, what do you put around those guys? To me, it's less about seeing, but like, you know, it's less about seeing,

Starting point is 00:14:02 do they work as a pair? I think they have enough data on that. And I think they're fairly confident in it. But they also have to figure out how to construct a team. And that part, I think, gets trickier. Well, I consider that part of the same equation because even if you think Luca and Austin in a vacuum work together, if you don't get enough of a look at what you need to put around them. I mean, it's clear that they need specific support systems. Like, I mean, we know what the flaws or weaknesses that they have as players and they're basically the exact same.

Starting point is 00:14:38 I've talked about this many times. I think Austin is a very good player. I don't have concerns about his talent. I have concerns about the overlap between him and Luca. I think in a perfect world, when you are looking to build a championship team, your first and second best players should offer things that the other one doesn't. I think Luca and Austin don't do that. That doesn't mean that you can't build a title team around them.

Starting point is 00:15:02 It just means the stuff around them becomes more specific, and you have less, I think, wiggle room in order to make that work. And if nothing else, the Lakers may be getting, they may miss out on opportunities to learn, okay, we need X and Y, but Z is not necessarily as important as we thought it was. Or, you know what, Z is really the thing that you got to have, but X and Y there can be a little bit more flexibility. Like, again, even if even I may have more questions about them as a pairing than the front office may or certainly what they're messaging. But regardless, I consider it two sides of the same coin that leads you to the same place. You need the information and they're not likely going to be doing the remainder of this regular season in the playoffs in as targeted a way of figuring out that stuff.

Starting point is 00:16:02 because again, they're trying to make this balance work between the three of them. And I get it. I get it. It's also because it's that, but it's also because they don't have the players to do it. Sure. You can't experiment to try to with what you don't have. It's not like they can play two or three different types of lineups or types of units. First of all, half of these guys are not that much, or not more are going to be gone next year anyway.

Starting point is 00:16:27 But the good news is when you look at the overlap, between them. You know, the sort of the redundancy that I think makes people, I know you worried about it. There are other people like, there's too much overlap. It's potentially problematic. And, you know, we've

Starting point is 00:16:46 talked about in the show. And, you know, it's totally reasonable. But the good news about that is that you, it does leave you with a pretty easy understanding of at least part of what you need. You are going to need a wing.

Starting point is 00:17:02 that can play defense. Like that's just to give it. You need to find somebody who can do that. You need to find a forward who can play defense. That is, you know, so like a couple defensive-minded forwards, ideally ones who can shoot. I'd hesitate to say like high-end 3-D guys because those are really, really hard to find. I think you'll be able to find defenders in that position. You'll be able to find shooters in that position.

Starting point is 00:17:30 If you can find guys who are at least competent in both, be great. And then next year, I think they will look for a center that is closer to the Jackson Hayes profile than the DeAndre Aitin profile, with the exception that they'd like somebody who can run a pick and roll a little better than Jackson does. The checklist is not confusing when you have Austin and Luca as sort of top billing. It's very, it's actually quite specific. It's just a harder list of fill. I mean, but again, you may,

Starting point is 00:18:11 there's always the question of whether or not you would be better served just finding a player that addresses some of what you don't get from Luca, rather than Austin, who again doubles down on a lot of those strengths. It's a conversation we've had before. I'm sure it's a conversation we'll have again. What I do think, though, is interesting for where we are now, though, is just the question of whether or not these six games where Austin is producing less, albeit with a lower usage, with less the ball in his hands,

Starting point is 00:18:52 stuff like that, has, gives you any pause. about this being related to struggle as opposed to sacrifice. Like that would ultimately be the question for the now. Are you asking me that? Just I think whether you or our audience, because we've heard from them concerns about Austin's production not being as great once the big three are there. By the way, it is interesting too.

Starting point is 00:19:19 I mentioned Austin in these six games, shooting almost 45% from behind the arc. Luca during these same six games, 47.5%. LeBron, nearly 41%. The team shooting almost 42%, but also like you've got Luke Knard shooting 50%, I believe, in those six games. Marcus Smart, 38%.

Starting point is 00:19:42 Rui at around 37. Even Jake Laravia for all of the whiplash and at times grave concern with his offense over like the last month. Yeah, rightly over the last month during these six games. He is somehow shooting almost 36% from behind the arc. I'm not sure how. Like the math feels wrong. I will say.

Starting point is 00:20:08 But I bring this up just because I think it is related to better ball movement. And I was insane. And I do think Austin in a lower, usage role, not necessarily because Austin was doing something detrimentally wrong before, but simply an adjustment by a high usage player, it is part of the ball moving more and guys getting better shots orchestrated through more purposeful offense. I think they're turning the ball over less as a team, that, you know, the probably the best statistic for them coming out of the break has been turned the ball over less.

Starting point is 00:20:53 So they're taking a little better care of the ball, which literally quite literally means you are getting more shots. But, you know, the shot quality, I think, goes up a little bit. I think Conard makes a difference here because Conard's gravity changes the spacing on the floor for everybody, not just him. So like, there's a lot going on here. Some of it is, you know, guys like Reeves and Luca were a little bit better, a little bit better as shooters and they were, you know,

Starting point is 00:21:19 sort of some regression to the mean in a positive way. Say what you want about LeBron, Father Time, this and that, whatever. He's not a 28% three-point shooter. He just, he's better than that at this point in his career. And so you would expect at some

Starting point is 00:21:35 point for him to improve on that. And he, and he has. So, I mean, I think the shot quality goes up when the ball touches more hands. I think when it is not as is eccentric, when JJ does a better job of keeping structure in the offense and calling plays and encouraging motion and all that kind of stuff. But you asked a question about Austin, which is, are you comfortable with the idea that when the numbers going down in this sort of three-man time share that they've got at the top the roster isn't, is related to that as opposed to production or

Starting point is 00:22:17 problems against, you know, good defenses, whatever might be. And I will answer that question next. Locked on Lakers is brought to you by BetterHelp. March is a time to celebrate women, especially around International Women's Day, and just recognize how much they carry at work and relationships, families, and the unseen roles they step into every day. And sometimes men can have blind spots, even with the best intentions, towards the women in our lives, mothers, sisters, partners, coworkers.

Starting point is 00:22:49 And therapy can help people, men and women. and like, talk through situations to create fewer misunderstandings, create better empathy, provide the right support for the well-being of the women in our lives, and just strengthening your own well-being in the process. With over 30,000 licensed therapists and more than six million people served worldwide, BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform, and it works. Fill out a short questionnaire, get matched with a licensed therapist, and if it's not the right fit. Switch at any time. Your emotional well-being matters. Find support, feel lighter in therapy. Sign up and get 10% off at betterhelp.com slash locked on NBA. That's better. H-E-L-P.com

Starting point is 00:23:32 slash locked on NBA. Locked on Liggers. Brought to by Fandall. College basketball, Andy. It's nonstop. Big games, tight spreads. Momentum swings every single night from early tip-offs, late night West Coast shootouts. There's always action. on the board. Now Fandall's giving you a way to turn that energy and the even bigger potential wins with a college basketball parley profit boost. You can build any college hoops parley you want, rivalry games, ranked matchups, whatever it is that you want to do. You can build it. Look at the odds around your team as you get close to the tournament. Maybe that's something you want to pay attention to. You can go safe. You can go bold. You can ride your team that you've been

Starting point is 00:24:18 following all year long. It's your parlay, your style. Now it's just got a little more upside attached to it. So head to fendual.com to get started. It's fanduel.com. Fandual play your game. I do want to mention to people the Everydayer Club before we continue here. You go to Lockdownlakers.

Starting point is 00:24:40 com. You can join the Everydayer Club. Give yourself access to the Discord chat. I was actually just had a little interaction with somebody on the Discord chat, Locked on Lakers Discord chat yesterday and it was a little fun back and forth. You can get in on that along with all the other locked on podcast channels. So you can interact with lots of hosts, lots of fans, things like that. You also get the show ad free if that's important to you.

Starting point is 00:25:06 And I know it is for a lot of people. We don't want to have the show interrupted. So it's five bucks a month, 50 bucks a year. If it is for you, give it a look. If it is not, don't worry about it. We will love you just the same. check it out in the show notes or again locked on lakers.supercast.com. Real quick before we get back to Austin because it's a conversation that undoubtedly is going

Starting point is 00:25:30 to continue throughout the course of the rest of the season, offseason, maybe even with Austin if he's retained on a big contract. I want to make sure that we drill down on the idea of do not let the Pelicans, Los Angeles Lakers, become a trap game in what is hilariously predictable. Zion Williamson has said that he expects to play on Tuesday versus the Lakers in L.A. Because of course he's going to. And the Lakers just have miracle curing abilities like Dr. Buss might as well have been like a medical doctor doctor for the way his legacy has led to healing. players for decades. But it is worth noting in case the audience is not aware, Dejante Murray is back now for the Pelicans. And it's a small sample size, but his three

Starting point is 00:26:25 games have been productive. He's averaging about 16.6 assists and two steals in just 24 minutes. His return moved rookie Jeremiah Fears to the bench, which gives them more pop. Zion has been playing at times off the bench with him. Also, Trey Murphy the third, torched the Lakers in their last outing 42 points. Sadiq Bay has been on a tear since 2026 rolled around. He's averaging about 20-ish a game in this calendar year. The Pelicans may not be a finger quotes good team, but they are not without unmashed talent. No, they're a good bad team.

Starting point is 00:27:11 They're a talented bad team. They won four games. They lost the Clippers the other night, but they had won four straight. Before that, now granted, two of those were against the Jazz. One of them against was the Warriors,

Starting point is 00:27:24 who are obviously short-handed. But, you know, it's just, look, the Lakers go from this game to Denver, then Indiana, I believe it is.

Starting point is 00:27:36 And then it's a string of, we're back in the grown-up portion of the schedule. So it's a couple of things. It's like, you know, first and foremost, yeah, they're not as bad, maybe as the record would suggest based purely on talent. But there's still a team that you've got to beat. And particularly, you know, you have to, you know, you got to make sure you know, they just can't afford to be giving away games against good, you know,

Starting point is 00:28:08 against bad teams, particularly on their own floor. Like you have to win that game at home. Especially on your own floor against the Pelicans team that is 8 and 22 as a road team. But again. But they're just like, you know, Zion, Zion's interesting just because, you know, he's, he is a disappointment in broad terms. You know, no team is ever going to build their franchise around Zion, which is look like a very strong possibility.

Starting point is 00:28:42 when he was drafted. But there's a difference between that and being bad. Zion, when he's played this year, and he's had some of the same kind of injury problems and this and that, when Zion's played this year, he's been pretty good. It's just, you know, there's a matter of frequency, and he's not franchise guy.

Starting point is 00:29:04 Okay, but he's still pretty good. He can still do some stuff, and if you're not careful, he will light you up. Well, just- So I like this test for the Lakers coming off to, you know, kind of genuinely softer games against a Warriors team. It's just wildly undermanned and a Sacramento team that is atrocious. The Pelicans are way more athletic, way faster than the Lakers.

Starting point is 00:29:31 They are top 10 in their top 10 on a bunch of different metrics for the offensive glass, where the Lakers have been having their asses, handed to them even in games where they've won of late. The Pelicans are 10th in the league for second chance points. Second in the league for points in the paint, again, another area where the Lakers defensively have been hemorrhaging points. They've been okay at preventing second chance points from getting two out of hand for their opponents.

Starting point is 00:30:00 But a couple of games, they've done a bad job with that as well. The Pelicans can do damage on the break. If the Lakers, there was that period towards the end. end of the second quarter, then the top of the third quarter against the Kings, where they got too casual, allowed the Kings to get it down to 10 points, and then they turned it back on again. If the Lakers F around like that against these Pelicans, there's a chance they could find out. Yeah. It is, that is a non-zero percent chance.

Starting point is 00:30:30 And also, we've talked before about this stretch of games being important as just an opportunity to build better habits, make useful reps out of your time on the court. Like, they need to treat this Pelicans team like that and not be thinking about Thursday in Denver. Yeah, and I will say in your scenario, I like the, I like, I would like for them to have the opportunity to potentially blow a 30 point lead or whatever it was, you know, 20 something point lead. And then we can all be very disappointed in them for not keeping their foot on the gas. Because at the very least, it would mean that they got up big early again. And that would mean that the first quarter thing with the big three, you know, that positive trajectory is continuing. Like I would be excited by that opportunity.

Starting point is 00:31:28 Yeah, but it is kind of like from a focus standpoint, from an execution standpoint, Rui got into that, maybe we'll talk about this a little bit in the short show as well. Like the after the Sacramento game, he's like, when we're good, we look like a contender. Like, you know, high-end, when we're playing well, we're a contender, we can play with anybody, we can beat anybody and all that. People might debate as, you know, accuracy. But certainly Rui believes that, which is what you want. I would.

Starting point is 00:31:58 Yeah. I mean, I don't think the point was to stop Rui in mid-sentence and argue with it. them. But the flip side of that is when we're bad, like we're awful. Like they're terrible. And anybody can beat them. And not only can anybody beat them, anybody can beat them. Anybody could beat them by 20. And so like that kind of thing, they need to level that out. If you're going to win a playoff series, and I think they can. I think on a talent basis, you've got Luca Donchich who can almost carry a series for you. You've got the potential. of LeBron to kind of really be rounding into form and being relatively well preserved.

Starting point is 00:32:42 You've got Austin Reeves. There's a lot of high-end talent there. Any seven-game series, they can win it. But it's going to be hard to win it if there's that big a gap between your floor and your ceiling. They really need to raise their floor. And, you know, games like Tuesday against the Pelicans are the kind of like floor razor games where it's not a marquee matchup, it's not this, but like, can you go execute for a third game in a row against lesser opponents and not put yourself in position to have to claw back and all there's a continue not turning the ball over? Continue making good passes and getting. everybody involved. So those things eventually become habits against the good teams too. That's what I want to see. Yeah. Again, they have to treat this game with seriousness and with a sense of

Starting point is 00:33:41 purpose when they are out there. Locked on Lakers on YouTube is where you're going to hang out with over 37,000 subscribers to the channel. We of course will be back after the Pelican game. But of course, keep in mind, there's more than one segment now every day, more than one show. You're getting so much content. I don't even know what you're doing with it. We are looking, by the way, to have all of the bonus shows come out at 2 o'clock Pacific time. That's that is the time you should be looking for. For the most part, unless maybe there's an East Coast game that begins at 4 o'clock Pacific time. We want to give it a little more breathing time before the game starts and everyone's watching their TVs. For the most part, we're going to be looking to release it at 2 o'clock.

Starting point is 00:34:24 So look that. So find a job that allows you. to leave at two. And if you have class, skip it. Locked and Lakers on YouTube again, I mentioned we will see everybody.

Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers - Is Austin Reaves Sacrificing Stats Alongside Luka, LeBron? Plus, are the Pelicans a Trap Game?

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.