Austin Reaves sends a clear 3-word message to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder
Austin Reaves sends a clear 3-word message to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder initially appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
A digicam caught Austin Reaves within the Lakers‘locker room in Houston after Game 6.
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The Lakers had simply completed off the Rockets in six, the Thunder they have been ready in Round 2 and somebody requested him in regards to the matchup. He did not say a lot.
“To close it out the way we did is special. Next is OKC, gotta go in there and battle.
“We’ll be prepared.”
The “we’ll be prepared” piece is what’s being clipped and replayed throughout by Lakers followers on social media.
Reaves missed 9 video games with the indirect pressure earlier than returning for the final two of the Houston sequence. He averaged 18.5 factors, 4.0 assists and three.5 rebounds throughout these two appearances.
Tuesday’s typoff is at 8:30 pm ET in Oklahoma City. Doncic continues to be doing on-court rehab work and isn’t shut to returning.
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The Lakers’ roster simply gained a sequence the remainder of the league did not see coming. That places extra weight on Reaves than normal.
Reaves leaned into the underdog frame at his Sunday media availability.
“You might say no person thought we have been going to get previous Houston, however everyone on this constructing believed. It’s the identical mindset going into this. We clearly know the group that we’re about to face and the way good they’re and the issues that they’ll create for 48 minutes. So, we’ll have to lock in each single day, movie, no matter it may very well be, to proceed to get higher and and listen to all of the little particulars like they do,” Reaves said.
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He was additionally asked about Gilgeous-Alexander’s foul-drawing status.
“I do know that is a robust subject to discuss as a result of everyone blows it out of proportion. He desires to win and is gonna do no matter it takes to win. If it is shoot 20 free throws, so be it.
“If I shoot 20 free throws, I’d be happy. I don’t think there are any bad intentions in trying to get to the line. I think it’s somewhat of a, what people call art, but considering how many possessions he has the ball in his hands, and how much he does attack, they’re not going to score zero free throws.”
On the mathematics aspect, the Thunder is brutal. They posted a +13.1 web score with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the ground, a mark Redick himself compared to ’95-’97 Bulls and ’15-’17 Warriors. The Thunder went 4-0 towards the Lakers within the common season with a +117 level differential.
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OKC head coach Mark Daigneault did not downplay Reaves both.
“They’re adding an extremely high usage player that’s great at drawing fouls, really savvy shooter at all three levels. He’s just a very crafty, skilled player and someone that they can play through. Somebody that they can give the ball to and can generate offense for them,” Mark said.
Reaves averaged 23.3 factors, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds within the common season. He additionally ranked thirteenth within the league’s free-throw makes an attempt at 7.3 per sport.
The Lakers have been +1.5 web score this season. The Thunder, +11.1. We’ll see what survives Game 1.
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