How Lakers can maximize Austin Reaves, Luke Kennard

HOUSTON — Ace Austin Reaves was ramping as much as make his eventual return to the court from a strained left indirect, Lakers coach JJ Redick was requested: How would the workforce handle Reaves’ function after Luke Kennard‘s emergence within the playoffs?

“We’ll cross that bridge when it happens,” Redick responded forward of the Lakers’ Game 3 win over the Rockets.

Well, with Reaves returning in the Lakers’ Game 5 loss to the Rockets on Wednesday, it is time to cross the bridge.

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Because the Lakers’ best-of-seven first-round playoff collection towards the Rockets made it clear they want all of the offensive assist they can get, particularly with star guard Luka Doncic remaining sidelined due to his left hamstring pressure.

Enter Reaves and Kennard, the previous who had an All-Star-caliber season and the latter who showcased the depth of his offensive talent set whereas Doncic and Reaves have been each sidelined.

The downside for the Lakers: They’ve but to seek out the formulation that maximizes Reaves and Kennard whereas on the ground collectively.

The Lakers have been minus-2 within the 17 minutes when Reaves and Kennard have been on the courtroom on the similar time in Game 5.

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For the common season, the Lakers had a minus-5.8 internet score when Reaves and Kennard shared the ground — with their high-level offense being masked by putrid defensive play.

The Lakers have been even worse when Reaves and Kennard shared the ground with out Doncic, recording a minus-15.2 internet score, albeit in a small pattern of 273 possessions.

The Lakers’ struggles throughout these conditions should not be a shock.

But the Lakers want the pairing to seek out synergy if the workforce needs to realize its aim of extending its season lengthy sufficient for Doncic to return.

And it begins offensively.

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The Lakers discovered success with Reaves working on the ball whereas Kennard ran off off-ball screens weakside, serving to create driving lanes for Reaves or alternatives for a drive and kick from Reaves to Kennard.

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The defensive shortcomings are extra digestible if the offense is firing on all cylinders — which the Lakers are in determined want of.

They want Reaves’ ball dealing with, pick-and-roll chops, playmaking and pull-up capturing.

similar to they need Kennard’s movement shootingoff-ball gravity, screening and his means to assault closeouts.

Kennard was a difference-maker to start out the collection towards the Rockets, combining for 50 factors on 65% capturing to guide the Lakers’ offense.

But when he cooled off, so did the Lakers, with Kennard combining for 22 factors on 29% capturing in Games 3-5, with the Lakers’ offense — and Kennard — being much less productive and environment friendly offensively with every sport.

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And with Kennard enjoying at the least 31 minutes in every of the Lakers’ first 5 playoff video games towards the Rockets getting into Friday’s Game 6, phasing him out of the rotation is not a terrific possibility.

Especially with how vital he’s to the offense and creating havoc for defenses whereas Doncic is sidelined.

Reaves’ return offers some options. But it would not clear up the entire issues concerning the Lakers’ offensive considerations with out Doncic.

They want Reaves and Kennard to be in a rhythm to have a shot to play deeper in May.