4 Huge Takeaways After Reaves Leads Shorthanded Lakers Past Pistons
· Yahoo Sports
The Los Angeles Lakers entered Sunday night’s matchup as one of the top teams in the West with arguably the most in-form player in the league leading them. With Luka Doncic sidelined, concerns about L.A.’s chances of beating the Detroit Pistons seemed justified. Surprisingly, the Lakers dispelled all of these doubts.
With a 121-116 win, the Los Angeles Lakers improved to 9-2 on the season, placing first in the West while notching their fifth consecutive win. While Doncic’s absence was undoubtedly a factor, Lakers’ star Austin Reaves showed exactly what he is capable of.
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From establishing a 26-point lead early in the game to defending against the Pistons’ furious comeback charge, the Purple and Gold displayed remarkable tenacity and fortitude. Additionally, with a dominant 43-point outing to lead L.A. past Detroit, Reaves showed how deep the Lakers truly are this season.
Reaves’ performance was undoubtedly the most noteworthy aspect of Sunday night’s outing. However, with several key developments accompanying this, examine four key takeaways from L.A.’s win over Detroit.
Austin Reaves Can Thrive In Doncic’s Absence
The last few seasons have really seen Austin Reaves transform into a star-caliber player. With some spectacular offensive displays early last season as well, Reaves has demonstrated his ability to be a reliable scoring option. Despite this, there appear to be many who doubt it.
After facing some early-season struggles, especially in light of his sizable contract extension, these comments would seem justified. Still, the 28-year-old proved naysayers wrong with his season-high scoring night against the Pistons.
Needless to say, this is an extremely positive sign for the Lakers, who can be over-reliant on Doncic for creation. While Reaves lacks his running mate’s passing and playmaking ability, Sunday night’s display showed that he can certainly compensate for it with his scoring.
With 43 points, five rebounds, and four assists on 14-27 FG and 4-6 3PT FG, Reaves had it going from everywhere. With some timely three-pointers in the fourth quarter, even while facing some tough defense, the guard showed exactly why he earned the Purple and Gold’s trust.
Walker Kessler Needs More Offensive Involvement
Walker Kessler has arguably been one of the most consistent performers for the Lakers this season outside of Luka Doncic. Having established himself as an elite big man, Kessler continues to dominate as a defensive anchor and a rebounder. Unfortunately, there are some issues that may demand some attention.
On Sunday night, Kessler notched another double-double of 12 points, 16 rebounds, one steal, and three blocks, showcasing his overall involvement in the win. While his 16 rebounds and three blocks are eye-catching, his scoring on 5-10 shooting isn’t necessarily a positive sign.
In his debut performance for the Lakers, Walker Kessler notched a monster 26 points on 12-12 shooting from the field. Barring a few outliers, he has maintained this degree of efficiency, but it is worth noting that his shot attempts are wildly inconsistent.
In games played with Luka Doncic, Kessler often finds himself getting more touches on the ball, which results in marginally more shot attempts. In Doncic’s absence, however, he seems more tentative, which is only exacerbated by the fact that he isn’t utilized as much.
Kessler’s impact as a lob threat was not as prominent against the Pistons on Sunday. While this could be attributed to Reaves’ decision-making ability as a point guard, one could argue that getting the big man more involved offensively could help L.A. expand its scoring options.
Jarred Vanderbilt Deserves More Playing Time
A surprising development over the past few games has been Jarred Vanderbilt‘s increased involvement and playing time in the rotation. Before the start of the season, Vanderbilt was perceived as a clear trade option who may not have a place in the Lakers’ current lineup. Now, however, he may have genuine upside.
As a scorer, Jarred Vanderbilt remains limited. With virtually no “bag” and a questionable shot from deep, he struggles to contribute consistently. However, it is becoming clear that his presence on the floor addresses the Lakers’ need for rebounding.
On Sunday night, Vanderbilt was one of the most active players on the glass, securing 10 rebounds, two of which were offensive. Pairing this with his defensive effort and playmaking, and suddenly, the Lakers have another solid rotation piece.
At this juncture, Jarred Vanderbilt seems like a more impactful player than Sandro Mamukelashvili, who appears to be in a bit of a slump. Given Vanderbilt’s defensive and rebounding upside, the Lakers could consider giving him more playing time depending on the matchups.
The Lakers Need More From Quentin Grimes
Aside from all the positive takeaways from Sunday night’s game, the winning effort also highlighted an underlying issue with Quentin Grimes.
When the Purple and Gold signed him this summer, Quentin Grimes seemed like a promising addition with notable two-way upside. Having showcased his talents as a scorer during his stint with the Philadelphia 76ers, the fans had good reason to be excited. Unfortunately, it is safe to say that he hasn’t lived up to expectations.
With Doncic sidelined, Grimes was promoted to the starting lineup with the intention of being a reliable second option next to Austin Reaves. While his early outburst of 10 points in the first quarter suggested that he was on track to fulfill this role, his offensive production came to a grinding halt by the second.
Before the game against Detroit, Grimes was averaging 7.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game while shooting 45.3% from the field and 21.4% shooting from deep. In many ways, this makes his 12-point outing look solid. Still, given his potential, along with his status as a key rotation piece, L.A. will need him to find his groove again.