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Dave McMenamin
LOS ANGELES — Lakers guard Austin Reaves has a left calf pressure and will probably be reevaluated in roughly per week, the workforce introduced Friday.
Whereas calf strains routinely hold NBA gamers out of the lineup for at least two to 4 weeks, the Lakers described Reaves’ calf pressure as “gentle.”
Reaves, 27, has had a breakout season up so far, averaging profession highs in factors (27.8), assists (6.7) and rebounds (5.6) whereas flirting with the 50/40/90 membership (50.3% from the sphere, 36.9% from 3 and 87.5% on free throws).
Nonetheless, he skilled a dip in manufacturing over the Lakers’ previous two video games, averaging 13.0 factors on 28.1% taking pictures.
Earlier than L.A.’s 132-119 loss to the San Antonio Spurs within the NBA Cup quarterfinals Wednesday, Lakers coach JJ Redick acknowledged the current schedule had taken a toll on the five-year veteran.
“Our efficiency workforce talked about that the 2 video games back-to-back [in Toronto and Boston] after which Philly once more, these have been three very taxing video games when it comes to his each depth and workload,” Redick mentioned of Reaves.
The Lakers play three video games within the subsequent week, all on the highway: at Phoenix on Sunday, at Utah on Thursday and towards the Clippers subsequent Saturday on the Intuit Dome.
No matter whether or not Reaves is within the lineup or not, the Lakers are in want of some urgency — significantly on the defensive finish — after dropping three of their previous 5 video games.
Redick mentioned the workforce had a movie session Friday to handle among the defensive points that damage L.A. towards San Antonio, when the Lakers allowed the Spurs to attain 35 factors in transition, essentially the most they allowed any workforce to attain all season.
“I do not suppose there’s anyone in that assembly room that thinks we’re a very good defensive workforce proper now,” Redick mentioned, “however I additionally do not suppose there’s anyone in that assembly room who thinks we will not be a very good defensive workforce. We have got to get higher.”