The Los Angeles Lakers got great news over the weekend that star guard Austin Reaves is very close to returning to the lineup. L.A. has been injured all year long, with Reaves having his calf strain for the better part of two months now, while players like LeBron James and Rui Hachimura have suffered their own longer-term injuries.
Reaves returning right when the Lakers are starting to piece together some good wins could be massive for their hopes of contending beyond just the first round of the playoffs this season. Regardless of who else was in the lineup, the Lakers simply looked like a better team when Reaves is on the floor.
Hachimura recognized this, but also had jokes for the news that Reaves may be coming back during their ongoing road trip, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN:
“I forgot that he was even on the team for a while actually, I think since Christmas? We’re so happy for him to be back. Obviously I want him to take time and go easy on his calf, because I just had the same thing, so you gotta be careful with that. But we had that great start of 20 games, and he was the biggest part of it. We needed to hold things back. He can create offense and everything and push the ball, so we’re excited for him to be back.”
Reaves initially suffered the calf injury on Dec. 10, the 24th game of the Lakers season. In those 24 games, the Lakers went 17-7 with the No. 7 offensive rating in the NBA. Since then, the Lakers are 10-10 with the No. 17 offense and the No. 21 net rating.
The success of the team can almost directly correlate with when Reaves is in the lineup. The same could also be said for players like Deandre Ayton, who plays his best basketball when Reaves is on the floor with him. Rui and the Lakers are well aware of what he brings, and know that he would have been an All-Star if he was healthy this whole time.
It’s unclear exactly what game Reaves will return to the lineup, but they have road games against the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Wizards, New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets coming up.
Lakers’ Marcus Smart’s finger popped out vs. Mavericks
Since being inserted inserted into the starting lineup, Marcus Smart has helped the Lakers recapture some of their form defensively.
Smart is always pestering ball handlers or putting his body in harm’s way to pick up charges. His physical style of play borders on reckless some nights, though ultimately it ends up to his team’s benefit.
For example, Smart was a key cog in the Lakers’ fourth quarter comeback against the Mavericks. He hit some clutch shots, but also rallied the team defensively in crucial moments.
There was a moment in the fourth quarter, however, where it looked like Smart hurt himself after deflecting a pass. After the game, he revealed his finger popped out but he popped it back in so he could continue playing.
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