Austin Reaves’ defensive struggles becoming major problem for Lakers against Thunder
The Los Angeles Lakers continue searching for answers against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and one growing concern in the playoff series has been the defensive struggles of Austin Reaves. Through Games 2 and 3, Reaves has repeatedly been targeted by Oklahoma City’s offense, with the Thunder exploiting favorable matchups and attacking him in isolation and pick-and-roll situations. According to matchup tracking data, opponents scored 58 total points while Reaves served as the primary defender across the two games.
Austin Reaves’ defensive struggles becoming major problem for Lakers against Thunder originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Los Angeles Lakers continue searching for answers against the Oklahoma City Thunder , and one growing concern in the playoff series has been the defensive struggles of Austin Reaves.
Through Games 2 and 3, Reaves has repeatedly been targeted by Oklahoma City’s offense, with the Thunder exploiting favorable matchups and attacking him in isolation and pick-and-roll situations. According to matchup tracking data, opponents scored 58 total points while Reaves served as the primary defender across the two games. The numbers become even more troubling when examining shooting efficiency.
Opponents shot 22-for-29 from the field against Reaves in those matchups, an eye-opening 75. 9 percent shooting clip. For a Lakers team already struggling to contain Oklahoma City’s high-powered offense, that level of defensive efficiency has made it difficult to slow momentum swings or generate key stops.
Oklahoma City’s speed and ball movement have consistently placed Reaves in difficult defensive situations. Whether defending on the perimeter or switching onto quicker guards, he has struggled to stay in front of attackers. The Thunder have taken advantage by forcing rotations and creating open lanes to the basket, exposing a weak point in the Lakers’ defensive scheme.