HOUSTON – As Austin Reaves prepares to return to the court from a troubled left tackle, Lakers coach JJ Redick was asked: How will the team handle Reaves’ role after Luke Kennard’s appearance in the playoffs?
“We’ll cross that bridge if we have to,” Redick replied before the Lakers’ Game 3 victory over the Rockets.
Well, with Reaves coming back from the Lakers’ Game 5 loss to the Rockets on Wednesday, it’s time to cross the bridge.
Because the Lakers’ best-of-seven first-round playoff series against the Rockets has made it clear that they need all the help they can get, especially with star guard Luka Doncic out with a strained left hamstring.
Enter Reaves and Kennard, the former having an All-Star-caliber season and the latter showing the depth of his offensive skill set while Doncic and Reaves are both sidelined.
The Lakers’ problem: They haven’t found a formula that makes Reaves and Kennard great when they’re down together.
The Lakers were down 2 in 17 minutes when Reaves and Kennard were on the court at the same time in Game 5.
In the regular season, the Lakers had a minus-5.8 rating when Reaves and Kennard shared the floor — with their superior offense masked by abysmal defensive play.
The Lakers were even worse when Reaves and Kennard shared the floor without Doncic, recording a net average of minus-15.2, albeit in a small sample of 273 possessions.
The Lakers’ struggles in those situations should come as no surprise.
But the Lakers need the pair to find synergy if the team is to achieve its goal of extending its season long enough for Doncic to return.
And it starts off offensively.
The Lakers have found success with Reaves working the ball while Kennard evades weak off-ball screens, helping to create driving lanes for Reaves or opportunities to drive and kick from Reaves to Kennard.
Defensive deficiencies are easily digested when the offense is firing on all cylinders – the Lakers need it badly.
They need to handle Reaves’ balls, pick-and-roll chops, plays and pull-ups.
Just as they need Kennard’s shooting movement, gravity off the ball, testing and his ability to attack close quarters.
Kennard made the difference to start the series against the Rockets, scoring 50 points on 65% shooting to lead the Lakers’ offense.
But when he cooled off, so did the Lakers, with Kennard putting up 22 points on 29% shooting in Games 3-5, and the Lakers’ offense — and Kennard — less productive and efficient offensively per game.
And with Kennard playing at least 31 minutes in each of the Lakers’ first playoff games against the Rockets entering Friday’s Game 6, taking him out of the rotation isn’t a good option.
Especially how important he is to the offense and creating chaos on defense while Doncic is sidelined.
Reaves’ return offers solutions. But it doesn’t solve all the problems regarding the Lakers’ offensive concerns without Doncic.
They need Reaves and Kennard to be in rhythm to have a shot to play deep in May.
