(Basketball news) Austin, with nine points on 4-for-9 shooting, four rebounds, and four assists, the Lakers guard was among the most at ease players on the court. In his debut, he demonstrated why he is such a natural fit for this global format. Team USA boasts a ton of shot creation thanks to guys like Anthony Edwards, Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Haliburton, and Brandon Ingram.
Players that can spread the floor are what they need to play with those guys. When Edwards drew two defenders on his drive, Reaves checked in for his first stint and did it right away, draining a corner 3-pointer. Players that can shoot and drive off movement are also necessary for Team USA. Some of Steve Kerr’s offensive strategies for the Warriors have been implemented, such as the utilization of relocations and pin-in screens to create shooting opportunities in the corners.
Austin Reaves demonstrated against Puerto Rico how well he fits into Kerr’s movement strategies by opening up on a pin-in action and driving baseline for a simple layup. For Team USA, Reaves’ ability to shoot 3-pointers will be crucial. To counter their athleticism, more zone will be faced by them. In international play, there is also no defensive three seconds, so zones are used more frequently.
Austin Reaves recently completed a season in which he shot for the Lakers from outside the arc at a rate of 39.8 percent in the regular season and an even greater 44.3 percent in the postseason. On paper, he appears to be one of the team’s finest shooters, thus he must punish such zones by shooting over the top of them.
For the Lakers, Austin Reaves flourished in a comparable position. His use percentage, which measures how many possessions he uses on the court, has never exceeded the league average of 20%. When playing with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, he doesn’t get the ball too often, but when he does, he’s deadly.
During the Lakers’ journey to the Western Conference Finals the previous postseason, Reaves was their third-highest scorer with 16.9 points per game. He doesn’t seem to be affected by the pressure, and he has demonstrated that even when he doesn’t control the ball, he can still deliver pivotal moments.
Austin Reaves led Team USA with nine points in just eight minutes of play at halftime, and LeBron was a fan of his performance, tweeting “A-R you so COLD man!!! #TeamUSA” in response. Reaves commented on LeBron’s tweet in the post-game interview for the broadcast. That is my man. Over the past two years, he has taught me a lot. When he affirms that you can truly play, it feels good.
Austin Reaves now gets the chance to demonstrate on a large platform why his Laker teammates and supporters have heaped such high praise on him. He’s a genuinely excellent player who can work in a variety of settings and find ways to contribute even in supporting roles. He draws fouls well and is a stronger defender than he is given credit for. He also has a talent for locating open shooters within the flow of an offense.
Austin Reaves is the ideal X-factor for this club because of his ability to change the momentum when he comes off the bench. He is ready to have a strong year for the Lakers and Team USA.
Also read: At the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2023, who should start for Team USA?
