Robert Horry thinks Austin Reaves is close to another jump - but only if he starts playing with a little more purpose once he gets downhill.
Reaves put up 27 points in the Lakers’ 138-117 win over the Miami Heat, his biggest scoring night in five games and just two points shy of his season high of 29 against the Jazz in the third game of the season. He also fit neatly next to Luka Doncic, who poured in 42 to power the win.
But on the Lakers’ postgame show on Spectrum, Horry said Reaves can make life easier on himself by cutting down the extra dribbling and getting to the rim with more force.
He pointed to Kobe Bryant as the example, saying the late Lakers star eventually simplified parts of his attack and took his game to another level. Horry said: “You don’t think he has that burst of speed, but he does. He’s able to have great body control when he gets in the paint to push off or get his shot off if he gets fouled.
“That’s one thing that he has to really be consistent with and not try to do too much. One of the things that playing with the late great Kobe Bryant is when he was first in the lead, he did a lot of that.
“Then he got to a point where he said, ‘I’m just gonna make quick moves and jump over you or be more athletic.’
“I think AR is getting to that point where he needs to understand it ain’t all about the move, move, move, move. It’s about being direct, getting to your point, and taking your shot.”
Horry also zeroed in on Reaves’ turnovers, which were a problem again against Miami. Reaves had five in the game and is averaging 4.8 per contest this season, including eight in recent games against the Warriors and Clippers.
For Horry, that’s the piece that could keep Reaves from reaching All-Star status, even if the opportunity is there this season. He said: “Five is too many.
AR, you playing great. Think about it.
You shut those five down. You you guarantee be an All Star.
“I think the thing about AR, he’s always gonna be able to get his shots off. He’s always gonna get to the bucket. But sometimes when he dribble, dribble, that’s when he gets himself in trouble.”
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