Austin Reaves kept his cool in the spotlight.
After the Los Angeles Lakers narrowly defeated the Clippers 125-122, Reaves joined the TNT broadcast, only to face some sharp words from Charles Barkley. Barkley dismissed the win, labeling the Lakers as mediocre despite the victory.
“I’m not going to sit here and say just because they won that they beat a mediocre Clippers team," Barkley critiqued. He went on to express doubt about the Lakers’ chances against top-tier teams like Denver, Houston, or OKC, and even questioned their ability to beat San Antonio or the Rockets.
When Ernie Johnson asked Reaves if he caught Barkley's comments, Reaves simply smiled and replied, “Oh yeah, a little bit.” His response was calm, acknowledging Barkley's opinion without getting defensive. “Everybody’s entitled to their own opinion,” he said, showing maturity and focus.
The Lakers are currently sitting fifth in the Western Conference with a 34-21 record. While that's far from mediocre, there's a notable split: a strong 23-8 record against teams under .500 but a concerning 11-13 against those at or above .500. This inconsistency fuels skepticism like Barkley's.
Chemistry is another factor. LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves have only shared the court in nine games this season.
When they have, the trio has displayed impressive offensive synergy, creating space and mismatches. Reaves was asked how playing with two superstars affects his game.
“I don’t know if it really changes much. I just go out there and play the game the right way and try to support those two guys as much as I can,” Reaves explained.
His approach has been effective. Against the Clippers, he scored 29 points on just 15 shots, hit four threes, and was perfect from the free-throw line.
He capitalized on Luka's gravitational pull and LeBron's playmaking, exploiting defensive lapses.
Offensively, the Lakers are solid, ranking 11th in offensive rating. However, their defense is a concern, sitting at 24th in defensive rating. In the playoffs, where every possession counts, this could be a significant vulnerability.
Barkley’s critique was straightforward: a February win against the Clippers doesn’t prove the Lakers can handle a seven-game series against elite teams. Reaves didn’t dispute this, staying grounded in reality.
The Lakers have the talent, shooting, and star power. What they need is to prove themselves against the league's best.