The Lakers made a fairly surprising change to their starting lineup on Friday in Phoenix, with Cam Reddish replacing Austin Reaves at shooting guard. The news was first reported by Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times (Twitter link).
Reaves has had a slow start to the 2023/24 season, averaging 13.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 4.0 APG and 1.5 SPG while struggling with efficiency (2.6 turnovers and a .416/.278/.808 shooting line) through eight games (32.0 MPG). But Reddish isn’t exactly lighting the world on fire either, averaging 4.4 PPG, 2.5 RPG and 1.0 SPG on .306/.125/.786 shooting in 20.3 MPG.
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- LeBron James appeared to suffer a lower left leg injury in the first quarter on Friday, limping and exiting the contest following a spin move (Twitter link via Khobi Price of The Southern California News Group). ESPN has a video of the play (Twitter link), but it’s unclear what may have happened. While he missed the rest of the first quarter, James checked back into the game to open the second period, tweets ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk.
- On a brighter note, Anthony Davis (left adductor/hip spasm) and Jaxson Hayes (left ankle sprain) were both available on Friday, per Price (Twitter link). Davis wound up missing one full game and half of another, while Hayes was sidelined for two games.
- Injuries have been an issue for the 3-5 Lakers, with several rotation players missing time, including Jarred Vanderbilt (heel), who has yet to make his season debut. Following Wednesday’s blowout loss in Houston, which dropped the Lakers to 0-5 on the road, James said they lacked “cohesion,” according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “I mean, we can’t build cohesion if we don’t have our unit,” James said. “It’s that simple. It’s just, we’re very depleted on the injury side.”
- Still, as Jovan Buha of The Athletic writes, the team’s problems go beyond just injuries. L.A. has been historically inept in first quarters, posting a minus-74 point differential, the worst mark in league history through eight games. The Lakers have struggled with basic things like energy and effort, along with three-point shooting, rebounding and defense, says Buha.
Just about every team is dealing with injuries already, I am not trying to hear it.
Yeah, I am not denying the fact it makes things a heck alot more difficult, but that’s when, as a leader, you have to dig deep and lead by example. It is definitely not time to make excuses and not take accountability. That’s a cop out, and it just comes off as being soft.
I know LeBron is a much more intense competitor than that, and I’m glad the Lakers responded tonight with a big W.
Big performances from Cam Reddish, Reaves, Hachimura, Russell, and LeBron helped lead the charge for their comeback win against the Suns. Hopefully it is a good sign of things to come for this squad, because they’re certainly better than needing to make excuses.
Yes exactly. Every team deals with injuries. That’s why you can’t neglect your bench when building your roster. Next man up is part of the process.
Exactly the problem with the suns their bench can’t compensate for the loss of Booker. Showing Booker is the MVP of the team not Durant.
Austin Reaves struggling is a huge problem for the Lakers. He has got to start connecting from behind the arc.
Lakers are mess. When Anthony Davis is injured, or has an off game, they have no shot.
AD is a walking injury, are they really surprised?
Darvin Ham is this main problem this team has. Usually of a team is playing with energy or effort that’s on the coach. 1 game sure, it happens. Down 10 in the first quarter of every game on this road trip and then getting smoked by Houston and Orlando – that’s a problem.