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The Los Angeles Lakers, hyped up by many as a potential dark-horse to make it deep into the playoffs, couldn't even make it past Game 5 of their first-round matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Timberwolves bested the Lakers yet again in the fourth quarter and eliminated the much-ballyhooed team led by Luka Doncic and LeBron James with a 103-96 victory — sending the Purple and Gold reeling towards another offseason filled with uncertainty.
What's certain, however, is that Austin Reaves is far from pleased with the way he performed for the Lakers in their first-round crash out against the Timberwolves. Following their Game 5 loss which means curtains for their season, Reaves pointed the finger at himself as to why the Lakers couldn't muster up more than one victory against the Timberwolves.
“I really just think we didn't play good. Credit to Minnesota but … you can point the finger at me, I didn't play good enough to help us be successful,” Reaves said, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
Reaves is being too hard on himself, although there might be some truth to what he said. He may not have played good enough to get the Lakers to the next round, but the responsibility to do so doesn't exactly fall on his shoulders. Doncic and James combined to shoot just 16-39 from the field, and the team collectively forgot how to rebound in the game that decided the fate of their season.
It is heartbreaking for Reaves, however, to have gone 2-10 from beyond the arc, which some of those shots being wide-open. The Lakers may have won just one game in the series, but a few shots going their way would have made a world of difference, especially during the fourth quarters where they blew a lead. But now, all they can feel is a sense of regret about falling short in the early goings of the postseason despite finishing the regular season strong.
What's next for Austin Reaves, Lakers?
The Lakers, however, shouldn't be down for long. Exiting the playoffs in the first round may not be a good look, but their problems are very much fixable this offseason.
Austin Reaves should remain one of the biggest contributors on the team next year, and it's not like LeBron James to retire without a farewell tour, which means that he should be back next season in what could be his last dance. A Luka Doncic-led team, however, needs plenty of defensive coverage for it to succeed, and it's clear that acquiring a rim protector or two to help guard the interior as well as help secure the glass would go a long way towards furthering their championship case.
