Austin Reaves knows the importance of Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Denver Nuggets, and he revealed the mindset in the locker room.
“Our backs have been against the Wall,” Reaves told the media ahead of the all-crucial Monday night clash. “Probably the last two months… more than that. We can either come out Monday and go home or we can you know fight for another day. With the group of guys we have got, I know what that answer will be.”
“We can either come out Monday and go home or we can you know fight for another day.” Austin Reaves on the importance of Game 4. pic.twitter.com/DBuYUSbLMe
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) May 21, 2023
The Lakers were trounced in all of their three games so far and are on the brink of elimination. While they were close to clinical against the Memphis Grizzlies and the Golden State Warriors, they faltered against the Nuggets in all of their three games thus far.
Reaves has been solid for LA in the playoffs averaging 16.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. His last five games have him propping up 21.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists.
The shooting guard has been instrumental for LA behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but the Lakers will need the rest of the supporting cast to step up and keep their Finals hopes alive. By Reaves’ words, they look to be ready, but are they?
Brian Windhorst Believes The Lakers Will Retain Austin Reaves This Summer, While Also Signing Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Irving to the Lakers was the chatter all season long ahead of the trade deadline, and while the mercurial point guard did indeed find a new home, it wasn’t LA.
Now, recent updates suggest that the Lakers will attempt to land Irving again in the summer, while also retaining the services of Austin Reaves.
“I could just see Kyrie ready to come and the feel on like, ‘Look, we just got to the Conference Finals, imagine if we replace Russell with Kyrie?’ The Lakers have fallen for this before,” Brian Windhorst said on The Hoops Collective. “The way this is ending, I think it’s increasing the chance of it happening.”
“It would take a little bit of maneuvering, and Kyrie [Irving] would probably have to not take the max, or [the Lakers] would have to work on something with Dallas, but they can get there,” Windhorst said. “They can keep [Austin] Reeves and get Kyrie.”
Should this indeed be the case, then the Lakers will surely sacrifice a chunk of their assets, but land another champion in the offing. Irrespective of how this season ends, expect a massive summer in LA.
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