"Can be a major piece for us": Austin Reaves tips $4,600,000 teammate to play big role amid Lakers' atrocious bench production
The Los Angeles Lakers’ bench struggled significantly in their 115-103 loss to the Detroit Pistons at the Little Caesars Arena on Monday night. Amid the disappointing performance, the lone bright spot for the Purple and Gold was Cam Reddish, who made just his second appearance of the season.
Though Reddish didn’t contribute on the offensive end, failing to take a single shot, his energy, defensive intensity and presence on the boards stood out. Reddish was easily the Lakers' top performer off the bench against the Pistons and teammate Austin Reaves was quick to recognize his efforts on a tough night for the team.
After the game, Reaves praised Reddish, who is currently signed to a two-year, $4.6 million contract, emphasizing that the former Portland Trail Blazers forward has the potential to play a significant role for the Lakers this season. Reaves described Reddish as the “only bright spot” in the game and spoke highly of his contributions and overall effort.
Reddish logged 14 minutes in the game, tallying five rebounds and one steal. His impact was reflected in his +10 plus/minus rating, making him the only Laker to post a positive plus/minus for the night.
With the loss to the Pistons, the Lakers dropped to a 4-3 record, marking their third defeat on their current five-game road trip. The Lakers' bench production has been a persistent issue, ranking last in the NBA with just 18.9 points per game.
In the game against Detroit, the Lakers’ bench managed only 10 points combined, with Jaxson Hayes and Dalton Knecht each contributing five points. The lackluster performance from the reserves continues to be a concern for coach JJ Redick and the team as a whole.
Austin Reaves speaks out Lakers' struggles
Austin Reaves addressed the Lakers' recent struggles following their strong start with three straight home wins. After their latest loss, Reaves emphasized that the team needs to bring maximum energy and effort every time they step on the court.
"There's ups and downs throughout the whole year," said Reaves. "I wish it was just rainbows and butterflies, but that's just not possible...I felt like we've had two on this trip where the energy and effort wasn't where it needed to be."
Meanwhile, Reaves struggled with his shot throughout the game against the Pistons. The Lakers guard registered a stat line of 17 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals, shooting 7 of 17 from the field, including 3 of 10 from 3-point range.