With LeBron James sidelined by sciatica, Austin Reaves has moved to the front of the Los Angeles Lakers’ offense, averaging 31.1 points and 9.3 assists over his last seven outings. The Lakers are 2-1 in games where the second-year guard has clearly been the primary option.
Lakers
Head coach JJ Redick told reporters the club now belongs to Reaves as much as it does to James—or to “Luka’s team,” a nod to Luka Dončić’s role in Dallas. Redick said he reminded Reaves he is “no longer the undrafted guy,” but rather “one of the guys.” The strong run has sparked discussion that, when James returns, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer could shift toward finishing plays instead of initiating them.
Thunder
Isaiah Joe’s return has reignited Oklahoma City’s long-range offense. In the three games since he rejoined the lineup, the Thunder have attempted 45 three-pointers per night and converted 40 percent of them. Following Tuesday’s win over the Clippers, Joe said his role is simple: “All I gotta do is knock down the shot.”
Head coach Mark Daigneault praised Joe’s screening and transition work. Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has gone 8-for-16 from beyond the arc during the span, and the team’s overall three-point percentage has climbed to 33.3 percent after ranking near the bottom of the league in the opening week.
Rockets
Houston continues to thrive from deep, with Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, and Kevin Durant leading the way. The Rockets, now featuring one of the NBA’s better offenses, are also generating interior points through double-big lineups anchored by Alperen Şengün, who functions as a facilitator alongside Durant and rookie Amen Thompson.
When the outside shots don’t fall, Houston often compensates on the glass. Although offensive lulls still occur, the roster is built to keep defenses under constant pressure, contributing to the Rockets’ early-season improvement at both ends of the floor.
Source: Hoops Wire
