Austin Reaves Applauds New Lakers Starting Lineup’s Chemistry and Performance

The Los Angeles Lakers debuted a revamped starting lineup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Austin Reaves expressed satisfaction with its effectiveness against one of the Western Conference’s top teams.

Injuries and lineup changes have been consistent themes for the Lakers this season, and the recent game against the Thunder was no exception. With Cam Reddish sidelined due to a left knee effusion, head coach Darvin Ham adjusted the starting five, featuring LeBron James, Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, and Taurean Prince. Ham indicated that this lineup would be the Lakers’ starting five for the foreseeable future.

Reaves, who has started the last seven games, commended the lineup’s comfort and chemistry. He contributed 15 points on 6-10 shooting in a pivotal win against the Thunder, the second-best team in the West.

“This is the lineup that we started with this year, and something that we feel comfortable with, have some chemistry together,” Reaves stated. “We like what we can do with this group.”

Reflecting on the team’s past lineup changes, Reaves suggested that the Lakers may have moved away from their initial starting lineup too quickly. The team has experimented with various combinations, including benching Reaves and Russell, without finding a consistently successful starting five.

Despite being the second-worst first-quarter team in the league, the Lakers secured a first-quarter victory against the Thunder and maintained momentum throughout the game. Reaves emphasized the importance of all players, including role players like Jarred Vanderbilt and Christian Wood, contributing to the team’s success.

While it’s early to draw definitive conclusions, there is optimism that the current starting five can bring success to the Lakers and contribute to victories in January.