Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves believes the team is on the brink of becoming contenders, echoing sentiments shared by new head coach JJ Redick.
In an interview with Lakers Nation, Reaves highlighted the team’s performance in the playoffs against the Denver Nuggets. “I think if you go back and look at the playoffs and even the Denver series, we led 70%,” Reaves stated.
Despite finishing 7th in the Western Conference last season, the Lakers secured a playoff spot via the Play-In Tournament. Their playoff journey ended with a challenging first-round series against the Nuggets, who clinched a 4-1 victory.
The series saw close losses for the Lakers, including two games decided by game-winning shots from Jamal Murray.
“I’ve had a million questions about that series and every time I always tell them that I feel like we let one get away,” Reaves reflected.
Reaves remains optimistic about the team’s potential, emphasizing the need for a few strategic additions to bolster their competitive edge.
“If we get past that series then you never know what happens after that. So yeah, I feel like we’re not far off,” he explained.
With the right acquisitions, Reaves believes the Lakers can build on their playoff experience and make a strong push towards contention.
“With a couple pieces getting brought in here and there and some stuff like that, I feel like we got an opportunity to do that,” he added.
