Austin Reaves takes responsibility for Lakers woes: ‘I was a ***’

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves openly acknowledged his role in the team’s struggles during their current three-game losing streak, particularly their defensive woes. Speaking to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin ahead Wednesday night’s game against the Miami HeatReeves did not hold back in his assessment of his recent performances.

“It starts with me.” I’ve been with—you the last three games. I have to do better,” Reeves he said.

The Los Angeles Lakers (20-17) are coming off a disappointing 126-102 loss at the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, a game that further exposed the team’s defensive woes. Austin Reaves had 12 points, eight assists and five rebounds, but the Lakers’ defensive struggles overshadowed his efforts. The Spurs capitalized on those lapses, scoring 37 points in the fourth quarter to secure the win.

The Lakers’ defensive struggles are highlighted as Austin Reaves calls for improvement ahead of the matchup against the Heat

The loss marked the Lakers’ third straight loss and highlighted a troubling trend. Against the slide, the team posted a league-worst defensive rating of 129.2 while giving up an average of 114.3 points per game. These struggles have dropped the Lakers to the seventh seed in the Western Conference standings, putting pressure on the team to find answers quickly.

The Lakers will try to bounce back against the Miami Heat (20-18), whose offense ranks 21st in the league, averaging 110.8 points per game. The Los Angeles Wildfires shortened their planned five-game schedule to three, disrupting preparations, but the matchup against the Heat offers an opportunity for the Lakers to improve their defense.

After facing the Heat, the Lakers will play the Brooklyn Nets (14-26) on Friday. The Nets rank 27th in the league offensively, averaging just 107.9 points per game, giving the Lakers another chance to fix their defensive woes.

Reaves’ honest acknowledgment of his performance reflects the team’s need for more consistency and effort. As they navigate these challenges, the Lakers must act quickly to stabilize themselves and avoid further slippage in the standings.