is it true

24 comments
  1. This is just good game sense from our big 3. They know when to score and they know when to defer to the other playmakers. Luka was on a heater in the first half but let the other two cook because his 3 point shot was starting to not fall

  2. Nah, I feel like Lebron don’t really pop off until Luka gets benched. Austin and Lebron run in the fourth quarter is why we won… Plus the improvement in defense. We was up by 4 i think when luka was benched

  3. Reeves this seasons numbers and efficiency is undoubtedly all-star caliber. 

    Think he’ll be voted in if he keeps it up?

  4. no. the defense chooses who scores in a way. whoever gets a good shot takes it. lol

  5. It’s simple actually. Luka goes ape shit and forces teams to adjust or get 50 dropped on them. Once teams take away Luka, Austin gets the opportunity to just destroy 4 vs 3 situations. 

    Austin’s assist numbers have also fallen as Bron takes on the secondary playmaker role which is useful for transition especially. 

  6. In the first half, Luka’s the first option and he gets to test the temperature. Reaves is the second-man since he can still drive and dish. LeBron’s now playing more onto the weak side, but making in-game reads on where other players needs to be.

    If Luka’s temperature is off, the other two gets the bite to see who’s on. Once someone is on, it shifts the dynamic a bit for the 2nd half because the hot man can take a step back and force the defense to make a decision, “Do I guard this man without the ball, or do I help-defense?”.

    I feel like the 2nd half is a bit more free-for-all between the three. They will see which match ups are good, and then go for it.

  7. It’s good they can all shoot and become catch and shoot threats to play off each others play making. A lot of flexibility for JJ to work off of

  8. This is what I said to my buddies the minute I found out about us getting Luka. Good luck to anyone trying to defend a team with three amazing ball handlers who are also great shooters.

  9. Combined arms warfare Lakers. Luka is your air strikes and artillery for shock and awe. Reaves is your light infantry blitzing in. Then Bron is your Armor units coming in for support

  10. Probably not.

    So far, if we’re just looking at effectiveness, in the albeit small three game sample size, we’ve consistently seen the same pattern.

    It’s actually the 1~2 stars + bench line-ups that are actually building the leads.

    Against the Clippers, 2 line-ups went on an extended 24-8 run to end the 3rd quarter and start the 4th quarter. The first was Luka, LeBron, Smart, LaRavia, Vincent. The second was Reaves, LeBron, Hayes, LaRavia, and Vincent.

    Against the Jazz (the 2nd time), it was also a late 3rd quarter and start of the 4th quarter extended run that flipped a 7 point deficit into a 13 point lead. The first line-up was Reaves/LeBron, Luka, Kleber, Smart, and LaRavia. The second line-up was Luka/LeBron, Reaves, Rui, Hayes, and Vincent.

    Against the Jazz (the 1st time), it was also a late 3rd quarter and start of the 4th quarter 43-11 extended run that flipped the game and turned it into a blow out. Since the extended run was so long, there were more than 2 line-ups involved, but the bulk of the minutes were a solo Luka line-up and then a LeBron + Reaves line-up.

  11. Austin Reaves, points by quarter this season

    Game 1: 6/6/1/13

    G2: 4/8/11/2

    G3 (no Luka): 7/14/15/15

    G4 (same): 13/10/9/9

    G5 (same): 8/10/2/8 (game winning shot)

    G6 (Luka’s back): 7/0/7/7

    G7: 5/7/7/7

    G8-10: did not play

    G11: 6/11/2/5

    G12 OKC: 2/6/3/2… bad game overall, Luka didn’t play the 4th quarter

    G13: 9/2/8/12

    G14: 5/3/8/9

    G15 LeBron’s back: 3/11/5/7

    G16: 7/5/5/5

    G17: 2/7/4/18

    So, he’s averaging 6/7/6/8.5 by quarter, with some outliers from the time Luka missed and he was the primary scorer.

    So, he’s pretty consistent over the 14 games he’s played, with only 1 quarter where he didn’t score at all, but he’s scored 10+ at least once in each quarter.

  12. It’s why JJ or any coach loves having Luka, you don’t really have to plan much for offense because Luka is built-in with everything, elite scorer with elite passing ability pretty much a perfect weapon that the opposing team has to adjust their game plans for him alone.

    It is why so many rotation players make banks playing with Luka, look at guys like Lively, Gafford, DJJ, PJ, Dwight Powell, Reggie Bullock etc. they probably have or had their best years with him.

    Pick your poisons or hope he has a bad day.

  13. Idk, I think they change it based on matchups and how each guy is doing, starting by letting Luka do his thing, then deciding and adapting from there. Wish they would ask jj about it cause it’s the sort of thing he would answer

  14. Damn never thought about this but it makes a lot of sense. I’m so hyped for this season, title incoming.

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