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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 25: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts for a LA Clippers foul during the first half at Crypto.com Arena on November 25, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

For a little while in Game 1, it at least looked like the Los Angeles Lakers could hang around. 

LeBron James came out aggressive early — converting an and-1 on the first play of the game and cashing a pair of 3-pointers — and Los Angeles showed flashes that made the game feel competitive.

Then the Oklahoma City Thunder reminded everybody why they have rolled through the Western Conference all season.

The game stayed relatively close until the closing minutes of the third quarter, when Oklahoma City completely took over and started blowing things open. Once the Thunder found that rhythm, the Lakers had no answers.

And while all of that was happening, Austin Reaves entered a progressively hotter spotlight. For all the wrong reasons

He struggled to settle into the game from the opening tip and ended up making some ugly statistical history along the way after missing 10 uncontested shots.

That rough outing immediately brought fresh questions about his future in Los Angeles.

It’s fair to say Reaves, who just had the best regular season campaign of his career, has to play a million times better in Game 2 if he hopes to avoid outpouring criticism again.

Los Angeles Lakers Urged to Make Change on Star’s Minutes

It was not Reaves’ night by any stretch. He was rendered ineffective. Suddenly, people remembered, “Oh, yeah, he was undrafted.”

As if they were singing his praises for lighting the league on fire despite not hearing his name called on draft night five years ago.

Every star has a bad playoff game. But in the moment, the criticism is always harsh. And it doesn’t help that Reaves plays for the Lakers, the franchise that is constantly under the microscope. 

If you play well, you’re suddenly raised as the next best thing.

Anything else and you deserve to be kicked to the curb.

Logic only Lakers fans can comprehend. 

L.A. is facing a massive Game 2 in Oklahoma City. A loss will put the Lakers just two more away from their season ending. Reaves, seen as the best scorer on the team now that Luka Doncic is sidelined, has to operate confidently and efficiently.

Sure, that’s easier said than done against the Thunder, whose defense is manned by players often referred to as a “pack of Hyenas.”

Perhaps there is a way to get Reaves going against this great defense.

According to the California Post’s Khobi Price, adjusting Reaves’ rotation in Game 2 would go a long way in allowing Reaves to establish a rhythm.

“One way the Lakers could help Reaves, who’s just three games back from a monthlong absence because of his left oblique injury, is shortening his playing-time shifts to help preserve his legs instead of having him play the longer stints to start the first and third quarters and close the halves.  Reaves has shot 2-for-17 on 3-pointers since returning in the Game 5 loss to the Rockets on April 29. He’s still getting his legs back after a long layoff,” Price wrote. 

Pressure Building for Reaves

It’s true Reaves is also dealing with unfortunate timing.

Late in the regular season, he suffered an oblique injury that sidelined him for weeks and carried into the Lakers’ first round series against the Houston Rockets.

He has only recently gotten back on the floor and, honestly, still looks like somebody trying to fully regain his rhythm.

That matters because this postseason was supposed to be huge for him.

This was the opportunity for Reaves to prove beyond any doubt that he deserves max-level money moving forward. Instead, the Lakers suddenly look overmatched against Oklahoma City. 

There’s a real chance this series could end quickly.

If that happens, Reaves may not get much more time to change the narrative around his playoffs.

The Lakers are heading toward a fascinating offseason overall.

There are major decisions coming with Reaves. James is also set to become an unrestricted free agent in July. On top of that, the organization will try to figure out the best possible roster to put around Doncic moving forward.

For Reaves, it is all about maximizing the opportunity at hand. He has to lead the way, especially in the scoring department, in this series against the Thunder. 

No one expects the Lakers to win, but everyone expects Reaves to play like a star.