"After the Lakers' third straight loss Thursday, JJ Redick promised things would get "uncomfortable." The second-year coach, frustrated after the team delivered a lump of coal in a Christmas Day blowout by the Houston Rockets, said he couldn't stand to rewatch the same tired story. Leaning his elbow on the table at his postgame news conference, Redick called out players who don't give enough effort on defense or play hard."
"Reaves was diagnosed with a grade 2 strain in his left calf Friday and will be reevaluated in four weeks. The latest setback comes less than two weeks after he was sidelined because of a "mild" strain in the same calf that kept him out for three games. Reaves is averaging career highs in points (26.6), assists (6.3) and rebounds (5.2) and his ascent from undrafted rookie to potential first-time All-Star was one of the team's feel-good stories of the season."
The Lakers enter a defining stretch after a season-high three-game losing streak and a winless December at home. Austin Reaves will miss roughly four weeks with a grade-2 strain in his left calf, following a recent mild strain, removing the surging second-leading scorer who averages career highs of 26.6 points, 6.3 assists and 5.2 rebounds and recorded a recent 51-point game against Sacramento. The team is emphasizing defensive recalibration, reconnection, championship habits and togetherness while coping with 16 different starting lineups and a 29th-ranked defensive rating. The roster must stabilize defensive effort and fundamentals to halt the skid and adapt without Reaves.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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