Austin Reaves says LA Lakers have had a problem ever since he joined the team, ‘that’s on us…’

Austin Reaves believes LA Lakers struggle in third quarter since 2021

Austin Reaves spoke after the LA Lakers’ disappointing loss to the Golden State Warriors, and what exactly went wrong for them.

Reaves admitted that the Lakers failed to execute in the third quarter, something that has been a problem since he joined the team in 2021.

“It was just a bad third quarter. The last couple of years, ever since I’ve been here, we’ve had a problem with third quarters. Just gotta figure out a way to come out with a little more energy.

“That’s the first thing JJ talked about afterwards. Just figuring out a way to be better in the third quarter. That’s on us players.

“That’s not on the coaches. They come in here and give us what we need, give us the answers to the test. We just didn’t go out and execute, so that’s on us. We have to be better.”

Luka Doncic also laments third quarter failure from LA Lakers

Luka Doncic echoed Austin Reaves’ sentiment after the game, noting that their third-quarter woes were a big problem last season as well.

“Honestly, I would say that the third quarter, the start. We had these problems last year, too. I think that was most of the problem.

“We were close by one at halftime. But then, just the start of the third quarter, they went on a run.”

Doncic is right, as the Lakers were behind by just one point at the end of the first half, having closed the gap with a strong second quarter.

But their failure to deliver in the third quarter was a big problem. Jonathan Kuminga was excellent in the third quarter, scoring 13 points and not missing a single shot.

If the Lakers are serious about competing for an NBA championship, then they cannot have these weak performances in the third quarter so consistently.