At this stage of the NBA season, teams are supposed to be playing their best basketball. However, Austin Reaves and the Los Angeles Lakers are sliding after losing two consecutive close games on game-winners.
Los Angeles recently got Reaves back from a calf injury and Luka Doncic from his hamstring issue. This is the most healthy this team has been all year, and yet they cannot find ways to stack wins.
An area of worry is the center position, particularly Deandre Ayton, as his production has dipped significantly compared to the beginning of the year. Reaves maintains belief in Ayton, calling him an X factor if L.