NBA IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT

December 7, 2023

Austin Reaves

Los Angeles Lakers

Semifinal Postgame

Lakers 133, Pelicans 89

Q. Austin, it seemed pretty clear that LeBron set a tone just from the start. I wonder what you noticed first on the bench watching him and as you got into those units and how that carried you guys a bit tonight?

AUSTIN REAVES: Yeah, I mean, any time your best player sacrifices his body, takes three charges in the first half, especially with Zion coming down the paint, it sets a tone. That shows to everybody else how locked in he is to win this, and how locked in he is every game.

Q. What's the difference in the LeBron that you see this season versus the guy who is coming back and dealing with the foot injury last year?

AUSTIN REAVES: He just looks healthy. He looks fresh. Spirits is great. He's never in a bad mood. Always smiling. Joking. Laughing. Just being LeBron. And like I said, when one of your best players, your best player, acts like that, it trickles down to everybody else, and you always have a good vibe going around the locker room.

Q. You go on a run, take a double-digit lead and they rally, and LeBron scores the first 11 points in the second quarter. How important was that, righting the ship early and putting you guys in position to blow them out?

AUSTIN REAVES: Yeah, we started off the game well and then they had a little, probably four- to five-possession stretch where they tied it or took the lead, and like you said, Bron just being Bron.

We extended that lead, and he just does what he does. Gave us an opportunity to be up a handful at halftime. Then coming out in the second half and just putting our foot down and just trying to make it not a game, and that's what we did. We shot the ball really well tonight. We look to improve and build on this.

Q. What's that one aspect of your game you're looking to bring to your team on Saturday to give you all the best chance to win the finals?

AUSTIN REAVES: Just the energy. They play with a lot of pace. Tyrese does a hell of a job leading their whole team. The way they play offensively, super fast, a lot of threes. But just the pace that they play with, we are going to have to be on high alert.

Every single shot we take offensively, miss or make, they are going to be running the ball down the floor after that right as fast as they can. It's just playing with energy and playing the right way.

Q. You mention Tyrese. You and he ran the second unit or Team USA last summer. What did you like about playing with him at that time? You probably aren't surprised by how well he's playing, but I guess did you see what he's been able to do in this NBA season? Did you see that coming last summer?

AUSTIN REAVES: Yeah, I told D-Lo before the season started that if they are competing in the East, then I think he has a chance to win an MVP at some point just because of the way he plays and the unselfishness that he plays with.

The way he is making his teammates better, it says a lot. Just for the way we played together, it was simple. You knew he was going to play the game the right way, make the right pass. You never had to worry about that with him.

You tip your hat to a guy like that, one for just being so unselfish when you're that talented.

Q. In the last ten games, you've been shooting over 50 percent from the field. Today you had seven assists and 17 points. How has it been for you getting your rhythm back? I know you came from USA and probably didn't have the start that you wanted, but back to the efficiency numbers that you are accustomed to. How has it been feeling for you the last couple times?

AUSTIN REAVES: Any time you make shots, it feels great. But there's a lot more to basketball than that. I'm sure you all know that. Like you said, I had not shot the ball well the first part of the year for the most part, but like I said, there's a lot more to the game than percentages and stats. For me, it's just play the game the right way. But obviously it feels good when you see shots go in.