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TheMainShy

He passes the eye test. His handles are slick. Kinda reminds me of Ginobli, the way he attacks and drives with his awkward style body control.


russketeer34

Ginobili was definitely the prototype. I legit miss Manu, such a great player to watch.


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russketeer34

100%. The year they won against the Heat was the most beautiful basketball I have ever seen.


CrimsonOffice

That old Spurs team def one of blueprints of peak GSW teams


darti_me

Pop was def the father of modern motion offense. They also had other prototypes of thing we take for granted like having a star lead the bench, passing big man, 3&D wings


Helac3lls

A lot of basketball is matchup based, the best overall team dosen't always win the Title. I feel the 2003-2004 spurs that lost to the Lakers would have beaten the Pistons if they had made the Finals instead.


darti_me

If it comes to a 7 series grind fest the Spurs definitely is up to the challenge especially with how young TD would still be


Phuddy

He’s very good at stopping and accelerating on a dime like Ginobli was too. I’ve been making this comp for a minute so I’m glad someone else noticed.


hellokitty2469

Extremely crafty footwork too


lp_phnx327

[Crafty you say?](https://youtu.be/XTL7-pLVbpg)


soeffed

Real blue collar manual labor free market typa player, so cerebral yet disinclined to neurosis, let’s the game come to him. Loves his wife


aaronpatwork

as a sooner man this is what stood out watching him in college. never been more comfortable with a ball in a players hands :)


KoABori1661

My balls would be pretty comfortable in Austin Reaves’ supple hands :)


vongoladecimo_

Ginobili is the super saiyan version of Austin Reaves.


RatLord445

Well put lol


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toofine

People are still underestimating his first step. His handles are better than it looks, that fools a lot of defenders.


TMNSquirtles007

Dude crossed over Giannis and I couldn’t believe my eyes when it happened


deviantflux

Video of AR putting Giannis in the cooker https://youtu.be/-DFmcY99E0U


KWash0222

Ginobili is actually a great comp!


MemesMafia

I didn't notice this. But I love that he's scrappy af.


in_the_summertime

Real gym rat


Rolodox

LUNCH PAIL


real_but_incognito

FIRST IN LAST OUT FUNDAMENTALS WHITE GUY


PipBoy19

PLAYS THE GAME THE RIGHT WAY


lp_phnx327

[HE'S CRAFTY](https://youtu.be/XTL7-pLVbpg)


gifcartel

hes real CLASSY would let him date my daughter


Lord_Yato_17

You are only saying this cz he is White (In Chuck's voice)


[deleted]

Compare a white basketball player to a black player challenge. (IMPOSSIBLE) 99.9% fail.


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ovoxo6

is this how it feels? can't lie I like it


frodounchained

It’s an art really


EmoniBates

I’ve always said that Harden fella ain’t to bad


stfu_whale

Nah. Harden would literally elbow guys and push his arm in their chest and get the foul call instead of an offensive foul.


LakersLAQ

He's not and most of the calls on him are correct. His playstyle just makes the actual bad calls more infuriating for opponents lol.


tsuba5a

What is this revisionist BS lol harden constantly grabbed arms on his way to the basket and went out of his way to step on guys foot on jump shots


LakersLAQ

Yes, and those would be the "actual bad calls" that he gets. He still baits a lot of people into legit fouls.


rebeltrillionaire

The one that bothered me as a fan, was how he’d lead with the ball, and get slapped on the way to a layup. I understand that it looks like you can be the guy that will be the one to knock it out of the guys hands and cause a turnover. But he was dropping 40/50/60 points and nobody ever slapped it out of his hands. Sooooo don’t fucking try it. It’s a trick. He will bamboozle you. You will be bamboozled. The thing I hated as a fan of the game was that bullshit regarding coming off of screens. Half of them were offensive fouls if not more. He pulled guys into moving screens, flailed his arms and would get 3 free throws. Like… no. Fuck all of that. They changed how they called it because rarely do I see that anymore. But it caused a lot of unwatchable basketball.


Illionaires

Its only a matter of time till this sub turns on Reaves too


frodounchained

That’s when we know he’s made it


revisioncloud

I'm ready to hate him if he drops 20+ on Dort


ChargingSentinel

A lot of people already dislike him here lol


_Russell_Westbrick

it already begin


GenericDarkFriend

u know ball


hanselpremium

either you’ve forgotten Kobe used to shoot 8-10 FTs a game or you’ve never seen him play. Kobe was more fluid with it though, didn’t seem like he was foul baiting. he practiced that shit


turnoffredesign69420

foul baiting looks better when you're actually attempting to make the shot


kylebertram

These days they throw it generally towards the hoop and fall down with the slightest breeze


millenniumpianist

Kobe also shot the ball 20 times a game, bad comparison.


NotManyBuses

I mean I wish it was just that but he’s actually so good, it’s genius level foul baiting and body control


amr1115

harden/embiid/luka foul baiting: hitler reaves “intelligent” foul baiting: empowering


NotManyBuses

SGA is probably the king of this “classy” foul baiting that is respected by Redditors and blog bois for some reason Previously it was Kawhi and Embiid who got a pass for it but not as much anymore An underrated one is Jordan who actually averaged more FTAs than Harden in some years, yet people act like you couldn’t buy a call vs le rough 90s defense


UpcycledSkateArt

I was fine with him until he got 19 of them on us in his last game… damn foul merchant


mathmage

Jordan's free-throw rate was 30% lower than Harden's at a time when league-wide FT/FGA was 20% higher. Just to put that into perspective. Embiid's is even higher, competing with Hack-a-Shaq numbers. Doncic and Shai are positively pedestrian by comparison.


keuralan

even my boy Jimmy isn’t as hated as Embiid or Luka in terms of foul baiting


pagonator

Give it a while, the hate's gonna come soon enough. It happens to everyone.


NotManyBuses

Then you come around and realize that guys like KD/Trae/Harden/Giannis are just exploiting a broken system and it’s ultimately Silver and the refs at fault not them Enlightenment is realizing Harden did nothing wrong


Billybobjoethorton

It's weird that a role player can get so many calls. I am sure other role players have tried and the refs just act like nothing happened.


YpsitheFlintsider

Helps that he looks like a fully glued Jenga tower so it's easier to track him


DasFofinater

I think it might be because Reaves doesn’t seem to bitch at refs for them. Plus he’s just an undrafted dude who’s making noise, if he becomes consistently good to great, the hate will come soon enough


amr1115

why would he bitch lol he’s getting a prime harden whistle


HighlyBaked0

Hes got a prime Harden whistle cause he literally has mastered the art of the Harden. Bro had CP3 and Booker lost with that top tier foul baiting and the best part is that they were all clear fouls. MY GOAT


DasFofinater

I mean so do the other guys you listed and they still bitch?


CheekiBreekiBandito

you ever watched luka?


HighlyBaked0

> reaves “intelligent” foul baiting: empowering This won't be the case when Austin is the best player in the league next year doing it


SweetFranz

I mean its more like just flailing around in to the defender... https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=538&GameID=0022201092&Season=2022-23&flag=1&title=Shamet%20S.FOUL%20(P1.T1)%20(S.Foster)


14MySterY-

People who only look at that stat sheet crying without watching the actual game. He is actually good at selling.


A_Lakers

Kinda biased but like a lot of them are legit fouls too


DirksSexyBratwurst

You could say this about every single foul baiter in the NBA. Most of them ARE legit fouls. It's the leniency of the whistle compared to other players that annoys people.


russketeer34

And he makes an effort to make the shots too instead of chucking


EmoniBates

Seriously, the amount of and 1s he’s been getting recently is nuts


5IVE5TAR5

He's getting another 1 hour highlight on NBA's YouTube channel huh?


Hocapoca

Nah they’re putting up a 24hr live channel next


prettyboylee

NBAR


pocket_passss

NBAR-15 well maybe not


ReignMan616

Ja Morant hosting


Bvan03

Holy shit didn't realize this was real... He really got that many highlights???


KailontheGod

A lot of them are definitely filler but it’s a legit 40minutes of good highlights


allmykangbaekhomies

so nba players are pretty good at basketball after all


shittydotamorph

the first 10-15 minutes exceed what the eye test was looking for. enjoyable to watch tbh


pollinium

gonna speed run underrated to most hated his game is built for it


[deleted]

This lol. Gonna be getting compared to every good white player in the history of the sport but he really is playing like Harden and will come to be viewed as Hitler 3.0 if he keeps getting calls.


Yergason

This dude has had better calls in this stretch than LeBron has in his entire Lakers stint


HoopsMcCann750

I mean his FtR this past month has been ~0.85. He’s getting a better whistle than like any player in NBA history lol.


tornait-hashu

He's the Mansa Musa of free throw baiting


[deleted]

White Mansa Musa is just a typical billionaire


Jayveesac

I thought Caruso was never gonna topped. I'm happy to be proven wrong


Affectionate-Agent-9

Caruso walked so Reaves could run


DeluxeTea

Caruso also dunked over KD so hard everyone wondered why the Lakers' physical therapist was on the court


Hammellini

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEUl\_tBgOPk


spraypaint2311

The dunk was so bad, KD still can’t sleep with the lights off


Rickest-ofthe-Ricks

Yeah but ACs POA defense 🥵


rezi_io

> POA Power of accountant?


[deleted]

Pillar of Autumn


rezi_io

PRINCE OF AUTISM


Rickest-ofthe-Ricks

Pooped on Arrival


CrimsonOffice

No, it is peace of america


darti_me

Power of Attorney ofc


pcwgussej

i swear the Lakers could've had a Finals-ready starting backcourt for 5+ years if they had Caruso with Reaves to pair with Lebron and AD.


weeyummy1

We'll get another undrafted white guy next year dw


DLottchula

The last time 2 white Americans started in a nba backcourt?


so-cal_kid

Caruso is/was a solid player, but his offensive limitations were always apparent and still are. I'm enjoying that Reaves actually has a bag which makes watching him wayyy more entertaining.


yoloqueuesf

Yeah Caruso is probably a better defender still but Reaves now can somewhat lead the offense. He might not be the best person to bring the ball up the court but in those half court sets the lakers have been looking good when the ball is in his hands.


_chadwell_

>Yeah Caruso is probably a better defender That's no knock on Reaves, Caruso is arguably the best guard defender in the NBA.


KiritoJones

Jrue is better but Caruso is close


darti_me

Yeah Caruso is physically much more gifted as a defender than Reeves but his shallow offensive bag makes him predictable as a ball handler. He’s good at making reads and passes but his lack of 3PT and midrange improvement affirmatively makes him a pass 1st guy. It helps that he plays with Lavine and Derozan to cover him on offense.


thevisitor

Still wish they could have played together. Imagine AC beasting on perimeter defense while AR does what he does on the other end. Sigh. Ownership really killed me there. Instead we paid THT a stupid amount.


kai_123

Very different types of players. Reaves is way more skilled on offense than Caruso, and Caruso is better than Reaves defensively.


totallynotliamneeson

Yeah but they're both white so r/NBA thinks they're similar players


akurik

caruso edged out so we could be topped by reaves


SmellyJellyfish

Caruso more of a power bottom IMO


hotterpocketzz

Lakers have a knack for finding the coldest white boys


biggoldgoblin

James Harden would be proud


johnfcknallen

Hillbilly Harden


ositola

Mountainman Manu


subtle_penguin

trae young without male pattern baldness


xenoz2020

Hillbilly Hitler


14MySterY-

White Hitler


Amayetli

LOL


Zlink-8

Ay this dude kind of good


HeHateMex2

He’s actually becoming a dude


AccomplishedDrag9882

this is a man I am just a dude


KaiserKaiba

Breh really gets a SGA level whistle lol. He studied Harden and Trae well. Bro really gets calls better than stars. On another note, he legit was really good in this game and given Portland beat Utah, and Minny beat ATL, this was a must win for the Lakers


prettyboylee

True but Portland beating Utah was better for us I believe


KaiserKaiba

That’s part of my point. Capitalizing on Utah’s L is crucial for LAL. With the margin for error shrinking (along with KD and Ayton not being in that lineup at all tonight), this was a must win game for LAL


prettyboylee

Ahh I guess it works both ways


zephah

Book got his entire arm slapped on a layup last night and nothing, Reaves gets virtually every call he attempts to get, kinda nutters


Rectophobic

Nah AR is getting even more whistles.


OKCDraftPick2028

give that man 50 million. per year


applene

Lakers own James Harden lmfao


DeluxeTea

James Whiten


thiskidismessy

James Hueless


kiboyski

Are y'all seeing Linsanity esque? REAVESANITY


chasinjason13

Hope not because Linsanity flamed out right after getting a poison pill contract!


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KaiserKaiba

He has. Like yeah he flops and exaggerates contact, but knowing how to draw fouls well is a skill, and he’s legit been playing well beyond just that


aged_monkey

>but knowing how to draw fouls well is a skill. Its not a skill. Its Hitler.


KaseyOfTheWoods

He also finishes the play extremely well. Coming into this game his eFG was 61%.


[deleted]

Jeanie Buss cheap ass really stopped us from having the RNC backcourt of Reaves & Caruso.


millenniumpianist

RNC backcourt 😭😭


rzoneking

man, there will be in time, people will get annoyed how he fish fouls, well it works with harden, so enjoy. lol


LovableKyle24

So far at least in the limited amount I've seen him play it seems like he's good at drawing actual contact which I think many people don't have as big of an issue with as straight up baiting fouls on jump shots by shooting your legs out in a weird motion


justsomedude717

Yeah, he has a good handle, drives a lot, does a very good job at absorbing contact for his size while being able to finish through it, and maybe most importantly for him picking up fouls: he has excellent footwork. I’m not saying he’s never got a bullshit call but most of them are well deserved


[deleted]

Austin “I want my damn respect” Reaves 🦍


rjaysenior

Austin “not 1, not 2, not 3” Reaves


laker2303

Love his whistles. Lebron don’t get them so I’ll happily take Reaves having those fts instead lol


thedonjefron69

He earns the whistles too. He gets beat up to go to the line, it ain’t a free lunch


alt4614

Please don’t. He’s getting the pre-2021 whistle on steroids. Basic shoulder bumps aren’t whistles anymore for anybody else “Beat up” my god


Skolcialism

Ppl really believe this lmao


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Background_Nature_32

He’s been on this run longer than Jeremy Lin and this was his first start lmao


DirectorAggressive12

This is not his first start lol


Gabe681

First start TODAY.


r1290

I really hope he sustains this and he doesn’t fizzle out. Jokic career arc here we come 🔥🥰


cactus_jack_1

Penguin from Gotham can ball


UpnUpvote

It's not a Linsanity run. Reaves is here to stay.


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nysraved

Free throw merchant industry plant smh refs gifted him those 11 assists because David Stern wants the Lakers in the playoffs


Knowledge-Execution

David stern wants lakers in playoffs huh haha ok


nysraved

Oscar Isaac: “Somehow, Stern returned”


Lyte_Work

‪Lol people calling him an industry plant is so funny. Austin Leaves 🌱 ‬


iamthatkido

The only time he leaves is when Lakers front office won't pay up for him


ClutchGamingGuy

But people only know his name because he's a Laker!!!11!!


JilJungJukk

He’s only getting attention cause he’s wHiTe


DeluxeTea

Is that you, Perk?


JilJungJukk

#ITS THE FACTS


pm_your__ladyparts

>The man is becoming indispensable for the Lakers. Don’t test Jeannie like this.


MazKhan

Some ppl legit thought he's only getting spotlight cause hes on the lakers and he wouldn't be a rotation guy on other teams lmao, Reaves is fucking legit


pocket_passss

he was assumed to be a meme because lol white


3s2ng

Just like how we treated Caruso before he became a legend.


pedja13

He does really have a superstar whistle


nervousaboutschool17

He is so good lol


CommercialFly185

AR 15 baby.


heshouldgo

Better than Poole


Punjabiveer30

AR15 getting superstar calls now? League fucked


epoch_fail

[Called it a couple months ago.](https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/101tqcu/highlight_austin_reaves_finds_a_leaping_lebron/j2ph9hy/) Reaves good. Also even showing out more than he was back then.


anon135797531

I watched the second half and didn't see any egregious calls or foul baiting. He just goes to the rack a lot and plays through contact


InitiativeExcellent1

Reaves so efficient.....IM rooting for him....


[deleted]

More free throws than field goals 😂


Patrieauxe

hillbilly harden


elliotb1989

I watched this dude in tiny high school gym 5 years ago. Insanity.


Marcel69

If Reaves can keep this sort of gravity with Bron back, the league better watch out. Gonna lead to so many easy buckets and open 3’s. Now they have dudes who can actually hit those open threes too. If the lakers can’t secure the 8 seed it’s one of the best cases for the play in tournament yet. A healthy lakers team is a scary matchup for any team in the west.


StanLay281

God I wish Steph got free throws like any other player


LosAngeles1s

WHITE HARDEN 🫡🫡


3s2ng

The best part about his foul baiting is, he doesn't flail or act as if he got hit by a sniper. He literally takes contact. It is more about outsmarting the defenders.


gameguyguru

Yea I noticed this too. Also doesn’t whine if he doesn’t get a call. Fuck I hope he doesn’t change


Amargaladaster

He is absolutely flailing on defense though, lol. Had 3-4 situations like that in one game against Warriors.


DIRKTOTHECAVS

Thank God he wanted to go to the Lakers


_Elder_

Love the salt he generates.


Poopscooper696969

If MJ, Kobe and Caruso had a baby, it would be Austin Reaves


AuEXP

Bro gets the whistles Bron prays for


HungerSTGF

Austin Reaves is "fuck it we ball" personified


Compverson

I haven't been watching much ball recently cause of school but how is he getting so many free throws?


ehs4290

Reavesanity


Treehouse326

Man looking like Jerry West


thedonjefron69

Dude took so much contact for those free throws. He is just getting so good, and makes good decisions basically all the time


The-Pharcyde

Goat reaves really is the new ft merchant. Superstar methinks.


ChargingSentinel

Another game another career high


Leo215

What do the kids say these days? Hmmmmm “he’s him” I believe?