Chemistry issues could haunt Lakers if Austin Reaves returns in Game 5

When the Lakers tipoff against the Rockets on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena for Game 5 of their first-round playoff series, all eyes will be on the five players on the court wearing purple and gold.

Lakers guard Austin Reaves remains a game-time decision again, but if he’s healthy enough to go, then his return could impact the entire series and whether or not the team can start booking their plane tickets for Oklahoma City.

According to reports, the Lakers are very “optimistic” that Reaves can return for Game 5. Reaves himself said he’s “feeling good” and “trending in the right direction.”

Reaves was listed as “questionable” for both Games 3 and 4 in Houston. He jogged through warmups taking shots in the key and around the perimeter providing fans with false hope. He did not suit up in either game, but now that he’s had over four weeks to heal from his grade 2 oblique strain, that door to return to the lineup is more open than it’s ever been.

Reaves’ initial timetable to return was four to six weeks. If he returns on Wednesday he’s over that four-week mark. In practice, he’s gone through every single return to play protocol without a setback. Provided there’s no setback on Tuesday night or Wednesday during warmups, then it’s likely he returns to the starting lineup for Game 5.

That begs the question currently being discussed inside the Lakers’ coaches room:

If Reaves returns, who goes to the bench?

Let’s not overthink the obvious. LeBron James, Deandre Ayton, and Marcus Smart are all locked in. That is the spine of this Lakers starting five. That leaves two remaining players.

Luke Kennard and Rui Hachimura.

Somebody has to sit if Reaves returns, and it’s going to be one of these two.

The cleanest answer is Kennard. It’s the one that makes the most basketball sense based on the skillset of the players on the court.

Ironically, Kennard has been filling in as a pseudo-point guard to fill the void left by Luka Doncic. So many fans would just assume that since it’s not Doncic returning, but Reaves, that Kennard would stay in the lineup and Hachimura would go to the bench.

Reaves is also a capable ball handler and playmaker. Two roles that Kennard was asked to fill in the absence of both the Lakers top two scorers. Yes, Kennard provides shooting and stretches the floor, but the Lakers don’t need four ball handlers on the court together to start the game.

That leaves Hachimura in the starting lineup alongside Reaves, James, Smart, and Ayton. Hachimura hasn’t just been another body in this series. He’s been dominant in stretches, and the second-leading scoring option in two of the four games.

When the Rockets start Reed Sheppard in place of Kevin Durant — as they’ve done three times in the series — Hachimura becomes an offensive weapon to attack the rookie. Sheppard is a defensive liability for Houston, and in Game 3, Hachimura put on a scoring clinic against him. He scored a career-high 16 points in the first quarter.

Hachimura’s size and defensive ability makes him an asset, and if Durant misses Game 5. His ability to post up Sheppard and punish him is reason enough to start him over Kennard.

When Smart missed time in mid-March, Redick opted to start Jake LaRavia over Hachimura. Redick leaned toward the better defender in that situation. But when Smart came back, LaRavia went to the bench.

There is also a third path—one the Lakers have already walked. Austin Reaves could return, but in a measured role off the bench rather than being dropped straight back into the starting five. It wouldn’t be unprecedented. After missing nearly six weeks from late December into early February, Reaves eased back in as a reserve for five games before reclaiming his spot in the lineup.

If Reaves does go straight back into the starting lineup, there’s a counterargument to be made for keeping Kennard in the starting lineup and sending Hachimura to the bench. Kennard can spot up on the perimeter, stretching the floor and allowing LeBron and Reaves maximum room to operate. If the Lakers want more spacing over size, and more three-point shooting, then the math says Kennard is a slight upgrade over Hachimura.

But Hachimura also shoots the three at a high percentage and can also space the floor. He attacks the basket better than Kennard too. Playoff series are solved by mismatches that can be exploited every possession. Hachimura guarded by Sheppard is one of those mismatches. It’s why the answer on who to start seems obvious to us.

The Rockets have already said publicly that they’re “younger,” “faster to heal,” and “obviously the better team.”

Even more reason for the Lakers to hit back with something wiser and smarter.

If Reaves returns he’ll bring more scoring. More breaks on the offensive end for James, and more concerns for the Rockets’ defense. Sometimes the best answer is the obvious one.

Start Reaves and Hachimura. Sit Kennard. Lean into size. Trust your veterans and attack the Rockets’ weakest link.

Because in a series like this, overthinking and hesitation can be fatal.