Does NBA Media Avoid Criticizing Austin Reaves? Should Darvin Ham Give Rui Hachimura More Minutes?

The Locked On Lakers YouTube page is a great place to communicate with other Lakers fans and the hosts of the show, and it was the source of today's discussion. Does the media protect Austin Reaves? More than a few viewers have noted the difference in how he's treated compared to, say, D'Angelo Russell, believing that Reaves doesn't get enough criticism when he underperforms, whether on this show or across the basketball media landscape more broadly. Is that true? Probably, at least to some degree. But what accounts for it? Certainly the Reaves Story (moppy haired, undrafted, relatively unathletic looking white dude from rural Arkansas ascends RAPIDLY to national team status, Taylor Swift rumors and a new contract) contributes. He's an easy guy to root for. Insanely competitive, works hard, etc. But at the same time, does the story (and his skin color) provide more of a shield than it should? What about the sense that he's "found money?" That there's still some residual sense that the good stuff can be accentuated while the bad stuff is brushed off, because someone with his background isn't supposed to provide anything positive at all, really. Meanwhile, Russell, who (as has been noted on this show, repeatedly) has outplayed Reaves significantly this year, gets hammered by fans every time the Lakers lose and/or he turns the ball over. And what about rotations? Does Darvin Ham give Rui Hachimura the minutes he deserves? What might explain an excess of bench time, even while he tends to perform well? HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Does Austin Reaves get enough criticism when he doesn't play well? SEGMENT 2: Does the media protect Reaves? If so, why? SEGMENT 3: Should Ham give Hachimura more minutes? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by Betterhelp. Make your brain your friend, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/lockedonnba today to get 10% off your first month.  Ibotta Download the Ibotta app now and use code locked to get 100% cash back on your Thanksgiving dinner starting November first! Just go to the App Store or Google Play store and download the FREE Ibotta app and use code locked.  eBay Motors For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit at eBayMotos.com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. Jase Medical Get $20 off these lifesaving antibiotics with Jase Medical by using code LOCKEDON at checkout on jasemedical.com. PrizePicks Go to PrizePicks.com/lockedonnba and use code lockedonnba for a first deposit match up to $100! Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. FanDuel Score early this NFL season with FanDuel, America’s Number One Sportsbook! Right now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS with any winning FIVE DOLLAR MONEYLINE BET! That’s A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS – if your team wins! Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices