Austin Reaves “Is HIM” in series victory over Grizzlies: What impressive individual and team run can mean for free-agency  

Austin “Powers” the Lakers in Game 1 victory, critical in series win vs Grizzlies

Crossover: Austin Reaves' deceptive handles and quickness on display against Desmond Bane.

The Lakers’ turnaround after the trading deadline enabled them to finish with a 43-39 record in the 7th seed, which they clinched after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves in the play-in.

They would match up with the young, talented, and brash Memphis Grizzlies, who finished 51-31, at the 2nd seed.

Despite the phyrotechnics of Ja Morant, the Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson, budding All-Star Desmond Bane, and the ever-loquacious Dillon Brooks, they were missing their starting center and leading rebounder Steven Adams, and his backup, the energizer Brandon Clarke.

Coupled with the roaring finish to the season, the Lakers were largely favored in the series, despite being a lower seed and having fewer wins. Game 1 was an opportunity for the Lakers to steal the homecourt away from the Grizzlies.

Austin Reaves along with Rui Hachimura, off the bench, were the stars of the game. Reaves (23 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 8-13 FG, 3-5 3-PT), and Hachimura (29 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 11-14 FG, 5-6 3-PT) dominated the fourth quarter and combined for 52 points for the game.

Broadcasted on ABC, with the Lakers already a worldwide brand, this was a national, if not international, coming-out party for a young man nicknamed “Hillbilly Kobe”, who grew up in tiny Newark, Arkansas (population of 1,170).

His fourth-quarter heroics prompted Mark Jackson to call him “Austin Powers”, a play on the campy trilogy of vintage spy movies in the late 90s and early 2000s bearing the namesake, starring Mike Myers.

The signature moment of the game occurred when Reaves hit a dagger over Grizzlies’ backup point guard Tyus Jones, filling in for the injured Ja Morant, who hurt his hand falling to the court earlier in the quarter after driving on Anthony Davis.

Reaves, who is normally relatively reserved, strutted down the court yelling “I’m HIM!” going back to the Lakers’ bench, after the Grizzlies called a timeout. Other players around the league, including Damian Lillard, recognized that he had arrived, if they didn’t know before.

Reaves combined for 22 points in the next two games and then had another 23-point output in a critical Game 4 overtime victory, putting the Lakers up 3-1 over the Grizzlies.

He made a key game-tying layup in the 4th quarter, and hit free-throws to ice the game. On multiple occasions, MVP chants rang out by the crowd in the Cyrpto.com Arena, which Reaves humbly and somewhat amusingly appreciated.

In the Game 6 clincher, a 125-85 drubbing by LA to win the series 3-2, Reaves was only 5-12 from the field, including 1-7 from three. However, he finished with 11 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 blocks in 34 minutes.

For the postseason, Reaves’ shooting percentages are lower, but his statistical numbers are all increased (16.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists in 36.3 minutes).