Lakers' Austin Reaves Vents After Loss to Suns, Says Frustration Level Is 'Very High'

Guard Austin Reaves made his disappointment clear Thursday following the Los Angeles Lakers' 113-110 road loss to the Phoenix Suns.

When asked by reporters to describe his frustration level, Reaves called it "very high."

The Lakers have now lost three games in a row and five of their past seven, and they are just 1-3 since returning from the All-Star break.

Lakers-Suns Full Highlights

01:31

Lakers superstar guard Luka Dončić attempted to remain upbeat despite the team's recent string of losses, telling reporters, "Just go game-by-game, try to win every game. Obviously we didn't start good [out of the All-Star break], but nothing is over. We just got to keep bringing the mindset of trying to win every game."

The Lakers boast two All-Stars in Dončić and LeBron James, plus another player who has produced at an All-Star level at times this season in Reaves, but they clearly aren't a legitimate contender in the Western Conference right now.

At 34-24, the Lakers are sixth in the West, and they are only one game up on the seventh-place Suns, meaning they are in danger of dropping out of the top six and into play-in tournament territory.

ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst underscored some of the Lakers' issues during an appearance on Get Up, calling them a "flawed team" and "a very poor defensive team."

The Lakers had some obvious deficiencies last season, but little was done to address them during the offseason due to a lack of salary cap flexibility.

L.A. lacked quality play and depth on the interior, and the biggest move made to help in that area was the signing of center Deandre Ayton.

While Ayton is averaging 13.0 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, he hasn't really been a force on either end of the floor, and that has played a role in the Lakers ranking 18th in scoring defense and 26th in field goal percentage allowed.

The Lakers still have the makings of a potential playoff team even if they have to go through the play-in, but winning even one playoff series is far from guaranteed.

The Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves all look like more legitimate championship contenders in the Western Conference, and the Lakers are lining up to face one of them in the first round of the playoffs if they make it.

Should the Lakers fail to make it past the first round of the playoffs for a third consecutive year, it is fair to wonder what that could mean for the future of James, Reaves and possibly even head coach JJ Redick.