The mistake Lakers can't make again according to Austin Reaves

The LA Lakers have been struggling in most of the first quarters of their games this season. Against the Phoenix Suns, it was no different as they trailed by 17 points at the end of the first 12 minutes of the game.

Austin Reaves didn't have the best night, still, he was able to score 14 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal but was solid, the rest of the team besides the starters didn't deliver and the team lost vs. the Suns.

But the main struggle for the Lakers continues to be with rebounds and trailing big time in the first quarter and then the purple and gold trying to make an epic comeback but it doesn't always work out. Reaves has spoken about what went wrong at Phoenix.

“It’s tough. You never want to start the game off like that obviously,” Reaves said after the game. “But I thought we did a good job battling back after that but like you said it puts yourself in a tough situation where you almost had to play perfectly the rest of the game. Like I said, we did a good job battling back but we had a couple of mishaps and we almost had to be perfect.”

Coach Ham spoke on the Lakers having too many fouls in the first quarter

Ham even admitted that the Lakers were fouling too much during a first quarter that saw the Suns propel themselves to a 45-28 lead. Even while criticizing officials for quick whistles, he gave some blame to his own team. “For us, defensively, fouling. Too many fouls,” Ham admitted. “I think they had nine free-throw attempts in the first quarter alone. Offensively, we were a little indecisive. But you cannot give up 45-point quarters. You are going to be playing behind the eight ball the rest of the way if you, in turn, do not get hot or get stopped. We were able to put together a couple defensive quarters in the second and the third, specifically. Again, coming out a little slow, fouling, bad fouls, giving up offensive rebounds in the second quarter.