There are a lot of ways to break down a roster, trying to figure out if it's "championship worthy." Obviously, the stars are key. Winning without one elite player, and sometimes more than one, is a challenge. But the rest of the guys matter, too. And while the "three star" era can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people—starting with how "star" gets defined—there's no question that the quality of that third guy rightly gets a lot of attention. In related news, Austin Reaves has been on quite a heater of late, averaging over 30 points a game in his last four. It's reignited the conversation about where exactly Reaves fits in the leaguewide pantheon of "third options," and whether that's good enough for the Lakers as they get into the postseason. There are a lot of ways to look at it. Often, people ask if the third man is an All-Star. Well, Reaves isn't, and who knows when that might change. Making All-Star teams is incredibly difficult. But is he playing All-Star caliber ball? Yeah. Not just lately, but over the course of the season his numbers 19.6/4.5/6.0 are in the ballpark. His March stats (23.4/6.3/5.7, 39% 3-point shooting) even more so. So just on raw production, Reaves is pushing into higher levels among his peers. And on a post-Luka Dončić Lakers roster, Reaves gets even more of a boost. Now bumped down to the team's third ballhandler behind Luka and LeBron James, Reaves is free to attack more and play with greater defensive intensity. Meanwhile, he's smart enough to leverage the space those guys create to give himself better matchups and more opportunity. "How good is good enough?" becomes a different question when the third guy is playing with arguably two of the top 7 players in the league. (Luka is almost universally dropped in the top 5 when healthy, and LeBron almost always in the top 10. Still.) And Reaves has shown he's able to carry a team when he's needed, as well. It's in him. Can he do it like a top line star? No, but he likely won't be asked to in the playoffs more than maybe once a series. The rest of the time, it's about producing at the expected level. The bottom line is that Reaves just keeps getting better, and like all not-quite-star-stars, working in the orbit of truly elite players makes him more effective. Would Reaves be a leg on a "big three" for a different team? Maybe, maybe not. But that doesn't matter. He only needs to do it for the Lakers, and with all that in mind, there's little question he's good enough to be a third-best player on a championship team, if this is the team in question. HOSTS: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: The Lakers are playing Denver tonight, and it feels different. SEGMENT 2: Why the matchup isn't what it was, in a good way for LA. SEGMENT 3: Is AR a true third star? Your favorite podcast now has a newsletter! In One-stop for ultimate team and league coverage delivered right to your in box. Sign up for free now, at lockedondaily.com.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!HungryrootWith Hungryroot, it’s like having a personal shopper and a nutritionist all in one.For a limited time, get 40% off your first box and a free item in every box for life! Just go to Hungryroot.com/lockedonnba and use codeLOCKEDONNBA. RobinhoodWith Robinhood Gold, you can now enjoy the VIP treatment. The new Gold Standard is here with Robinhood Gold. To receive 3% boost on annual IRA contributions, sign up at robinhood.com/gold.PrizepicksNow’s the perfect time to join. Download the app todayand use codeLOCKEDONNBA to get $50 instantly when you play your first $5 lineup! That’s right—no need to win to get the bonus, it’s guaranteed. PrizePicks—Run Your Game!Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA 5-Hour ENERGYHead to 5-hourENERGY.com to find over 15 flavors to choose from, including Watermelon, Blue Raspberry, and Peach-Mango. Need one now? Grab a 5-hour ENERGY shot at your local grocery or convenience store—they’re everywhere! Stock up today and stay energized. UpworkVisit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free to connect with top talent and grow your business today!Door DashThey Swoosh, You Save: when any player scores 50 or more points in a game during the 24/25 NBA regular season, DashPass members save 50% on an order, up to $10 off with promo code NBA50. 50% Off 1 Order (Up to $10 Off)Offer valid from 9:00 AM PT through 11:59 PM PT after a 50 point performance in any game during the NBA season on orders placed at participating merchant locations. Valid only in the United States. Maximum value of discount is $10.00. Discount applies to subtotal only; does not apply to fees, taxes, and gratuity. Not valid for pickup. Limit one per person. Not valid for the purchase of alcohol. Fees, taxes, and gratuity still apply. Must have an active DashPass account. Use promo code NBA50 to redeem. See further terms and conditions at https://...