The Los Angeles Lakers are staring down elimination, and much of the blame falls on one glaring weakness: Austin Reaves' defense. In Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Lakers fell 131-108, putting them in a 3-0 series hole. While Reaves has blossomed into a near-All-Star on offense, his defensive limitations have become impossible to ignore.

How bad was it? According to NBA Advanced Stats, the Thunder scored on 17 of 22 field goal attempts that Reaves defended in Game 3. That's a staggering 77.3% shooting percentage when he was on the floor—a stat that highlights just how often he was targeted. The defending champions made him look like a statue, blowing past him with ease and exploiting his lack of footspeed and athleticism. It was a key factor in the Lakers' blowout loss.

This isn't a new issue. Opponents have been picking on Reaves defensively for two or three seasons now. His weaknesses are being exposed on the biggest stage, and it's leading to growing frustration among Lakers fans. Many are now calling for the team to trade him this offseason, especially since he's expected to opt out of his contract and become a free agent. The hope is to swap him for a player who can contribute on both ends of the floor.

For now, Reaves has one more chance to silence the critics. The Lakers will try to stave off elimination in Game 4 on Monday. If his defense doesn't improve, it could be a long summer in Los Angeles.