Media attention never ends for the Los Angeles Lakers, as they are a big-market team featuring superstars like Luka Doncic and LeBron James. A downside of that attention is that role players face backlash for inconsistent play, and Deandre Ayton is the latest example.
At the beginning of the regular season, Ayton was tremendously positive offensively and developed great chemistry with Austin Reaves. The former No. 1 overall pick’s touch around the rim and mid-range jumpers were dropping at an extremely high rate.
Lately, Ayton’s offensive production dropped significantly and he clearly was disengaged on both ends of the floor. However, he put up two impressive outings against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Chicago Bulls, which suggests he may be returning to form.
Additionally, Luka appears to have finally found chemistry with Ayton and the Lakers star thinks their pick-and-roll partnership is in a ‘very good’ spot.
“Very good,” Doncic said. “In that third and fourth quarter, they wanted to blitz a little bit, so he saw the small guy and he was just playing bully ball down there. And then they went switch a couple times. So I think he’s been doing an amazing job.”
When Los Angeles signed the 7-footer this offseason, it was clear that he is not the ideal pick-and-roll threat to pair with Doncic. Obviously, Ayton can still throw down lobs, but he likes his short rolls and operating at the elbow or free throw line.
Adapting to a somewhat abnormal playstyle for a modern center has taken longer than anticipated and injuries have played a factor. Hopefully, now that the Lakers have been healthy recently, they can develop better on-court chemistry all around.
At the end of the day, L.A. will need Ayton to stay on the floor and remain engaged both sides of the ball. While his long-term fit remains murky, he still can elevate the team’s ceiling and unlock more offensive diversity.
Deandre Ayton has ‘caught up’ to Lakers’ energy & focus
Deandre Ayton’s character flaws have been well documented throughout his stops in Phoenix and Portland, so the Lakers needed to find a happy medium. While vibes were high at the start of the year, they dropped considerably around Christmas.
Ayton seemed frustrated about his lack of touches and eventually made headlines comparing himself to Clint Capela. After two consecutive double-doubles, he admitted that he picked up his energy and focus to catch up with the rest of the team. This is greatly needed to solidify themselves in a chaotic playoff race.
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