When the Los Angeles Lakers signed center Deandre Ayton, it was believed that he would thrive being able to play alongside elite playmakers in Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves. While it has taken some time for them to figure each other out, things are really starting to click and Ayton is understanding how each prefers to operate in the pick-and-roll.
In the Lakers’ victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night, both Doncic and Reaves were outstanding. Luka was more of the creator with 11 assists to go along with his 35 points while Reaves was in pure scoring mode with a team-high 38 points on the night. Ayton added 17 points and eight rebounds in his return after missing the prior game with a knee contusion.
Afterwards, Ayton spoke on working with Reaves in the pick-and-roll and starting to get a better feel of what the guard wants from him in different situations.
“I’m in these pick-and-rolls with him, and the fire tends to go from orange to blue,” Ayton said after the game. “I was telling him, ‘I’m starting to know when you want me over there to set the screens.’ I can see the red fire, and the red fire means I’m gonna play normal. And then the blue fire. You know blue is hotter than the red so, you tell me. You see the blue fire, don’t go near him, let him do his thing and that’s what he did.”
Reaves has gotten so good at being able to get where he wants to go in the paint and Ayton understanding if he needs to go screen for him or just get out of the way is huge for their development and chemistry overall. Reaves was in the zone, hitting 12-of-15 from the field and Ayton felt he should’ve had even more points.
“He had times where he should’ve got some and-ones, he should’ve had 50,” Ayton added. “He’s making some tough buckets man. Like some mean, aggressive buckets under the rim where us trees are down there and he’s making some tough baskets and I’m just like ‘You a dawg,’ you know what I’m sayin? Like I’m running back just telling him, ‘Yo, you a dawg. You making some tough baskets.’ You just gotta put your hats off to him. I’ve been seeing it since I’ve got here.”
Reaves has proven himself over the past few seasons, especially that he is that “dawg” that Ayton is describing. He is fearless on the court and has gotten better every season and the big man getting more comfortable with how to work with him will only lead to greater things for both of them.
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