Why Deandre Ayton is key for Lakers playoff upset

Lakers heart Deandre Ayton bounced across the court after observe Monday carrying all black, his chains swaying, his temper jovial as he approached the media to speak about his position in the Western Conference semifinals.

His spirits had been high for what lies forward for the Lakers as they ready to face the best workforce in the NBA, the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

Lakers coach JJ Redick said the play of his heart “changes our ceiling the most.”

Simply put, Ayton’s high-level of play can be paramount for the Lakers when they start the best-of-seven collection Tuesday evening in Oklahoma City.

“Everything has been pretty solid, just staying in my role and just doing more in my role,” Ayton said. “This is the playoffs, so everybody can do more, everybody has another level. And this is the second round coming in, so I think we all deserve that little bit of increase of confidence from what we’ve done so far and the outcome from the adversity we’ve faced.

“I feel like that’s where we are right now and I think that’s what’s motivating me, as well, coming into these games. Just seeing, listening and being dialed in and seeing the results of it.”

There had been occasions Ayton was a pressure against the Houston Rockets in the first spherical. He had double figures in rebounds in 4 of the six video games and had three double-doubles in the collection. He averaged 11.8 factors and his 10.8 rebounds are third-best in the postseason.

“DA’s had a great season,” Redick said. “He was instrumental in us getting past Houston. I think his baseline of who he is every day for the last two, two-and-a-half months has been awesome. And I know his teammates, certainly the staff, we’ve all embraced him all season long. Again, he’s the person that changes our ceiling the most.”

Both Ayton and Marcus Smart got here to the Lakers last summer season, giving them a much-needed heart and a defensive-minded guard. Smart said he didn’t know Ayton before they turned teammates, but the 2 of them have bonded.

They sit next to each other in the locker room and Smart is the first to always encourage Ayton, to push him, to anticipate more out of him.

“Not his big brother, but I’m just somebody who he respects,” Smart said. “He sees [me] go out there and not only preaching, I’m actually doing what I’m preaching. I’m not just preaching, I’m out there with him, in the midst of it, battling with him, going through adversity with him, right? I think that drives a lot of respect for one another in that aspect, when you’re going to battle with somebody. You’re struggling while they’re struggling right there with you, trying to help you get through yours.”

The 7-foot Ayton can be going up against 7-1 Chet Holmgren and 7-foot Isaiah Hartenstein. Holmgren averaged 17.3 factors, 8.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in the first spherical and Hartenstein averaged 11.0 factors, 8.3 rebounds and 1.0 blocks.

Ayton may have to maintain his own against them and still be the pressure the Lakers have leaned on in the postseason.

“Playing bigger. … Just being relentless on the glass, you know, protecting the rim as much as possible and not letting them in my paint,” Ayton said. “It’s gonna be big with me protecting that paint in this series. They really generate and touch the paint. … Them having 50-plus points in the paint, you know they’re a really unstoppable team. So, I’m really just looking forward to protecting the paint as best as I can and staying on the floor as long as possible. That’s about it.”

Being on the street and in a hostile setting is one thing that Ayton also is trying ahead to. He is aware of the group in Oklahoma City is like a school ambiance and that he and the Lakers can’t get rattled.

“Yeah, you can’t hear yourself,” Ayton said. “It’s definitely the ‘Thunder’ for a reason, you know? Their fans are thunderous. You know, you can hear the floor shaking, the bleachers, you can’t even hear a play call. And you gotta be super dialed in.

“They’re the defending champs and you know their fans have been in atmospheres and hype games and you know they’re ready for their team to do their thing. So, we just gotta come in super prepared and just dial out all the noise and just come in and play together.”