Why Lakers locked back in on Deandre Ayton in win | College News
It wasn’t an accident that the Lakers’ first play went to Deandre Ayton. Or that the star big man got the first shot of the third. Or that teammates fed him for back-to-back dunks to help spark a run of five consecutive scoring possessions early in the second half.
After Ayton finished last Friday’s win on the bench, the 7-foot center bounced back with 15 points and eight rebounds against the Grizzlies on Sunday as the Lakers made a point to involve the big man early.
Ayton scored just four points with six rebounds during Friday’s win and watched a tight fourth quarter from the bench because, as coach JJ Redick said, backup Jaxson Hayes “was playing better.” Redick said Saturday that Ayton was “frustrated” he wasn’t getting the ball more in latest video games, and his disillusionment confirmed up on the court.
“It’s a tale as old as time for a big guy,” Redick said after Sunday’s sport. “That’s the reality of being a big: someone has to pass you the ball. You’re not initiating the offense.”
Redick said the workforce recognized moments where teammates might have been better at discovering the previous No. 1 total decide. There had been also other instances when Ayton might have been more energetic on his own. Redick said he principally needed to see Ayton being energetic, engaged and assertive in the sport.
Ayton responded by changing six of his eight photographs Sunday and serving to the workforce lock down on protection in the fourth. The Lakers clawed back from an 11-point deficit late in the third and held the Grizzlies (15-20) to just 16 factors in the first 10 minutes of the fourth quarter. Ayton had two blocks in the fourth quarter.
“We’re winning the right way,” Ayton said. “Bigs can’t feed themselves and I just try my best to do what I can to bring effort. And I trust my playmakers out there to find me.”
The Lakers had 30 assists on 38 made photographs, their highest share of assisted discipline objectives of the season.
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