Lakers‘ Offense Takes Leap Forward as Deandre Ayton Embraces JJ Redick’s Vision
LOS ANGELES – Deandre Ayton’s impact on the Los Angeles Lakers’ offense is rapidly solidifying, and head coach JJ Redick attributes the improvement to Ayton’s growing understanding of offensive schemes and his ability to exploit mismatches. Following the Lakers’ recent win, Redick highlighted Ayton’s awareness of how the offense operates and who it flows through, leading to more effective play.
“I had a great conversation with [Ayton] this morning,” Redick saeid. “It was essentially [that] he’s doing a great job of understanding how the offense is being run and who the offense is being run through and then playing off of that, which we saw tonight. But the other point is his ability to punish smaller defenders. It’s something as a team, it’s not on him, it’s something as a team we’ve got to get better at.”
Redick specifically pointed to Ayton’s triumphant post-ups against Dallas Mavericks players Cooper Flagg in the first half and PJ Washington late in the game as examples of this dynamic, noting it’s a capability the Lakers lacked at the end of last season. He emphasized the importance of utilizing Ayton’s size, nimbleness, and strength against switching defenses.
Ayton has quickly become a key offensive contributor for the lakers, showcasing proficiency in the short roll, a high field goal percentage, and a consistent willingness to contribute even without receiving the ball. His performance has filled a void in the Lakers’ lineup as the departure of Anthony Davis.
Despite recently returning from a knee contusion, Ayton has maintained a high level of effectiveness and is firmly established as a starter. Currently, he leads the team in rebounding, averaging 8.9 boards per game, while also contributing significantly to the Lakers’ scoring.
Redick believes that as long as Ayton continues at his current level of production, and remains receptive to coaching, the acquisition of Ayton will prove to be the Lakers’ most successful move of the offseason.
