I don't know he followed the first great defense against Joker with a stupid one. Don't jump to a side till they put the ball goes on the deck. Thanks God he made that shot on OT his teammates may have given up on him if he missed that one after another great setup by his teammate
In a way, I do kinda feel Ayton's frustration that he's only getting 6 shot attempts in many games but he's not doing himself any favors by taking too long to take the shots when he gets the passes. He has a pretty decent midrange jumper... AD was getting those same looks when he sets a screen and gets a midrange wide open. Ayton should be able to get some of those plays drawn up for him. He's not strictly a paint player which is probably what upsets him in that they're just trying to keep him as a lob dunker or finish under the rim. Instead of going up, he sometimes bends over and tries to pump fake when the shot is right there if he just puts it up. I think he should definitely be getting more opportunities but with LeBron, Reaves, and Luka, it's just not going to be there consistently. Some games he might get 12 shots, others he might get a handful. He just has to find other ways to contribute and tonight, he did that. Some solid plays from him.
he just needs to keep playing with confidence. too many times this season he's checked out after things don't go his way right off the bat for sure playing better lately. he played jokic well in OT
We need good DA along with a full effort for the entire game And keep it consistent over all the series Too much to ask? We'll see
It's probably too much to ask given his history but 1 good game out of 2 from DA + Hayes improvements should do it for the Lakers at the C position ( + some Bron minutes)
Come up big the last few minutes in the 4th quarter. When he’s locked in and focused, he’s a difference maker for this team.
He won us the game at the end there. We could go far if Ayton plays with this kind of focus and intensity.
He really did seal this win tonight with some great play at the end of the fourth. Boards, putbacks, and that hook shot! Kudos big guy!
Man am I glad I didn’t have to come here and roast him again. Can we get a little bit of this sooner in the game?
He is really stepping up now, especially in the clutch. He scores points, gets rebounds... I wish we could always count on him to do this, but hopefully, this version of Ayton is what we'll see in the playoffs.
Well … he “says” 110% we can look forward to his effort toward that after looking in the mirror and JJ keeping on him about it and what the team is now doing in playoff mode. He’s loving playing meaningful basketball again …. why he came here. OK Big Guy make it so and keep it that way and stay healthy. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/71...-ayton-lakers-nba/?source=user_shared_article
i swear it's like they just made dlo a center, and i mean that in all the ways (remember i probably liked dlo more than most). i just don't really buy what he ways. i think he believes what he's saying, but i don't. i hope i'm wrong, though, and he's found the formula for how he's going to stay in the league. dlo didn't.
He's been an up-and-down player for years at this point so a recent good stretch doesn't in any way change my mind that we need a new starting center next season.
Well you’re not getting one from the draft and no one is likely trading us one for a reasonable price, considering all our other needs. We may draft one to contribute to the tandom of Ayton and Hayes which is a hell of a lot better than we had last year, especially with Hayes’s added strength.
