Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick said the team made a deliberate effort to involve Deandre Ayton offensively during the club’s second consecutive win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Ayton attempted only four shots in the first meeting with Memphis and had also struggled to find opportunities in earlier losses to the Detroit Pistons and Houston Rockets. In the rematch, the 7-foot center finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, a performance Redick credited to a revised game plan.
“He was great throughout the game,” Redick said after the six-point victory. “We ran the first play for him and got him a couple of touches early. That was good for him to just touch the basketball and feel like he’s a part of the offense.”
Redick noted that big men depend on teammates to initiate possessions. The coaching staff introduced sets designed to give Ayton the ball in favorable spots, including post-ups alongside LeBron James and Jaxson Hayes. “Someone has to pass you the ball,” Redick added. “There were things we set up for him to get the ball, and he did a great job playing out of that beyond just pick-and-roll.”
The coach also praised Ayton’s versatility, calling him “a highly skilled big” at a time when such players are increasingly rare. Redick placed the responsibility on both coaches and playmakers to ensure the former No. 1 overall pick remains engaged.
While the Lakers primarily rely on Ayton for defense and rebounding, Redick acknowledged that a few early touches can boost the center’s energy on that end of the floor. Offensive involvement may become more important on the upcoming road trip, with Austin Reaves already sidelined and forward Rui Hachimura also ruled out.
Source: Lakers Nation
