JJ Redick Cites Deandre Ayton’s Difficulty Catching Passes Amid Lakers’ Injury Woes
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With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves sidelined indefinitely—and LeBron James absent from Tuesday night’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder—Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick has been looking to center Deandre Ayton for offensive production. The former No. 1 overall pick, however, mustered just two points against Oklahoma City after scoring 13 in a defeat to the Dallas Mavericks two nights earlier.
“He’s had trouble catching the ball,” Redick said when asked why Ayton has struggled despite an increased play-calling focus. “We’ve run a bunch of plays for him; he’s just had trouble catching the ball. I don’t know if that’s the passing or if it’s him trying to get position. He just hasn’t been able to catch the ball.”
A clean catch has become critical for Los Angeles, especially against a Thunder defense ranked among the league’s best. Playmakers such as Luke Kennard—who has assumed additional ball-handling duties alongside James—and the soon-to-return Marcus Smart remain available, but Ayton has to convert those opportunities.
Before the rash of injuries, Ayton had settled into a rim-running, rebound-focused role. Now, with the roster reshuffled, the 7-footer is being asked to serve as a primary scoring option. Building chemistry with Kennard and rookie guard Bronny James has taken time, and the Lakers have little of it as they push for postseason positioning.
The night also featured a brief on-court exchange between Redick and forward Jarred Vanderbilt after a timeout. Redick, who has had similar moments with several players this season, later minimized any tension and said the matter was quickly resolved.
Source: Lakers Nation
