JJ Redick says Deandre Ayton is vital to Lakers’ playoff hopes
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Head coach JJ Redick has labeled Deandre Ayton the Los Angeles Lakers’ decisive factor as the team opens its first-round series against the Houston Rockets.
Redick’s stance intensified after the club lost Luka Doncic (Grade 2 left hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (Grade 2 left oblique strain) for an indefinite period. “When he’s at his best, we’re an elite basketball team,” Redick said following a recent practice. “He raises our ceiling on both ends.”
Impact by the numbers
The Lakers went 46–26 in games Ayton played this season. His averages in victories—14.3 points and 9.0 rebounds—fell to 9.2 points and 6.3 rebounds in defeats, underscoring his influence on outcomes.
Key matchup with Sengun
Ayton is expected to spend significant minutes guarding Rockets All-Star big man Alperen Sengun. Sengun’s scoring and passing arsenal could punish any lapses in Ayton’s defensive focus. The Rockets are without center Steven Adams for the season, giving Ayton additional room to attack offensively, but Redick cautioned that the 7-footer must prioritize two-way effectiveness over box-score totals.
Ayton eager for L.A. playoff debut
The 27-year-old center said the prospect of playing his first postseason game in purple and gold has him “wanting to do backflips.” Ayton added, “This place can get pretty loud. I’m truly excited. I just want to play hard as hell to contribute to wins.”
Los Angeles begins the best-of-seven series against Houston later this week, counting on Ayton’s consistency to offset critical injuries and extend its playoff run.
Source: Lakers Nation
