Deandre Ayton Offered 'confusing' Explanation For Struggles In Rough Lakers Debut

The Lakers dropped their play opener connected Tuesday nighttime against Stephen Curry's Warriors. Luka Dončić was spectacular successful putting up 43 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists but didn't get capable thief successful nan 2nd half to debar nan loss. It's difficult to make immoderate sweeping conclusions astir nan title fixed nan important absence of LeBron James. However, it did quickly go clear that nan Lakers' ballhandlers would request immoderate clip to set to playing pinch Deandre Ayton.

Ayton was signed for a pittance complete nan offseason aft getting released by nan Trail Blazers to springiness Los Angeles a large beingness successful nan middle; nan roster's deficiency of size was a glaring rumor successful their playoff bid nonaccomplishment to nan Timberwolves. It's been a fewer years since nan 2019 No. 1 prime has meaningfully impacted winning but Dončić and James are specified talented passers it was wide assumed that Ayton would astatine slightest beryllium capable to tally a threatening pick-and-roll from nan outset.

Turns out, that's not existent astatine all. Ayton, Dončić, and Austin Reaves were evidently struggling to enactment connected nan aforesaid page passim nan evening. The halfway vanished pinch 10 points, six rebounds, and 4 turnovers; nan Lakers were outscored by 4 points successful his 34 minutes connected nan floor.

Speaking to reporters aft nan crippled Ayton addressed nan unsmooth debut by describing himself arsenic a "confusing" subordinate to play with. Fittingly, nan mentation he gave was besides alternatively confusing.

"Today I was realizing, I'm astir apt a confusing big," Ayton said. "Where I tin rotation aliases guidelines successful nan pocket. It astir apt gets a small difficult for them sometimes. I'm truthful utilized to nan convention having that debased man connected me, sometimes I can't moreover decorativeness a rotation and, a mini bit, linger astir nan free propulsion area conscionable to beryllium disposable for him. There's times I tin decorativeness my roll. You sewage to play immoderate much and play against immoderate much awesome teams for illustration really we did coming to really spot what's nan communal sum for these teams, really trying to put america connected their unit what they sewage connected us."

Ayton's speech vacillated betwixt somewhat clear and straight-up baffling.

As champion we tin figure, Ayton is saying he tin beryllium a confusing halfway to play alongside because he does not ever rotation difficult to nan hoop. He's tin of hitting midrange jumpers astir nan free propulsion statement truthful connected immoderate pick-and-rolls he'll linger successful nan overgarment alternatively of going correct astatine nan rim successful anticipation of a lob aliases speedy walk for a layup. Further complicating nan rumor is that Ayton is not accustomed to defenses leaving him unfastened to harass nan ballhandler, which intends there's nary "low man" who tin extremity him from getting to nan rim. All that adds up to Ayton not consistently making nan aforesaid determination and that makes it difficult for his teammates to cognize wherever to walk him nan ball.

After sifting done each that it tin beryllium simply summarized arsenic Ayton's habits are not successful tune pinch what nan Lakers expect him to do yet. They request much acquisition playing alongside 1 different to study those habits. Growing pains, successful different words, are portion of Ayton's onboarding process. Which shouldn't travel arsenic a immense astonishment but resulted successful immoderate disfigured miscommunications connected opening night.

With a teammate arsenic talented arsenic Dončić, Ayton's occupation should beryllium simple. And yet it apt will be. But for now everyone is still getting utilized to 1 another.

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