Deandre Ayton Discussion: This Is A Platform I Can't Run From

Discussion in 'Lakers Discussion' started by JLaker17, Jul 2, 2025.

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  1. karacha

    karacha Moderator Staff Member

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    I just love how Ayton is playing this season. He does almost everything right, seems like a great teammate, and when he is set up properly, he barely ever misses. One of the most efficient centers you can ask for.

    He and Jax (have to give Hayes some credit as well) are an awesome combo: they are currently combining for something like 21/13/2, 2 blocks and a steal. Think about it: they provide our team with elite rim finishing, and solid rebounding, and I can only describe their interior scoring as dominant. Jax is clearly stronger now, able to hold his own against heavier centers, while Ayton looks legitimately big out there.

    While 2019-20 tandem of Dwight Howard and JaVale McGee were better defensively than our current center pairing, Ayton and Hayes offer more offensive usage, score more points, and with a higher TS%.

    What I am trying to say here is that the Lakers aren't so much better this season just because Luka is a beast (he is) and AR is playing at an all-NBA level most of the time (no doubt about it), but because the entire team is constructed much better this time around. Offensively, we're among the top teams in the NBA, but we either need Smart to stay healthy and play more games, or we need to bring in another Smart, simple as that. As is stands, we are actually the most similar in terms of... well... pretty much everything basketball related to the Denver Nuggets. That's not bad at all. But it needs to better in order to challenge OKC.
     
    karacha, Dec 8, 2025 at 1:26 PM
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  2. CarolinaLakerFan

    CarolinaLakerFan - Lakers Starter -

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    Not according to him! This has to be one of the funniest postgame interviews I’ve ever seen.
    :Laugh:
     
    CarolinaLakerFan, Dec 8, 2025 at 4:39 PM
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  3. karacha

    karacha Moderator Staff Member

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    It was a movie... just like a movie... what do you mean... felt like a movie and I was in it... nah, it was just me, honestly, just me watching a movie.

    [​IMG]
     
    karacha, Dec 8, 2025 at 5:07 PM
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  4. KareemtheGreat33

    KareemtheGreat33 - Lakers Legend -

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    he's enjoying himself, looking so happy, everybody would be playing with the 3 of the bests passers in the NBA
     
    KareemtheGreat33, Dec 8, 2025 at 5:12 PM
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  5. JSM

    JSM - Lakers Legend -

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    That's a decent start.
     
    JSM, Dec 8, 2025 at 6:20 PM
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  6. Wino

    Wino - Lakers Starter -

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    I was cracking up at this and kind of surprised it didn't get mentioned right away. I didn't quite know how to take his comments. He reminded me of my surly brother.
     
    Wino, Dec 8, 2025 at 11:27 PM
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  7. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    his interviews are bizarre and a little concerning, with some occasional unintentional humor. we have good leadership in the locker room, i think, which allows you to have an ayton.
     
    abeer3, Dec 9, 2025 at 4:41 AM
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  8. Pioneer10

    Pioneer10 - Lakers All Star -

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    There is absolutely no way a guy with that touch should be a bad FT shooter.

    I've been the biggest Ayton guy on here but this shows the limits of his work ethic and the enigma that's he has been
     
    Pioneer10, Dec 9, 2025 at 7:54 AM
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  9. Slick2021

    Slick2021 - Lakers MVP -

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    Meh...Bigs have been struggling at the FT line, ever since the game was invented. Some of them never get better, than avg/poor free throw shooters. I don't think it has anything to do with work ethic.
     
    Slick2021, Dec 9, 2025 at 8:20 AM
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  10. KareemtheGreat33

    KareemtheGreat33 - Lakers Legend -

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    Big guys big hands
     
    KareemtheGreat33, Dec 9, 2025 at 9:15 AM
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  11. Wino

    Wino - Lakers Starter -

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    Jokic shoots around 83%
     
    Wino, Dec 9, 2025 at 9:21 AM
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  12. Pioneer10

    Pioneer10 - Lakers All Star -

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    The excuses for these guys - Ayton effortlessly hits on the move shots off from the FT line in game. This isn't a Shaq like situation. Centers with touch shoot well from the FT lin Kareem shot 73%, Jokic 80%+
     
    Pioneer10, Dec 9, 2025 at 9:55 AM
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  13. sk2408

    sk2408 - Lakers 6th Man -

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    It is weird. There are guys who are better catch-and-shoot than they are shooting of the dribble, and vice versa, so maybe its something like that.
     
    Last edited: Dec 9, 2025 at 10:17 AM
    sk2408, Dec 9, 2025 at 10:04 AM
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  14. wcsoldier81

    wcsoldier81 - Lakers All Star -

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    He might be bipolar
     
    wcsoldier81, Dec 9, 2025 at 11:15 AM
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  15. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    yeah, it could be that he's just trollin' and funnin'--saw an article today suggesting that he's putting it all on. i don't think so, though.
     
    abeer3, Dec 9, 2025 at 11:45 AM
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  16. svtzr

    svtzr - Lakers Starter -

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    Wow, this must feel like Christmas to Ayton.
     
    svtzr, Dec 9, 2025 at 4:53 PM
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  17. svtzr

    svtzr - Lakers Starter -

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    Very good points on our center situation. I feel like we’re only a few minor tweaks away defensively on the perimeter from being elite.

    If we could turn some of Gabe, Kleber, Vando, Knecht into another rotation piece or two, we would be in a really strong standing.
     
    svtzr, Dec 9, 2025 at 4:55 PM
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  18. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    well, ayton shoots 75% for his career, which is actually quite good for a big. when you have to pull out jokic as the upside comp, that's kind of working against the argument, right?

    don't look, what's noted shooting center vucevic's ft % for his career?

    there's something to the idea that bigs just don't hit FTs like guards. maybe it's hands, release point, whatever, but it's there--even in guys who hit from deep.
     
    abeer3, Dec 9, 2025 at 5:03 PM
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