Deandre Ayton Lakers Debut Was A DISASTER

DeAndre Aiden just made his Laker debut and it’s safe to say he didn’t play his best basketball. I thought defensively he was very solid. Offensively it was a different story. He showed flashes like this as a rim protector. He’s highways screened on this play. It almost seems like Grayson Allen is about to get a free layup, but Aiden doesn’t give up on the play and he sends it into the fifth row. A lot of people talk about his effort, but I thought tonight defensively he cared and was giving it his all. You see here in transition, Jared Butler is pushing the pace. Austin Reeves is stuck down low. It seems like a lob to Oso Igodora is open, but Aiden really shows off his length and makes up a ton of ground to save this free bucket. Now, offensively, it was a completely different story. The chemistry between the guards and Aiden were not very good. There was multiple times where Aiden was posting up demanding the ball and he didn’t get the pass. And when he did get the pass, it was either offtarget or Aiden just couldn’t come up with it in traffic. You must give credit to the physical defense from Phoenix. You see Ryan Dunn, his aggressive style just ruins a free lob attempt. They were also rarely getting screened. Overall, there was just no rhythm and flow and chemistry with his guards. I think tonight they were trying to force feed Aiden in the post for whatever reason, and he wasn’t getting good position. And also they made it very obvious at times. So it led to just bad possessions. And then when he got it, he was just playing way too fast, pressing way too much. Like dude, slow down. You got the height advantage. Also on this play, it really exposes his style. He’s a finesse type player. He naturally is fading away instead of going forward against the smaller defender. That’s just what he does. That’s what he is at this point. But honestly, usually in this spot, he hits this hook shot. So clearly he was a bit nervous in his first game as a Laker. I think you saw tonight Aiden’s the type of player where everything has to be perfect in order for him to be useful offensively. And that really sounds like I’m roasting him, but I’m not trying to. But look at the best years he’s had throughout his career with Chris Paul and Devin Booker. He was spoonfed mid-range opportunities. He was catching with a bunch of airspace. And if he was taking any dribbles before scoring, it was most likely one dribble at most. And this was the type of night it was. He finally gets it in his spot. They execute a good screen and he bobbles it. So now he has to create a bit for himself and it just goes wrong. But also, you see when they get Aiden in his spot, look who’s guarding Austin Reeves. Grayson Allen. He’s way easier to screen. So shout out Ryan Dunn. He was impossible to screen, but also Aiden has to do a better job along with Austin Reeves screening top tier defensive aggressive talent. But again, you can tell he was flustered, not confident. Initially, he’s catching with enough space to get off of Midi, but he eliminates that space by dribbling right into the traffic. Just not a good decision. Definitely not the debut Lakers fans were looking for. Should you be concerned? Well, it really depends on your expectation for Aiden. If you expect him to turn into a star player who can self-create every now and again, he can run your offense through every now and again. I think that’s setting yourself up for disappointment. But I do believe next to Luca, he can get back to where he was in Phoenix. His signature is the mid-range shot off the pick and roll. And the Lakers just didn’t do a good job getting him in that spot today. And you got to give credit to the Phoenix Suns defense because they really took away that pick and roll. Everything was difficult. Everything was operating in tight spaces. Even the passes to Aiden were very well contested and he had to play through traffic where he’s not at his best. But guess what? Luca is going to get him in free spots and open space. I think the goal for him still remains the same. Be elite as a play finisher off the gravity of Luca and LeBron, whoever, and just give effort defensively and be a solid rim protector. That’s all I got. Let me know your thoughts below.

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37 comments

  3. What makes me so angry is we had a center, we had an amazing center. Albeit injury prone but AD was a solid two way player. And we traded him for an angry spoiled glass cannon.

  4. You’re literally pulling something out of nothing. Nobody takes pre season seriously. Pre season is only for building chemistry for new players. Also missing key players like lebron and Luka who are going to make him look good af. So this video only makes you look ignorant.

  12. I’m really impressed with the Suns defense and their new coach and I just realized we have Dillon Brooks & Grayson Allen. Suns are gonna be a fun team to watch this year ☀️

  13. what is this unfair title, it's not allowed to say desaster simply cause of what is not one of his strenght i mean is defense, Ayton is not a defendr player but we can see he made efforts in this domain so not a desaster, secondly we can saw plenty situation where he is simply ignored by his news teamate, when you made effort to do screen even it's not a obligation to receive the ball it's even the polit answer even when you are a new teamate and when normaly you are able to put basket, so it's teamate fault even it's true it was looking not a excellent offensiv moment for him.
    Over point perhaps too much excited to meet back his old team with a good new team.

  14. Nah he doesn't need to score a bunch he just have to defend the rim and grab some rebounds, that's all Lakers need from him because they have Luka Doncic, i mean Lively and Gafford became a important piece for Dallas from nothing to a key player. Ayton became reliable bigman when he's with CP3, i think Luka can do it as well on Ayton.

  16. Deandre is on a team thats not used to dumping into the post. AD didnt play in the paint either cause he was somewhat a shot creator. They will be Fine 😊😊

  18. I am not worrying about DA's offensive game. He will improve a lot when Luka is on the court. Every biggie will be better playing with Luka.

  20. You’re buggin he was great at defense and for his first game in our system it doesn’t matter how badly he shot around the rim. He’s gonna get back in the rhythm 16 and 11 szn loading

  22. So passing game was a disaster not Da. Instead of 44min of 1vs1 with bronny and knecht with 1/10 , not using these games to settle Ayton's game is a pure waste of time . Ayton can create his shoots in many positions but in the paint , not from the 3point ligne . That requires passing skills , organized offense, and that's what practicing is made . What did reddick worked on? If your 3rd option (with reaves) cannot get more than one good look in 18 min ?

  23. Ayton is not the answer to Lakers’ worries at center. The guys is weak minded, emotional & at times comes across as lazy. The Lakers got him kind of cheap & they are hoping he won’t revert to his days in Phoenix. But the search for a big man shouldn’t be over for the Lakers. I predict that Jaxson will take Ayton’s starting role bye mid season.

  24. Deandre Ayton, looked lasy,
    Awful. Hays, played way better
    Than Ayton. Austin Reaves, and
    Rui Archimura. Looked great.
    JJ REDDICK, is not doing his
    Job, not putting on plays for
    DALTON KENECTH.

  25. Well if you looked into it frl, there was no real play making, no pick and roll pick and pop, nothing, in his defense. Ar15 was just scoring and he didn’t playmaker nor did anyone on the bench. The only guard there was Ar15 and he didn’t playmake.

  31. The Lakers in general just looked out of sync. I think that is somewhat expected for a team missing so many players but also in preseason in general with new guys. Credit to the Suns though. They played very aggressive defense and just physically looked so strong vs the Lakers. Allen, Brooks and Dunn are going to give them a very interesting defense. All very strong and good defenders. Especially when the Lakers were so limited in playmakers, they took advantage of that.

  32. First preseason game. Doesn't matter.
    Let Luka & LBJ come back before you make these. Quick to ride the YT algo until it comes back to bite you in the @$$. Suns still going to end up dead last and Lakers will win a ring. The NBA needs Lakers in finals.

  33. Phx drafted him no.1 over Luka and couldn't wait to get rid of him. Portland paid him to leave.
    You can't teach heart.
    After one game against Phxs' 2nd year 2nd round back up and Lakers fans are already making excuses for him.

  36. No luka to set him up and no bron. Thats 50 points 15 assist and 20 rebounds right there. Thats those two drawing doubles and finding the open man. Ayton will be spoon fed, he just needs to worry about play defense.

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