Lakers Predictions: Will DeAndre Ayton Finally Help Lakers Defense?

The Los Angeles Lakers’ preseason revealed a hard pill to swallow: their interior defense lacked an anchor. When Jarred Vanderbilt went down with a left quad contusion during the game against Dallas on October 16th, he created a massive hole in their defense. But this injury could be the best thing that has ever occurred in DeAndre Ayton’s career with the Lakers.

You’re seeing a transformation in real-time. Ayton is staking a claim on the defensive anchor spot Lakers’ fans have been clamoring to fill since Anthony Davis was traded.

The Vanderbilt Void Creates Opportunity

Vanderbilt’s injury was no ordinary preseason bruise. The second-quarter drive into Dereck Lively II was routine, but it sat out one of the Lakers’ most athletic defenders. And when you throw in the fact that Vanderbilt missed 46 games last season with a combination of lower-body ailments, you begin to see that the Lakers can’t construct their defensive identity around his availability.

That’s where Ayton comes in. Head coach JJ Redick didn’t take long to get the system adjusted. The Lakers started trending towards more drop coverage, a defensive style that takes advantage of Ayton’s 7-foot-1 size and 7-foot-5 wingspan to perfection. Rather than requiring their big man to switch up on guards or close screens hard, they’re simply having Ayton do what he does best: protect the paint and own the glass.

The preseason numbers confirm the same. In one of the games against Phoenix, Ayton added 10 points, 13 rebounds, and three blocks. In a game against Golden State, he put up 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists on a highly efficient 6-of-8 shooting from the floor. But stats don’t tell everything.

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Taking on the Defensive Anchor Role

More important is the attitude adjustment of Ayton. After the Warriors game, he made his intentions clear, stating he’s focusing on getting the world to notice that he’s the Lakers’ center and defense anchor. Redick has placed the responsibility on him, placing a high value on rim defense that Ayton is fully embracing.

This isn’t the same player who wore out his welcome in Phoenix or tread water for two forgettable years in Portland. You’re watching a big man who knows that this is his greatest chance, his own words, and he’s not assuming anything.

The Lakers required desperation from Ayton. They were really bad in the paint last year during their playoff push, being overpowered by Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert, who scored 27 points and had 24 rebounds in the clinching game. LA played successfully without a real center in the fourth quarter. That will no longer be an option if they are to be a championship contender.

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The Chemistry Factor

But defense is only half the story. Ayton’s teammates are already feeling the effects he has on both sides of the floor. Ayton is going to have big minutes this season, and if the Lakers are going to be as good as they know they are going to be, they need him to be in his right place. The message is clear: Strong teams do not win because of players’ personal achievements; they win because of how these players work together. 

The offense chemistry is also building quickly. A forward explained how Ayton commands so much attention on the offensive side, and that makes open looks for all the rest of the players. These spaces create scoring opportunities for the entire roster when playing with playmakers such as Luka Doncic and LeBron James.

And speaking of Doncic, his pick-and-roll potential is through the roof. Ayton’s discovering that Luka’s different from the past point guards he’s worked with. He’s discovering Luka’s essentially cheating fouls by throwing up late lobs at the same time, you’ve got to be a patient reader of his eyes, but roll hard at the same time to get the big. It’s a transition period, but the groundwork they’re establishing could serve them well this season.

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Rebounding Consistency and Market Value

Ayton’s rebounding consistency is ridiculous, 10.5 rebounds per game for his first seven years. He is the only player other than Dwight Howard to have recorded a double-double in points and rebounds for his first seven NBA years. 

During his stay with Portland, he averaged 10.7 boards a game, working with rebuilding clubs and benchwarmers. Now he has players on a championship level surrounding him on a team struggling in the frontcourt.

Ayton’s career consistency on the rebounding glass has not escaped bookmaking markets. New betting sites are projecting his rebounding at about 9.5 rebounds a game this season, a number that looks high despite his career development and expanded role. Without Vanderbilt to create additional rebounding opportunities and Ayton with experience, the 9.5 line seemed valuable for those who are forecasting his real performance. 

But the question is whether Ayton’s consistency of averaging rebounds in double digits will continue or not. In the first 10 games of the season, Under hit 6 times, with 3 of the 4 Over hits happening by just 1 rebound.

The Lakers got outrun in their first-round series. You can’t play playoff basketball when you’re giving up second-chance points on a regular basis. Ayton makes that equation whole different.

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The Road Ahead

With LeBron James going to be out through mid-November with sciatica, Ayton’s value skyrockets. The next few matches will put the test on whether preseason hype equals productive regular-season efforts.

But the pieces are there. You have a big man who’s hungry to play, as healthy as he’s ever been in his life, with the best teammates he’s ever had, fitting into a defensive system that takes advantage of his strengths, and shouldering virtually no stress contractually. It’s in effect a prove-it contract for $16.6 million over two years.

Ayton himself put it best: pressure is a privilege. He’s in the right place where every game matters, and the fans expect championships. He’s about to add to the Lakers’ lore by bringing them a championship to LA.

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