The Los Angeles Lakers benched Deandre Ayton in the fourth quarter, and head coach JJ Redick bluntly said Jaxson Hayes was playing better as the reason in his postgame presser. The coach isn’t wrong. Ayton was virtually invisible for the entire game and has been a problem during the franchise’s recent slump. Redick’s fourth-quarter benching likely saved the win over Memphis.
Ayton finished with four points, six rebounds, and one steal in 25 minutes of action. He took just four field goal attempts and was not playing with the energy LA needed. Fans know Ayton wants shots. They weren’t there on Friday night, and the big man let it impact the rest of his game.
Rumors suggest the Lakers will look to find a new starting center in the offseason, and fans aren’t surprised. Things keep getting worse with Ayton. Now, a career backup big man with significant limitations is playing over him.
JJ Redick says Jaxson Hayes was playing better than Deandre Ayton
The quote was blunt and simple when Redick was asked about Hayes' impact and why he chose him over Ayton to close the game.
“He was playing better.”
There was no praising of Hayes, despite him finishing with 12 points, two rebounds, two steals, and one block in 23 minutes of action. Redick played him for 11 minutes in the fourth quarter, with Ayton just giving him a brief one-minute blow in the middle of the period. LA won the quarter by seven, and Hayes' minutes by eight. They lost Ayton’s 25 on the floor on Friday night.
The Lakers got a much-needed victory after dropping four of the previous five games. It continued a troubling trend for Ayton. Los Angeles has won his minutes in just two of the last ten games. The Lakers don’t have another starting-caliber center. They needed Ayton to play better and be more engaged. If that doesn’t happen, the Lakers have no chance at seriously contending.
Hopefully, the fourth-quarter benching wakes Ayton up. This was another clutch win by the Lakers. They were 15-4 to begin this season with Ayton locked in and producing. The franchise has struggled since his play slipped. There is no easy way to say it. The Lakers need Ayton, and he hasn’t been good enough over their recent cold spell.
Ayton will get a chance to bounce back against the Grizzlies on Sunday night. Fans can bet that coach Redick will have zero issues leaving him on the bench in the fourth quarter if his play doesn’t improve. The Lakers want to win games and will do whatever to maximize their odds.
This continues a trend in Ayton’s career. He struggles to bring it every night and has worn on other organizations. Hopefully, the talented big man quickly turns things around. If not, the Lakers may look to move on before the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
The Los Angeles Lakers need Deandre Ayton, but he was benched for poor play on Friday night. It happens to everybody. It will all be about how Ayton responds. Tune in on Sunday night to find out.