Deandre Ayton, center for the Los Angeles Lakers, said on May 3 that he accepted head coach JJ Redick’s challenge to defend Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun without double teams during a crucial playoff game. Ayton described how the coaching staff asked him to take responsibility in guarding Sengun directly and trusted him with an important defensive assignment.
Ayton explained, “JJ and coaches really challenged me about guarding Sengun one-on-one. Letting the guys fan out and guard their guys, face guard them. They killed us with a lot of cuts to the basket and they made a lot of shots. I think Sengun had eight assists, eight assists too many and we just wanted to go back to how we guarded them if KD were out there. Guard them straight up and I took the challenge to my chin. Just putting the team on my back and them trusting me. It really gave me that power to really close out possessions, especially when it’s contested and chasing the rebound. So, that’s what really got everything going to be honest, just them trusting me.”
During earlier games in the series against Houston, Redick sometimes used double teams on Sengun even when he was not scoring heavily. This approach allowed Sengun opportunities to assist his teammates through passes leading to successful cuts at the basket.
For Game 6 of this playoff series, Ayton said he was determined not only to hold his ground but also help limit Sengun’s ability as a playmaker for Houston’s offense. The Rockets’ star finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds but managed only one assist in that game.
Ayton’s efforts were noticed by teammate Marcus Smart after Los Angeles secured a series-clinching win over Houston. Smart acknowledged Ayton’s strong performance in rebounding and defense against what he described as a physical opponent.
