Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick said on Apr. 8 that center Deandre Ayton has struggled to catch the ball during recent games, despite efforts to give him a larger role in the offense as key players remain sidelined. With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves out for an extended period and LeBron James missing Tuesday night’s loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Ayton was expected to step up offensively.
Ayton scored only two points against the Thunder and had just 13 in a previous loss to the Dallas Mavericks. When asked about Ayton’s offensive difficulties, Redick addressed what he believes is holding him back: “He’s had trouble catching the ball,” Redick said. “We’ve ran a bunch of plays for him, he’s just had trouble catching the ball. I don’t know if that’s the passing or if it’s him trying to get position. He just hasn’t been able to catch the ball.”
The issue comes at a time when other Lakers players are stepping into playmaking roles, including Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart when he returns from injury. Despite these adjustments, Redick indicated that Ayton must take advantage of his opportunities on offense as team roles continue to shift due to injuries.
In addition, Redick downplayed an exchange with Jarred Vanderbilt during Tuesday’s game after calling a timeout and substituting Vanderbilt out of play. The coach said such exchanges have occurred with various players throughout this season and minimized any suggestion of ongoing conflict.
The Lakers are working through lineup changes as they aim for postseason success amid ongoing injuries.
