Deandre Ayton is winning with the Lakers, and he loves that you’re watching

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — This, surprisingly sufficient, is what Deandre Ayton mentioned he wished. Occasionally, Ayton’s media periods veer in and out of the uncomfortable. But Monday, shortly earlier than Ayton received on the airplane with his teammates to fly to Oklahoma City, he stood behind the microphones, the eyes and cameras all targeted on him.

After lacking the playoffs his first two years in the NBA, the former No. 1 choose performed 45 playoff video games over the subsequent three postseasons. Former Cavaliers middle Brad Daugherty performed in simply 41 playoff video games in his profession. Ralph Sampson skilled solely 38, and Yao Ming simply 28. The journeys to the playoffs, even for former No. 1 picks, are valuable and aren’t assured — however in actual time, for a participant like Ayton, it could possibly really feel that approach.

Two years in Portland severely altered that perspective, with 57 wins over two injury-filled seasons making Ayton really feel invisible.

“Disappeared,” he mentioned of the playoff absences.

But with one other collection set to start on Tuesday towards the No. 1-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, the participant Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick says is the key to the Lakers being their greatest is grateful to be checked out once more.

“The fans and the media, you know, just everything around it,” he mentioned Monday when requested what he’d missed most about the playoffs. “Just that whole atmosphere and just being in that. Having that attention on you again and everybody watching every little detail. Every little possession, every little thing is so important, and there’s so many things that can change with the game. And I just love it. You know, this attention to detail and just being consistent — it’s true professionalism.

“This is where people make their names, and this is where people get to see you play for real. … It’s a big stage, and I’m truly happy to be back.”

Ayton averaged 11.8 points and 10.8 rebounds in 31 minutes per game in the Lakers’ first-round series, mostly out-playing Rockets center Alperen Şengün. Nikola Jokić, Karl-Anthony Towns, Jayson Tatum and Şengün were the only other players to average at least 10 points and 10 rebounds in the first round.

“DA’s had an important season. He was instrumental in us getting previous Houston,” Redick said. “I believe his… his, like, baseline of who he is daily for the final two, two and a half months has been superior. And I do know his teammates, actually the workers, we have all embraced him all season lengthy. Again, he’s the individual that modifications our ceiling the most.”

The task is even tougher against the Thunder. Chet Holmgren is the kind of rim protector who can disrupt Ayton’s finesse game at the basket. And Isaiah Hartenstein’s strength forces a game-long physical commitment. But again, this is what Ayton wanted.

As much as anyone else, Marcus Smart understands. The two have been linked together all season As offseason acquisitions the Lakers secured following buyouts from their former teams. Smart, more than anyone, openly pined for a return to meaningful basketball. Doing the little things always matters, but people mostly wait until there are real stakes to notice.

Both Smart and Ayton have player options on relatively cheap contracts for next season (Ayton at $8.1 million, Smart at $5.3 million). Both have limited markets in the sense that veteran players generally appeal only to teams looking to win now. But both showed they could tip a playoff series in the first round, a valuable negotiating tool as they eventually deal with big decisions this offseason.

“We’re both trying to get our names back into the good graces of the basketball gods and just show what we still can do,” Smart said.

LeBron James, James Harden and Paul George are the only players still alive this postseason with more playoff experience than Smart. Minnesota’s Mike Conley, like Smart, enters the second round having played in 114 playoff games. Smart, like Ayton, missed the playoffs the previous two years.

Smart had 16 steals in the first round, tying for the league lead with Ausar Thompson, who accomplished it over seven games against the Orlando Magic. He also made 13 3s in the first round, more than Jamal Murray, CJ McCollum and Luke Kennard.

In the first round, the two showed they could help a team win a series. Now, they’ll have to find ways to help the Lakers “win” in a more consequential way.

For Smart, it’ll mean heavy minutes on the NBA’s reigning regular-season and finals MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

“He does a very good job of attending to the free-throw line. He’s mastered it,” Smart said. “So, it should be a problem for me, not simply me however all people on this workforce to remain out of foul bother, to maintain him off the line as a lot as potential and simply proceed to indicate your arms. It’s powerful, however it may be completed. It’s simply going to take a whole lot of effort from all people, and we gotta keep collectively.”

The key, as much as there is one, Smart said, is to try and limit one or two of the multitude of the things Gilgeous-Alexander can do.

And when the Thunder score anyway, they have to be ready for it to come in quick bunches.

“They’re actually good at runs. And a part of that is how good their protection is, their skill to create turnovers. The live-ball turnovers actually kill you. And they do not get out in transition a ton, however after they do, they’re the greatest in the NBA when it comes to (factors per possession). … I’ve received to be extra diligent than I usually am. I like my timeouts, I like going into the fourth quarter with 4 timeouts, I like having two in the final 30 seconds. I do not assume you might have the luxurious of like worrying about that as a result of the video games get away from you so shortly due to how explosive they’re after they go on their runs.

“And they do that to everybody. They did it in the first round. They did it to us in the regular season. Even in their losses, they had, on average, an 8.3 scoring run, even in their losses. So it’s what they do. So mitigating the 12- to 15-point runs, I think is really important.”

And they should do it in one among the greatest environments in the league in Oklahoma City.

“You can’t hear yourself. It’s definitely the “Thunder” for a reason,” Ayton mentioned. “Their fans are thunderous. You know, you can hear the floor shaking, the bleachers, you can’t even hear a play call. And you gotta be super dialed in.”

If all of this sounds laborious, it is as a result of it is. But that was at all times the attraction to Smart and Ayton with the Lakers, a spot the place the highlight is as large as the expectations, one the place it is too tough to vanish.

“This is the playoffs, so everybody can do more, everybody has another level,” Ayton mentioned.

And whether or not the Lakers are capable of do it or not, Smart and Ayton are grateful that individuals will once more be paying consideration.