A x-factor in sports is a player who’s able to unpredictably change the outcome of a game or series, positively or negatively, in a large fashion. While injuries to Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić impacted the ceiling of this team this season, that x-factor for the Lakers has continued to be Deandre Ayton since the day he was signed.
In the team’s final road game of the regular season, LA dominated the severely shorthanded Golden State Warriors on Thursday, playing without superstar Steph Curry. The
purple and gold notched their 51st win, the most since the 2019-2020 championship season.
Leading by as many as 27 points, they cruised to the finish line with multiple players contributing with productive nights. Ayton got the team’s offense started, going right at the smaller but stocky Draymond Green for the Lakers’ first two points. He initially lost the handle on the catch but stabilized and hit one of his patented fading jumpers.
He continued that aggressive play to begin the second half. He gave the purple and gold a massive size advantage in the paint against the small-ball Warriors. Watch below as he dribbles up the court while attempting to quickly hand the ball over to Luke Kennard. Draymond Green falls, Kennard hits Ayton in stride, and he finishes a straight-line drive to the basket.
His chemistry with LeBron James has improved tremendously throughout the season. It’s become immensely more crucial now with the injuries sustained to the backcourt.
Watch below as they work off each other while LeBron operates in the post. LeBron receives a post entry with help coming over from Green. Ayton timely flashes to the middle of the paint to throw in a hook shot over the smaller defender.
“The third quarter, he was just dominant,” head coach J.J. Redick said postgame. “A lot of that was very targeted because we were playing through the post and Draymond was going to overhelp and [Ayton] had had his proper spacing. That touch shot for him at eight to ten feet is, it’s just a high efficiency shot for him.”
These “touch shots” mainly consist of shots in the paint outside the restricted area. He finished 3-4 on these shots in the game and shoots 55% for the season.
The Lakers are a completely different team when they get an aggressive Ayton, or “Dominayton.” He finished 9-11 from the field with 21 points, five rebounds, and a block. LA now moves to 12-1 in games when Ayton has 20 or more points.
“Running the floor, rolling hard, setting good screens and punishing mismatches,” Ayton said postgame. “Just trying my best to stay around the rim eight to ten feet where it’s comfortable for me at. That’s high efficiency for the team.”
Even with the sporadic play, Ayton is having the most efficient field goal percentage season of his career. LA is counting on that efficiency to be an x-factor this year to keep them alive, and, depending on what happens this summer, possibly take into next season.
You can follow Raj on X at @RajChipalu
