Lakers head coach: Ayton has experience in the finals, Smart s defense and organizational ability are underestimated

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick was interviewed by the media during training camp. During this period, he also talked about the situation of the team's two new players, DeAndre Ayton and Marcus Smart. It seems that Redick is very satisfied with the ability and adaptability of these two new players, and he also believes that these two new players can help the Lakers succeed.

When talking about Ayton's situation, Redick said: His recent training performance is quite good, and he has shown strong competitiveness when playing pick-and-roll. Ayton also followed the Suns in the NBA Finals experience in 2021, and his experience in this area is also a valuable asset for the team. When asked what Smart could bring to the team, Redick continued: I would say it is the most important tough attitude. I've told him this and we need to hear him on the field. His competitive spirit and defensive diversity will be something we rely on. His competitive spirit and defensive contribution may have been underestimated in the past two years, while his organizational ability is underestimated.

In the NBA regular season last season, Ayton was affected by injuries in 82 games, with a total of 40 appearances for his old club, the Portland Trail Blazers, averaging 30.1 minutes per game, averaging 14.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.8 steals and 1 block, and 1.7 turnovers and 2.2 fouls, shooting percentage of 56.6%, three-point shooting percentage of 18.8%, and free throw shooting percentage of 66.7%. In the NBA regular season last season, Smart was affected by injury and made a total of 34 appearances for the Memphis Grizzlies and the Washington Wizards, averaging 20 minutes per game, with averaging 9 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.3 blocks, and 1.6 turnovers and 1.6 fouls. His shooting percentage was 39.3%, three-point shooting percentage was 34.8%, and his free throw shooting percentage was 76.1%.

Ayton and Smart both missed a large number of games last season due to injuries, and their form is very worrying. This summer, they all completed the buyout with their respective old clubs and joined the Lakers as free agents. Ayton and Smart are both the Lakers' most important signings this summer, and their performance may also largely determine the Lakers' cap in the new season. I wonder what these two players who are good at abilities and have performed well in the NBA arena can perform in the NBA in the new season. Can they perform at their due level and help the Lakers go further based on last season?