Deandre Ayton offered candid thoughts after the Lakers fell 122-102 to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday at State Farm Arena. The team struggled without LeBron James, Austin Reaves, Adou Thiero, and Gabe Vincent, allowing Atlanta to dominate early.
Ayton said the Lakers may have underestimated their opponents. “Probably leaving those guys underestimated, not keeping those guys account…we were just behind the ball a little bit,” he said, noting Atlanta’s fast pace and aggressive defense overwhelmed Los Angeles.
He pointed to disjointed team defense as a key issue. “It wasn’t connected at all…they were hungry, next man up mentality, and they really showed up,” Ayton said, highlighting the Hawks’ 37 assists and efficient ball movement.
Ayton recalled a critical turning point in the third quarter. “We made them call the first timeout, but after that, they came out even more aggressive and locked in,” he said. He added that Atlanta’s made shots and Lakers’ missed attempts widened the gap, leaving Los Angeles unable to match the intensity.
He also noted the Hawks’ unique defensive versatility. “They can switch one through five with all their sizes…everything’s with pace and aggression,” Ayton explained, pointing to how Atlanta used mismatches to generate stops and transition opportunities.
As the team’s last line of defense, Ayton admitted frustration with the breakdowns. “I try to calm myself down, but they were in our paint…they really wanted that game,” he said, emphasizing the effort Atlanta brought to both ends of the court.
Looking ahead, Ayton remained focused on the next opportunity. “This is the NBA. We’ve got 82 games…we’re ready for the next game,” he said, underscoring the need to regroup quickly before Monday’s matchup against Charlotte.
