After struggling to contain Houston’s offensive hub throughout the series, head coach JJ Redick shifted away from double teams and instead trusted his big men to handle business one-on-one. The result? A dominant defensive showing that helped seal the series.
“Jaxson and [Ayton], with the adjustment we made going into Game 5, made a small tweak to some Şengün stuff this morning, those guys were just phenomenal defensively and really did a great job of protecting the rim,” Redick said postgame. “The adjustment we made was [Ayton] was going to guard Şengün one-on-one and we were going to crossmatch if [Ayton] was not on the floor. That allowed us to keep our big at the rim on most possessions.”
That decision put the spotlight firmly on Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes, and both delivered.
Ayton, in particular, took on the challenge of defending one of the most skilled bigs in the league without consistent help. By eliminating double teams, the Lakers cut off passing lanes and forced Houston into far tougher looks. The impact was immediate, with Şengün limited as both a scorer and facilitator while committing multiple turnovers.
Teammate Austin Reaves made sure Ayton’s performance didn’t go unnoticed.
“I went up to him right after the game and told him he was one of the biggest factors in us winning tonight,” Reaves said. “His physicality guarding Şengün, the way he rebounded the ball offensively, defensively. Sixteen rebounds is a big number. Just his presence and his physicality and the way that he can guard in the post one-on-one and if we’re getting hurt with something else, he can switch one through five.”
While Ayton anchored the paint, Hayes provided crucial support minutes, maintaining the same level of intensity and discipline without fouling.
That consistency allowed the Lakers to sustain their defensive approach for the full game, something that hadn’t been possible earlier in the series.
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