Lakers' Deandre Ayton Stepping Up Before Crucial Stretch

Lakers News: JJ Redick 'Optimistic' After Recent Stretch

The Los Angeles Lakers have looked like a completely different team over the last couple of weeks. Since Feb. 28, JJ Redick’s team is 8-1, including their current five-game win streak. They also have massive wins over the New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets in that span, temporarily halting the narrative that they can’t beat good teams. It’s a small sample size, but the Lakers have the No. 3 offense, No. 8 defense and No. …

Lakers' Deandre Ayton Stepping Up Before Crucial Stretch

Whether it was his “crunk juice” or some other source of motivation, it’s clear something has gotten into Deandre Ayton, who is back to being an engaged, physical center the Lakers need to succeed. Ayton has become the talk of the town for the right reasons as of late, between double-doubles against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Chicago Bulls and clutch plays against three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. With another five games co…