It was a night of mixed emotions for the Los Angeles Lakers. On one hand, Luka Doncic produced an excellent performance, scoring 43 points, grabbing 12 rebounds and handing out nine assists.
On the other, the team fell 119109 to the Golden State Warriors, and his newly joined teammate Deandre Ayton recorded just 10 points on 7 shots, along with six rebounds and one block. That gap left Doncic pointing inward.
“I think he prefers that pocket pass I haven’t played I don’t think with a center like that,” Doncic said. “I have to do a better job just talking to him like what I want, what he wants and today it was on me and I didn’t give him enough touches.”
Ayton‘s debut in purple and gold was far from what many expected. Though efficient in his scoring, his integration into the offense seemed stilted, and the chemistry between him and Doncic remains a work in progress.
The veteran guard made it clear: he sees the challenge as one of communication and connection.
Structural issues exposed by a faltering second half
Beyond Ayton‘s quiet line, the Lakers exposed a more familiar problem: once again, the third quarter slipped away.
“Honestly, I would say that the third quarter, the start. I think we had this problem last year too, so I think that was most of the problem,” Doncic admitted.
That breakdown in momentum allowed the Warriors to build enough cushion that, despite a late rally by Los Angeles, the result was never in doubt. It’s a pattern that has haunted the team: lategame adversity met by inconsistent execution.
But what sticks out most is how Doncic sees the paint attack as the key to unlocking the team’s offense-and Ayton‘s place within it.
“Just attack the paint and then I think when I attack the paint better things happen for our team,” he added.
When a franchise hinges much of its expectations on a star guard and a newly added big man to create that insideout tempo, early hiccups like this become magnified.
Ayton, a former No. 1 pick, has all the tools to be a dominant interior presence, but only if the offense feeds him regularly and purposefully.
What happens next will be telling. The Lakers now must ask: can Doncic not only shoulder the scoring load but also orchestrate a cohesive game plan around Ayton that maximizes his strengths? Can Ayton, in turn, adapt quickly and seize his role rather than drift into the background?
For now, the answers are tentative. Players will still learn each other, plays will still be tweaked. But making that adaptation a priority is essential. Because when the playoffs loom and the margin shrinks, every touch and every pass counts.
And for a player like Doncic, it’s not just about his own brilliance anymore.
It’s about lifting those around him, bringing Ayton into the fold, and committing to the rhythm that makes a championship team rather than just a collection of stars.
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