Marcus Smart was VISIBLY frustrated by Deandre Ayton’s defense on multiple occasions last night
He’s like 3 steps too slow to see each of these plays develop despite being pretty basic reads.
Part of if is being low effort…but a big part is just being unable to understand and process what he should be doing.
Like jumping to the same side of the screen his teammate is on to let Grayson Allen effectively screen two people. That’s not an effort issue…that’s just him being really really dumb.
It’s both low effort and no IQ which means he completely cooked
Plus he looks old as shit, like Patrick Ewing from the SuperSonics old
Damn we ain’t have to do Pat like that lol
He looks like greg oden in his prime
Yeah, but Greg Oden was efficient about looking like Greg Oden. Maximized his Odenness with minimal on court time.
Crazy thing is that these defensive rotations are taught like in high school.
Yeah these clips actually changed my mind a little about Ayton. Some of it is effort, sure, but he’s actually trying in most of this video. He’s just too slow or making the wrong read. It seems more like he’s bad at defense than doesn’t even try.
My read on Ayton is he’s like the guy in the office who’s kind of goofy and likeable… But an absolute liability that gets more frustrating the more you work with him. He’ll fuck things up and give you a kind of “Aw shucks, whoops.” response. And at first it’s like, “It’s all good, you’ll get em next time.” but then it happens over and over and over again and eventually you’re just like “Fuck your goofy smile and apologies! Just do the fuckin work man!”
He also reminds me of that student who coasted to A’s and B’s in high school, but struggled in college because he never had to learn how to study.
Excited for the weekend?
Eh, maybe on the first but the next two are horrible effort on top of bad awareness.
Middle one he misses the obvious switch and Smart bails him out, but instead of then looking to recover he just stands flat footed and doesn’t try to close out the shooter until the ball is already in the air.
On the second one I have no idea what he was trying to do but he is way too big to just die on a screen like that. Fighting through screens is an effort thing.
I think sometimes he starts out trying, but then once he realizes he’s out of position, he shuts down. Could be confusion, being discouraged, lack of crunk juice, I don’t know.
I mean in sports not knowing what’s going on is also an effort check. Watching film, learning/studying your playbook, and studying enough to know what’s you’re supposed to do in certain situations are all effort things.
Kinda wild. Even when you aren’t a smart person, doing something over and over again for your whole life usually builds a good amount of understanding and muscle memory. How is basketball your life since you were young, and you don’t understand how to play defense? Baffling
Watching it asking myself does he not get how/when to switch on screens. Ive seen Cs too slow to keep up but they are making the right reads just cant get there, he seems a step behind before he even starts moving.
HOLY FUCK i knew he was lazy and unmotivated but watching these 3 plays is just insane.
it’s not that he’s too slow to react, he just doesn’t give af
it definitely looks intentional. i don’t buy the low bbiq thing phoenix fans be doing all the time.
if i am getting paid less than these guys, why do i have to put effort vibes.
and like he keeps getting substantial minutes despite all that.
He still played like this while also being the highest paid player.
He dumb.
On that second play he legit looks like a zombie from Shaun of the Dead
It was really telling when he was describing what Reddick has been telling him and he was like “i don’t even know what he’s saying but i’m just doing it.” The guy has no basketball strategy vision.
he doesn’t have a defensive iq and gives up on the play a lot but on some level all of these clips are a slow 7 footer chasing guards around the 3 pt line, he’s not a great player but imo being scapegoated instead of the core of luka/lebron/reeves who aren’t doing well
Phoenix and Portland fans get in here!
What stage is this in the dominayton stages of grief?
5 stages of Ayton
Denial - we can fix him!
Anger - defending him with building chemistry or he just had a great game
Bargaining - quoting efg%, walking double double, or that he only makes 8 million
Depression - this guy is ass
Acceptance - laughing at the next team that signs him.
Lakers should have just grabbed one of the old crafty vet bigs floating around the league. Would have been better than this.
Perhaps someone such as…Clint Capela? 🤔
Hell no. He’s a spent cigartte too.
I am really hoping Al cooks him tomorrow
I’m sure he will because Al is timeless. So glad he’s in the west now.
They should have grabbed Taj Gibson when they had the chance
Theres always next year
Who is the Marc Gasol of 2026?
You’re forgetting an important part of bargaining. “This new coach can unlock Ayton!”
“this is the way”
The interesting part about Ayton is that cycle took years with Phoenix, a year with Portland…and half a season with the Lakers.
Getting more efficient with his game 😤
DOMINAYTON!
Only you guys were knowledgeable enough to provide him with crunk juice, whereas Phoenix and Portland didn’t
The first time there were still a positive outlook since he was young the second time people realized he will never change the third time people are willing to give him a second chance, the fourth time China realizes how terrible his motor is
It’s growing at a frightening rate
Back then he had the cachet from being first in the draft. Also, there is significantly more scrutiny in LA.
The Suns were also complete ass when they first got him.
A few years later, he looked promising during that post season run to the finals we had when Chris Paul was all over him.
That’s definitely his peak though.
The dude just shows up with the same effort that I did in the second half of my senior year of high school after I’d already been accepted to college. There’s just 0 motivation
Fans of the next team that signs him will repeat the cycle lol. Unless he finally/accepts being a bench depth guy.
He won’t be in the league much longer with how he’s playing lately tbh. I give him just one more 1-2 year deal at this point if he plays like he has the last 2 months + attitude.
He’s probably reaching that point where he can make more overseas just from the crazy mismatch he’d provide even while lazy.
He would kill overseas.
I don’t know if he’s got the mental toughness to go overseas tho away from what’s familiar and family.
I hope he’s got good investments, and hasn’t blown his Suns and Portland money.
Man I remember so many laker fans shitting on blazers for letting him walk. He runs the same scam on every fan base lmao.
Here i am! 🙋♂️ and a good fuck the lakers to you too good sir!
I have so much work to catch up on, but it’s like Christmas for DA haters today. What am I supposed to do, NOT watch Ayton low lights while ignoring my work?
you could consider Ayton low lights your work, there problem solved
Is someone paying for this skill set? Asking for a friend
you might have to call in sick for work. pretty sure there would be plenty of terrible lazy plays like this from ayton all season to catch up on.
Not only is it Christmas. It’s like Hanukkah and Christmas combined since DA is sucking ass on the Lakers.
During time outs, he probably checks the time to see how much longer he has to play for before going home to play video games.
checks the time to see how much longer he has to play for before going home to play video games
I kinda get that…
What’s the point of quoting his entire comment instead of just simply replying to it?
Its missing a full stop, a comma and 5 words but yeah that was jank
I don’t know.
I wasn’t thinking about it that much.
We’ve all got a little Ayton in us. Pause.
getting a nastygram from IT for looking up the hollow knight wiki. fuck off! I’m trying to find all the grubs!
need more crank juice
Crunk him up
Bring out the inner lion
I think Marcus probably never realized how privileged he was, playing in the Celtics‘ defensive schemes designed by Brad and ime and executed by him and his hustling teammates - until he played with Ayton and Luka…
Probably so frustrating being one of the best defenders in the nba at one point and now playing with absolute bums.
He deserves so much better. A team that tries really hard, that’s it.
And he’s also getting looks he never seen before and it’s been real hit or miss with him
He was getting good looks in Boston he played with a combo of Brown/Kyrie/Kemba/Tatum his whole time there lol
Our fanbase was about ready to drive Marcus Smart to the airport in his heroball era before he started to really trust the Jays for scoring and accept his role
That’s how it’s always been with Marcus. He was never a really good shooter. It’s a part of why he was traded besides his obvious decline. That’s why Celtics fans call some of his shots Marcus Smart shots. He’ll make crazy shots and then miss open looks.
If you sign Smart thinking he’s going to help make shots, you’re just not a good GM imo. And that’s coming from someone who really likes Smart. It’s just never been a strong suit for him.
There was a brief era of Smart hero-ball that was very frustrating to watch. He really was best for us when he started to defer to the Jays for scoring
I always thought he’s at his best as a true PG, but I will never forget game 6 against Philly. He kept the Celtics in that game until Tatum woke up and went beast mode to send it to game 7
Nets game 1 playoffs 2023? When he got the ball from jb and pumped to pass to Tatum for the buzzer beater win, i forgave smart for everything else
I was there. Every single person in that arena (including both Nets defenders who jumped over him) thought he was going to pull up, but he deferred for a perfect pass to set up the game winning bucket. Amazing play and one of my favorite memories for an in-person game
That’s Boston Celtics Most 3s made in a game record holder Marcus Smart
I mean those years with IT/Kemba/Kyrie were kind of disasters. Their best year was when Kyrie got hurt.
Comically bad on defense with the Danny Ainge no-defense point guards.
They only ever turned the corner when Brad Stevens undid a lot of Ainge’s atrocities and shipped their asses out for guys like Jrue Holiday and Derrick White.
Unless you’re talking just about point guards, this is some prime /r/confidentlyincorrect material
Cause even with our tiny ass guards, the Cs haven’t had a below average defense in over a decade. In fact, in that same time frame we have more top five defenses than 6-14th
It’s actually kind of bonkers how systemically good our defense over 10+ years despite so much roster turnover and, at times, a lack of talent
Gotta be the lowest IQ player I’ve seen in a long time. He looks so lost.
He seems like the type of dude that starts laughing at a joke way later than everyone else. And then laugh for way too long
And then says something that clearly indicates he didn’t understand the joke
It’s not low IQ, it’s low effort
Yeah, you start giving low enough effort and it comes off as low BBiq
Porque no los dos?
It’s definitely a “Two things can be true” situation. I think enough effort can help counteract the low IQ, but he ain’t doing that either.
He absolutely has low BBIQ. 8 years in the league and he still often looks lost and plays like he has high latency. Only time he didn’t is when he had Chris motherfucking Paul quarterbacking his every move on the court.
It’s either disinterest, ineptitude, or he’s slow from previous leg injuries?
then you should see the OTHER lakers center lol
I’ll admit I was wrong. His offensive production early on in the season gave me hope but the guy doesn’t care about actually winning games and thinks his way to getting paid is putting up 20 points a night lol
All he had to do was put the team first and get rid of the label put on him and some idiot GM would give him a huge payday this offseason but he can’t even do that
Its amazing seeing now a 3rd fan base go through essentially the same arc.
The DLO cycle, every fanbase rides the roller coaster until they hate him and ship him out.
Except Brooklyn
Both Phoenix and LA surrounded him with superstars and he still can’t make it work
I honestly thought being next to Luka/LeBron/AR would make him look good. Where does he go from here?
CHINA!
Chris Paul had to yell and berate him for years to get him to put in effort and he still never learned
In 20-21, he averaged 14⁄11 on 63% FG in the regular season and 16⁄12 on 66% FG in the post season, as the third best player on a finals team. And then he got Better the year after. The issue has nothing to do with who’s around him, or his talent— it’s all internal motor/effort/IQ
If he cannot bother to unlock his game with Luka and LeBron, he will likely never play better or care more than what he’s currently offering.
I mean he didn’t unlock it with CP3 or Booker or KD either idk what anyone expected
I had high hopes too and DA was cashing in early in the season.
His true colors is showing now, him getting 20points happens, but far too in between.
He will put up 20pts one out of every 5 games. The other 4 games he will put up 6pts/4rebounds lol
The worst part is he was also good defensively! It’s not like AR, for example, who just doesn’t have the physical tools to play good defense.
This dude unfortunately doesn’t have his heart in the game and the high of joining the Lakers worse off fast and now he’s just lazy as hell. It makes it so much worse that he has the capabilities but just doesn’t care.
Is he confused or just not trying? That just screams lack of effort. It would be different if you make the wrong read and close out properly but he is just lazily committing to wherever he thinks he should be on the court
Looks like a bit of column A and a bit of column B
He can’t read their minds. How’s he supposed to know they’re gonna pass the ball and shoot that wide open 3? /s
Wouldn’t be surprised if he’s in a sports betting probe down the line
monty was right about him
To me this shit was obvious from the very start of his career. Some guys just straight up don’t give af about the sport they are getting paid millions to play and they blatantly display it with a complete lack of interest and effort while playing. Very easy to spot
Idk about that his motor was generally way better when he was first in the league
And in 2021 he was like a max worthy player, legitimately
People forget that Jokic was calling him the best defender against him, Giannis was giving him props. He was an absolute force on both ends that year.
He’s just like me forreal, except the bajillion dollars.
I think these guys get paid way too much money now and since it’s guaranteed there is no incentive to play hard or even play at all.
I think most people could excuse getting blown by by a faster player or getting caught in a screen by a stronger one, those are physical breakdowns in defense. But all of these plays are mental lapses, he has the size and speed to be a good defender, but he just doesn’t put effort in staying engaged on the defensive end mentally. He’s not communicating, he’s not reading the play, it feels like if he’s not guarding an ISO play, he just checks out.
If Ayton’s guy doesn’t have the ball he just assumes that his job is done and starts watching.
Jesus that last clip is atrocious he doesn’t even try he really looks like he doesn’t give a shit
Smart’s defense isn’t looking too hot these days tbh
I just said something similar to someone else in here, but his decline was happening in his last season with Boston. It’s one of the main reasons he was traded. He still has his Marcus Smart moments here and there tho
You say that, but he’s had a handful of All-Defensive spurts. He’s outplayed Laker fans expectations, especially knowing his back and knees are cooked.
What’s in that crunk juice, fucking Valium?
first one felt like smart’s fault calling for him to switch onto a small for basically no reason. but from that point on he should have hustled out.
edit: 2nd example looked like smart’s fault again
3rd example not sure if they’re in a zone because nobody did their job
It’s not about whose fault it is. It’s about having no urgency. Maybe it wasn’t his man, but he should have rushed to close out instead of watching a guy take a wide open 3
Ayton was supposed to X out on that 2nd clip. It’s 100% his fault - Smart was executing the scheme, Ayton was not.
For those who don’t know: https://basketballimmersion.com/basketball-defensive-x-out/
Things Clint Capela can do part 8
Lmao the last play where Grayson Allen sets the weakest screen and Ayton just hugs him and points
Not communicayton.
This is also what happens when you switch everything. Our center shouldn’t so regularly be out on the perimeter, I notice it happens a lot
Marcus Smart has been surprisingly good on defense for us. It’s a shame that we’re wasting it.
Imagine having Luka & Ayton in your lineup for defense…
Man idk Smart’s decision making doesn’t seem much better. Bad team D
I’m not seeing that. First play smart has the strong side and it looks like they’re in some sort of zone. One man cuts to the weak side and Ayton just doesn’t seem to notice at all. What’s smart supposed to do there? Abandon the strong side and sprint around Ayton all the way across the court.
Second one Ayton fucks up the switch. Smart sees the fuckup and covers for him to stop a wide open Allen three. Ayton instead of rotating to the open man just stops playing.
Third one it’s hard to say what happened without knowing what the defensive play all was. But based on smart being so aggressive it looks like either it was supposed to be a trap but Ayton didn’t get out high enough, or Ayton was supposed to go under the screen and came up too high. But either way there’s nothing smart could have done to get around that in time to bother a shot.
when was he playing defense?
I thought he was a steal for $8m? Is he not?
Thank god we’re not paying $40m like we did for Westbrook
Massive steal from the neck down. Pity that when someone has this level of just not giving a fuck that the issues above the neck really matter.
As a Celtics fan, I’m sorry Marcus. You deserved better…
Why is Smart taking Ayton’s man and making him guard Kalepsi in the first one though lol?
I love him futilely extending his arm as if that half ass screen was the great wall of China
Looking at this with no opinion on Ayton I see play by play:
Honestly just looks like they’re all confused AF out there and aren’t on the same page on when they should be switching or not. Smart is inconsistent in what he is doing. Ayton is expecting the same switching scheme every play, but that’s not what is happening. On top of that, after watching LeBron for so many years, I know he’s gonna just do the laziest thing he can do on help D, so everyone else is always going to be suffering out there trying to figure out who they should be switching to when guys start getting screened and LeBron is hanging out conserving his energy.
As a Blazer fan, I am laughing my head off for multiple reasons
As a suns fan, I raise my glass to you…
That’s defense worse than Luka…and DA wants another big payday?
Lakers shouldnt offer him jack…when the season ends, let him find his own new home.
I was listening to the Lakers Nation podcast, and they mentioned that maybe the Lakers are playing poorly and giving this type of effort because they know the team is already cooked.
At first it sounded crazy but maybe that’s exactly what is happening rn
Smart went from playing with bigs like Horford, Timelord and JJJ to Ayton. I get the frustration.
Imagine telling someone in 2018 that 40 y/o Al Horford will be better than 27 y/o Deandre Ayton
Pretending to play defense. Im so glad the lakers vetoed that trade and got ayton
His mobility in the drop or our 15’s was really good the first quarter of the season.
He was switching better than Jaxon and dropping way better.
Pretty much started going south in December, and that game last night feels like his worst effort performance of the season.
He was so awesome the first 1⁄4 of the season, this 🥷🏾 just doesn’t want to get paid I guess.
If anybody can call him a bum in the locker room, it’s Marcus. Air his ass out in front of everybody, either he shapes up or mopes on the bench while Jaxson Hayes of all people takes his job
That last play is a pretty cool screen.
I mean… what did they expect? bros basically Christian Wood
can’t teach stupid
Ayton came into the league with all the natural basketball talent and potential in the world and has squandered it by constantly being checked out, soft, unmotivated, etc.
Smart is a guy who never had that level of innate ability and who’s made a name for himself in the league through hustle, grit, motorand energy over pure skill. I’d be pissed too not just on a we’re teammates level but on a WTF is wrong with you level
What about Bron and Luka’s Defense? Has he showed any frustration yet?
If not I wonder why…..
Surprised it took this long for the lakers fans to realize about Ayton
I hope Marcus Smart gets on a decent team again. I’d like to see him perform in prime time
I don’t think I remember Smart ever looking close to that pissed off playing with IT. IT always put in serious effort but was just too small to be a good defender, so maybe its just an effort thing but Smart has played with some really bad defenders without making his frustration this obvious before
Lazy bum, they really took him as the no 1 pick
YMCA senior league level defense
As a suns fan who repeatedly saw annoying ass laker fans bragging about the steal they got in Ayton at the star of the season this feels SOOO GOOD
I saw this too. And saw it all over the Lakers sub. But now they all say they never thought that. Crazy work.
Ayton is tanking his own next contract but also indirectly tanking Smart’s.
If the defense is abysmal then Smart is forced to make gambly moves that look bad when they blow up
Send him to Taiwan
After watching Vucevic for 5 years, this looks like pretty normal defense to me.
Why does he play D like a 90s Shaq-fodder center?
Bench his ass.
Lakers FO signed two sleeper agents this off season
Bro just doesn’t want to get paid after this season it’s wild to see. Too lazy to even fake it
The lakers are a joke. Even after being gifted Luka.
I love it
What a dog. Woof.
So on these clips LeBron just sits in the paint and moves maybe 8feet max and just walks. But Ayton is at the perimeter not chasing guards around lol Ayton is a turd 100percent But couldn’t help but notice LeBron not moving at all and sitting in paint
lol
Its actually crazy how each player on the lakers gets a whole day to get shit on. The franchise is just cursed, theres no humility in it
Ayton’s brain processes what’s happening on the court with significant input delay.
Too slow or too lazy. Either one isn’t ideal
Playing defense with Ayton, Luka, and Lebron on your team must be hell
That is so woefully bad.
When was the last time we’ve seen any player give this little effort on defense? Ayton over here playing stuck in the mud
My favorite one is giving absolutely zero effort to get through a weak screen and then just pointing at the open man
Pable honey, come back to Florida Boston
Drinking too much crunk juice
He looks lazy and like he doesn’t understand the rotations. That has to bug Smart who is not lazy and completely understands defense.
Capela > Ayton
He’ll probably be happier in China averaging 50 a game
Nobody wanted to listen to the Suns. Portland thought they could fix him, now LA. Guy does not give a fuck and never did. I was born a Wildcat and watched him in college. You could see this then, but back then he had to try more often or he wouldn’t have been drafted 1st.
It’s probably because he is paid millions of dollars to play basketball and can’t be bothered to try very hard. Hope this helps
That 3rd clip is just pathetic
FrustrAyton
It’s funny how this sub said Shaq was wrong about players having killer mentality, but now this sub is calling Ayton soft
Everyone on that team doesn’t like to rotate or too lazy. Now they’re confused lmao
Ayton comes off like a guy who was so physically above everyone else when he was learning to play he didn’t develop the instincts for the game you need to truely be a top level player, which is common and fixable, but he also clearly didn’t care enough to put in the hours to fix it.
If he sat down from his rookie year on, watching tons of film, working with high level coaches, developing his feel for the game he’d be a guy who was always an All-Star, and might even won a ring at some point. Instead he worked hard enough to get his second contract and decided that was as much as he wanted to do, and everything after was just house money.
I feel like EVERYBODY saw this coming except the Lakers front office.
My former DPOY in hell with this bum
Always someone elses fault. This is why teams MUST interview their picks before they draft. One interview with ayton tells you he does not care and thinks he is wayyy better than he is.
Y’all remember when Ayton wanted the Suns to pay him the rookie max extension😂😂
The Lakers sort of suck because 4 of their 5 starters are average or terrible defensively lol
Maybe he just has the over on points.
Does he know he’s playing center?
ayton is a better defender than luka
Lack of communication, lack of focus and a lack of motor is certainly a combination out there