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Deandre Ayton #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers headed into the NBA postseason with a number of very legitimate concerns on hand, the two most obvious ones looming large: injuries to Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique), both of which were expected to keep the team’s two top scorers out for the length of the first round of the playoffs. But the list of worries went beyond that, of course–the depth on the bench, LeBron James‘ age and, not insignificantly, the questionable interior defense from Deandre Ayton against a Rockets team with star center Alperen Sengun on hand.

Throughout his career, defense has been the big issue for Ayton, a very capable scorer who is just not much of a rim protector. But through two games, as the Lakers hold a 2-0 lead with the series heading to Houston for Game 3, Ayton has handled himself admirably in the middle.

While it is true that the Rockets have done most of their offensive damage in the paint through the first two games, the Lakers have done enough to mitigate Houston’s advantages, holding the Rockets to 40.4% shooting in Game 2 after holding them to 37.6% shooting in Game 1.

Deandre Ayton Courted Controversy This Season

Ayton, of course, bristled earlier in the season when the Lakers were pushing him to focus on defense and rebounding, rather than the scoring prowess that has marked his career. Ayton was famously quoted by ESPN complaining that the Lakers were trying to “turn me  into Clint Capela,” a reference to the Rockets’ backup role-playing big man.

But Ayton says he is having fun with his newfound defensive identity in the playuoffs.

“It’s been fun. I’m not gonna lie, especially just having a team out there that have your back and everybody just dialed in on the defensive end,” Ayton said, via LakersNation.com. “Defense has been fun on that end with the communication and the terminologies we’ve created in practice and the schemes we’ve created as well. … Just being players, adjusting to certain coverages that they’ve thrown at us, all of that is just fun. Just being at war with guys that are on the same mission as you.”

Lakers’ Winning Fueling Defensive Efforts

Ayton added that one thing that is fueling his defensive efforts in this season is the way the Lakers have had his back. Winning, he said, makes putting in the defensive effort that much easier.

“I just need to be in position. I’m in a winning position, winning team, and a team that wants to win. … It turns everything up a notch,” he added. “My level of focus, level of intent. Everything’s really just amplified. Just being consistent as well with what the team wants. That’s about it. Just showing passion for the game. A lot of people try to make it a mockery, but I love this game. I love to compete, I love to model myself after being a two-way player in this league and I take pride in that.

“The playoffs is where you can show it the best. I’m loving it.”