Jaxson Hayes seeks to take advantage of opportunities with Lakers – Orange County Register

Los Angeles – There is no doubt about what the Lakers are playing and what focused on collective mentalities, during this period of the year: compete for an NBA championship.

The managing director Rob Pelinka clearly indicated throughout the season, and said in early February following the acquisition by the organization of the star goalkeeper Luka Doncic that the urgency of competing for a title is “always present”.

The players who joined the team during the season – especially Doncic and the striker Dorian Finney -Smith – recognized and adopted the expectations of the Lakers Championship. Dononic said at his introductory press conference: “You don’t come here for nothing other than championships.”

But for Jaxson Hayes, the last section of the regular season and as long of the race in the playoffs of the Lakers offer at the 24 -year departure center as the opportunity to win a ring.

Hayes also has the opportunity to take advantage of the biggest role in the best team for which he has so far played in his six -year NBA career before being a free agent without restriction this summer after the expiration of two years, $ 4.63 million he signed with the Lakers in July 2023.

“I consider it to be (one) opportunity to make a name for myself, an opportunity to go winning matches and winning a ring,” said Hayes on Wednesday, before the Lakers’ home match against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday. “And I just look at it as I have to enter, locked up every day, and try to get the best of the best version of myself.”

Hayes raised his game since he became the great man in full time of the Lakers after the last match of Anthony Davis with the team before being exchanged in early February, with an average of 8.7 points (78% shooting), 5.6 rebounds and 1.1 shots blocked in his 26 previous games while a starter entering Thursday.

Hayes immediately benefited from playing alongside Dononic, one of the best in the league to create men of big men who are lob threats. Hayes collected an average of 9.6 points out of 78.4% shooting in its first 19 games after Doncic’s beginnings.

The teams have adapted to the threat that Hayes presents as a roll in pick-and-rolls with Doncouic, opponents with more frequently their bottom to help the defender to take off to prevent lob attempts.

“When the teams do that, guy is that Luka will get a bucket, one of the shooters will get a bucket,” said Hayes. “They are fired to try to help my rollers and attack you on my rolls, it means that the local man is open. It is therefore a question of doing the right readings.

“I just have to continue to force the Overs and continue to ride hard so that people come to enter painting and can try to bring more their defense to open other guys.”

Hayes took three combined shots, scoring five points, in the previous two Lakers games on Thursday.

“It’s about winning,” he said. “At the end of the day, I don’t care about the number of blows that I will get. I just receive the photos you give me. And so for me, I just want to affect the game and affect victory.

“If I do not receive any blows per game, I do not receive any blow.

And the Lakers coach, JJ Redick, clearly indicated what the team needs Hayes – scorching less and not arguing as much with the referees.

“It was a very big subject of discussion, and it is something I am trying to work on,” said Hayes. “Obviously, I play with a lot of passion and I am a very passionate player and a very energetic player. So sometimes I get on the referees when I have the impression that they are missing them, but I have to remember that they are also human and that I just have to focus on the game, focus on myself. So, it was a great point of accent and to leave them alone and to focus on myself.”

Kleber update

The Lakers announced Thursday that the great man Maxi Kleber had progressed to field activities since he was operated on January 30, when he was still with the Dallas Mavericks.

The team added that Kleber, who was seen going through a training session on the field during Wednesday training, will continue his process of returning to the game and other updates will be provided “if necessary”.