Jaxson Hayes has been in and out of the Los Angeles Lakers rotation this season, averaging a career-low 12.5 minutes per game. While his role has mostly been backing up Anthony Davis, there have been instances where head coach Darvin Ham has played both big men together. He did so in Game 1 against the Denver Nuggets, however, those minutes came with Nikola Jokic on the sideline.
Over the course of their nine-game losing streak to the Nuggets, the Lakers have often put Rui Hachimura on the two-time MVP. That trend continued in Game 1 of the series and Jokic took advantage of a defender who is listed as three inches shorter and 54 pounds lighter. The six-time All-Star finished with 32 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and two steals while shooting 15-23 from the field.
Despite the strong performance, Hayes played just 4:23, with all of his playing time coming with Jokic on the bench. While Los Angeles can attribute their loss to a poor shooting night from D’Angelo Russell, it should be noted that Jamal Murray also struggled from the field as he finished 9-24. The Lakers will need to make adjustments even if their point guard plays better.
Employing a two-big lineup against Jokic has slowed him down in the past, most notably in the 2020 Western Conference Finals. Los Angeles played either Dwight Howard or JaVale McGee alongside Anthony Davis, allowing him to roam on the defensive end.
While they have attempted to replicate that with Hachimura, his size puts him at a disadvantage. Hayes does not have the same defensive reputation as Howard or McGee, however, he is an athletic, energetic, big body to throw at Jokic. After deciding not to sign another center, Los Angeles should utilize the one that is on their roster.
What adjustments outside of giving Jaxson Hayes more minutes can the Los Angeles Lakers make?
The obvious adjustment for the Los Angeles Lakers is to attempt to replicate the two-big lineup that allowed them to beat the Denver Nuggets in the 2020 Western Conference Finals. Whether or not they give Jaxson Hayes more playing time, however, Anthony Davis should be the primary defender on Nikola Jokic.
According to matchups information pulled from NBA.com, Jokic scored just five of his 32 points with Davis guarding him, while shooting 2-7 from the field. The rest of the Lakers roster allowed him to score 27 points on 13-16 shooting from the field.
While Los Angeles prefers to allow Davis to roam defensively – as he has the ability to mask his teammates defensive mistakes – that strategy has not worked against Jokic and the Nuggets. Allowing him to guard Denver’s best player would help slow down their opponent. Furthermore, they will need better play on the perimeter – on both sides of the ball.
