11 points and 12 assists in his first game! James passed the ball really well. Ayton confided after the game that he didn’t expect it at all.

The Lakers easily defeated the Jazz 140-125, winning three consecutive games. Their 11-4 start record has completely put aside all the negative voices from the outside world at the beginning of the season. Looking back before the start of the game, when James was confirmed to miss the opening game and even the previous few weeks due to injury, almost everyone gave the Lakers a death sentence: without James, this lineup is poor defensively, Reeves and Doncic have overlapping styles and are not compatible at all, and the record will be beaten by the Mavericks. Some people even directly predicted that the Lakers might fall to 12th place in the Western Conference at the start. However, after fifteen games, the facts slapped those "experts" in the face - in the days without James, Doncic and Reeves just pushed the team's lower limit.

The Mavericks, who were regarded as "sending away Doncic, will win the championship", have collapsed after sending away Doncic. Recently, they have been completely ruined. Even Nongmei and Irving have begun to be put on the shelf. This contrast is so huge that it is simply one of the most ironic scripts in the league this year. But the Lakers were able to quickly get out of the quagmire and immediately showed terrifying dominance after James returned. The person who deserves the most credit is general manager Pelinka. This time, he really deserved a standing ovation. The most underestimated move in the offseason was to pick up Ayton at almost a bargain price. He joined because he liked Doncic and James.

This signing did not cause much waves at the time. After all, Ayton's performance in the Suns and Trail Blazers in the past two years could only be considered satisfactory. Public opinion was more discussing whether the Lakers could pursue another big-name center. But looking back now, Ayton's arrival means no less to the Lakers than the thick eyebrow trade that shocked the league in 2019. If the thick eyebrows were the "ceiling-level reinforcement" for the Lakers' championship competition, then Ayton now is the most accurate "floor-level reinforcement" - he has filled in all the shortcomings of the inside line after the thick eyebrows left: rebounding, pie-eating, frame protection, space, and even one-hand distance.

8 million annual salary, in exchange for a blue-collar champion who averages close to 17 points and 10 rebounds per game and shoots 68% from the field. This price/performance ratio is already ridiculously high. Many people have forgotten that Ayton was the well-deserved No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft, which was called the "super year." That year, he was repeatedly compared with Doncic, Trae Young, Bagley and others. His dominance in college was overwhelming and he was regarded as a "combination of Duncan and Robinson" inside monster. Although he failed to realize all his talents due to various reasons after entering the league, his basic skills and physical condition have never been compromised.

What the Lakers need has never been another superstar who needs to hold the ball and play in isolation, but an interior barrier that can honestly do the dirty work, protect the penalty area, finish with cake, and score outside after grabbing rebounds. Ayton happens to be the perfect bite. Tonight's game against the Jazz is the epitome of Ayton's complete understanding of the Lakers system. In 30 minutes of playing time, he made 10 of 13 shots, scored 20 points and 14 rebounds, plus 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 block. Every time Doncic or James breaks through to attract a double attack, Ayton can always cut to the basket accurately and dunk after receiving the ball; every time the Jazz rushes into the paint, Ayton can immediately cover up the defense and use his long arms to slam the opponent's layup onto the billboard.

What's even more frightening is that Ayton's mid-range jump shot is still stable, which makes opponents dare not easily shrink their small body to double-team the Lakers' perimeter. With Ayton like this, who would dare to say that he is not the number one pick? And James is making his first appearance of the new season today. This Lakers talent truly scares the entire league. In just 29 minutes of play, James made 4 of 7 shots and 2 of 3 three-pointers, easily scoring 11 points, 3 rebounds and 12 assists. What's even more exaggerated is his passing - those scalpel-like hits to the ground, through cuts, and long passes across the court. The fans at the scene stood up and cheered time and time again, and Ayton himself shook his head.

After the game, Ayton smiled and told reporters in the locker room that famous line that has gone viral: "Playing with LeBron really made my game so easy. Some passes, I didn't even realize he had seen me cut in... I have only caught LeBron twice in my life. The last time I went to Las Vegas to participate in his training camp was when I was in eighth grade, and he threw a ground pass to me. "

Now James doesn't need to score 40 points by himself. He just needs to stand there and deliver the ball to Ayton accurately, and the latter can smash the ball into the basket in the most unpretentious way. Although the debut statistics of 11 points and 12 assists are not explosive, the feeling of being in control of the overall situation has made all opponents tremble.