Deandre Ayton has been instrumental in a recent Lakers run, where the team has won 9-1 in their last 10 and has the league's sixth-best defense during that period. This comes after it took a while for Ayton to accept his role as a key player in the team. He was instrumental in recent wins against the Knicks, Timberwolves, Nuggets and Rockets. Despite this, there are still questions about consistency and Ayton's impact on the team's performance. Despite these challenges, he remains committed to helping the team make a playoff run.