Game 10: Phoenix Suns (7-2) @ Philadelphia 76ers (4-6) l Monday l 6:00pm l BSAZ l NBATV

[Calvin Klein]

Ayton looks just like Ayton to me. We can't expect anything more. Time to accept it.

[sunsbg]

He's gone at some point. Suns still need to build his value up though.

[WeekapaugGroove]

The Ayton numbers are a bit deceiving because he's had a couple of low minute games. But yeah they need more out of him.

Also Embiid just owns his ass and probably always will. Someone compared the two when Ayton was drafted and Embiid seems to have taken that personally.

Bridges also needs to be more aggressive and consistent on the offensive end.

Sent from my SM-G986U using RealGM mobile app

[RaisingArizona]

Number One pick in year five and this is what the fans get:

Thus far this season, relative to other starting centers Deandre Ayton is:
- 6th highest paid center (AAV)
- 14th in PPG (14.3)
- 29th in RPG (7.8)
- 16th in FG% (57.0%)
- 4th in PF (3.9)

Ayton is declining as quickly as CP3.

Greg Monroe 2.0. Good player that won't take you anywhere

[sunsbg]

I remember people saying Okobo was the next Westbrook

Nobody said that. You might be thinking of Jalen Lecque.

Not anyone here. I watched a youtube video with him during the draft and some people in the comment section said he's the next Westbrook

I remember it as well so I think it was posted here as well. Btw he plays now for Monaco in Euroleague. I watched a game featuring other ex-Suns players like Mike James, Isaiah Canaan, Alex Peters. All random role players in EL, except James, who is considered a star in this league. Okobo scored around 20 in that game, 5-6 in next game.

[lilfishi22]

If there is any respite from the poor DA play is that even though his rebounding, scoring and efficiency is down, it could really only go up from here right?

[sunsbg]

If there is any respite from the poor DA play is that even though his rebounding, scoring and efficiency is down, it could really only go up from here right?

Depends who you ask , but most likely he ends with his normal season averages of 17-18ppg, 9-9,5rpg on 55+FG%. In year five one would expect he's a 20+/10+ player. Rebounding is especially disappointing as I don't think the drop off is really caused by him playing more on the perimeter compared to previous seasons.

[WeekapaugGroove]

Ayton looks just like Ayton to me. We can't expect anything more. Time to accept it.

Yeah this is probably the best approach for suns fans mental health. He is what he is. A good player who's going to have a long career but not a dominant player and likely never will be.

Sent from my SM-G986U using RealGM mobile app

[Saberestar]

He's gone at some point. Suns still need to build his value up though.

I think he isn't going anywhere.

He is playing well, I don't get some criticism about him because most of his problems this season has been foul trouble and bad luck with that small ankle injury.

He looks better than ever on offense and defensively he has been active but too limited for all those calls.

I think he is gonna average over 20 points per game this year, he just needs minutes. 20-10 is absolutely feasible for him this season.

[SunsRback4Good]

.

[TOO]

He's gone at some point. Suns still need to build his value up though.

I think he isn't going anywhere.

He is playing well, I don't get some criticism about him because most of his problems this season has been foul trouble and bad luck with that small ankle injury.

He looks better than ever on offense and defensively he has been active but too limited for all those calls.

I think he is gonna average over 20 points per game this year, he just needs minutes. 20-10 is absolutely feasible for him this season.

He's getting minutes but he's blowing them drawing dumb fouls.

[Jdiddy701]

Ayton looks just like Ayton to me. We can't expect anything more. Time to accept it.

Yeah this is probably the best approach for suns fans mental health. He is what he is. A good player who's going to have a long career but not a dominant player and likely never will be.

Sent from my SM-G986U using RealGM mobile app

Agreed. Will never live up to expectations but still a solid role player. He’s definitely important to the Suns but is very easily replaceable.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[lilfishi22]

He's gone at some point. Suns still need to build his value up though.

I think he isn't going anywhere.

He is playing well, I don't get some criticism about him because most of his problems this season has been foul trouble and bad luck with that small ankle injury.

He looks better than ever on offense and defensively he has been active but too limited for all those calls.

I think he is gonna average over 20 points per game this year, he just needs minutes. 20-10 is absolutely feasible for him this season.

One of the major factors that differentiated DA from other centres in the league is his ability to play defense while staying out of foul trouble. If he's no longer able to manage his fouling issues which impacts his ability to product and contribute on the court then he's the problem and he's no different to other C's in the league who are only productive in the short minutes they are on the court because of consistent foul issues, JJJr is a prime example.

[Thor Buthox]

If there is any respite from the poor DA play is that even though his rebounding, scoring and efficiency is down, it could really only go up from here right?

Or it could plateau.

[bwgood77]

If there is any respite from the poor DA play is that even though his rebounding, scoring and efficiency is down, it could really only go up from here right?

Depends who you ask , but most likely he ends with his normal season averages of 17-18ppg, 9-9,5rpg on 55+FG%. In year five one would expect he's a 20+/10+ player. Rebounding is especially disappointing as I don't think the drop off is really caused by him playing more on the perimeter compared to previous seasons.

I don't like to take too small of sample size. If you throw out his 7 and 15 minute games he's averaging 18.5 and 9. If you only count games before his ankle injury on rebounds it is around 10 reb/game.

He is scoring more per 36 than ever. The bad things are the fouls, but he's often had some foul trouble games, so I'm not terribly concerned with this. His efficiency is down a bit...this is only really from the 10-16 ft range where he is 1-14 so far, so under 10% after being 55% from out there on high volume.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/aytonde01/shooting/2023

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/aytonde01/shooting/2022

I don't think he suddenly forgot how to shoot those midrange shots so I imagine his efficiency will be back.

My main concerns are rebounding consistency and turnovers, which are up. I don't anticipate him to be in foul trouble the majority of the time.

By the way, there is only currently 1 20/10 C this year, Jokic. The only other one which some consider C and others PF, is AD.

Bam, who, when some people here would talk about Ayton as being close to a top 5 C, is averaging 18.3 and 8.4 per 36, while Ayton is at 21.3 and 10.8 per 36. On higher efficiency as well.

I know Bam's value is mostly on defense and he is one of the best defensive Cs along with Jokic, but it's not like there are a bunch of 20/10 Cs. Some are close.

There are typically a few pretty high scoring Cs and a few elite rebounding Cs (mainly the ones who barely have any range and are purely rim protectors on D).

I'm not saying Ayton is playing well, and I think he will play a lot better, but there are not that many verstatile Cs who do a lot of things.

Without his 7 min and 15 min games, given he has averaged 18.5 in other games, if he was hitting his normal % or even close from that midrange shot where he is obviously just in a slump, he'd definitely be over 20ppg.

[garrick]

https://arizonasports.com/story/3369444/nba-upgrades-joel-embiid-trip-suns-damion-lee-flagrant-foul/#:~:text=The%20NBA%20on%20Tuesday%20upgraded,the%20Suns%20within%2071%2D67.

The NBA’s review showed that Embiid kicked his right leg out as he challenged a pump-faking Lee from the side, with momentum carrying Embiid past the guard. Lee lost balance and fell to the ground, which caught the attention of officials enough to call a personal foul.

Nice job refs.

I think we would have run out of gas anyway even if we had hit both FTs although you never know.

[Revived]

Ayton looks just like Ayton to me. We can't expect anything more. Time to accept it.

Yeah this is probably the best approach for suns fans mental health. He is what he is. A good player who's going to have a long career but not a dominant player and likely never will be.

Sent from my SM-G986U using RealGM mobile app

Agreed. Will never live up to expectations but still a solid role player. He’s definitely important to the Suns but is very easily replaceable.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Kinda begs the question though if he was ever worth throwing the max at. Christian Koloko was just drafted in the 2nd rd by Toronto and could basically have the same or better career trajectory than Ayton.

Let’s hope the Pacers maintain their interest in him.

[sunsbg]

Yeah this is probably the best approach for suns fans mental health. He is what he is. A good player who's going to have a long career but not a dominant player and likely never will be.

Sent from my SM-G986U using RealGM mobile app

Agreed. Will never live up to expectations but still a solid role player. He’s definitely important to the Suns but is very easily replaceable.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Kinda begs the question though if he was ever worth throwing the max at. Christian Koloko was just drafted in the 2nd rd by Toronto and could basically have the same or better career trajectory than Ayton.

Let’s hope the Pacers maintain their interest in him.

What makes you think he will ever be on Ayton's level and how much do you think he would get paid reaching it ? How many 2nd rounders, no make it 1st + 2nd rounders are on DA's level ? Never watched the guy so you could be right. Only had a look at his stats, which are pretty meh.

Edit: this post reminded me of the love for Mitchell Robinson, who's probably a better comparison for this Koloko guy looking at their stats. Another 2nd rounder as well. 17M for 6.5/6.4 makes DA's contract look really good.