Post#1425 » by bhawk » Fri Mar 8, 2019 4:52 pm
There is a lot to like about Ayton so far, and, for some of us, a lot to criticize. His lack of effort or inability to play competent defense has been really hard to watch through the first half of the season. Yes, he has improved lately - which is awesome and has given us all hope!
What has bothered me more, however, has been his missing killer instinct. It does not take a rocket scientist to look / watch Ayton and come to the conclusion that he COULD dominate the NBA ala Robinson, Hakeem, Duncan, A. Davis, etc.
But he doesn't. At least not yet... and that is the point. Ayton WILL BE the BEST player from this draft.
We just need to be patient.
It was short sighted to think that Ayton could jump into the NBA and immediately dominate his position. I'll admit that's kind of what I expected of the 1st pick of the 2018 draft... and to see Luka do so well was salt in the wound. I was wrong. Ayton will be fine and he will be dominant.
I mean, he is so freakin' young and dare I say even a little immature / insecure in the footage I have seen. He is growing up right before our eyes like many of the NBA greats did. It is going to take time for Ayton to find himself, and to find his place among the greats. Not many players come into the NBA and dominate from Day 1. The only one that comes to mind was Shaq.
It simply takes time to get a feel for the game and to understand what you can and cannot do physically against other MEN who have much, much more experience. Every game Ayton is growing and learning. It may not always be visible and there will be peaks and valleys in his improvement, but there is no doubt in my mind that he gets there. He may not have that immediate killer instinct and want to kill people like Shaq, but he will figure it out. I see a young player in Ayton who will be dominant in his own way, and in his own time.
I think Ayton makes a BIG leap next season.
Another observation is the early chemistry between Ayton and Oubre. These guys genuinely like playing together, and it looks like they may even like hanging out off the court from the recent Oubre video with Ayton in the background. It is great to see, and I say lock in Oubre as one of Ayton's long term partners in basketball.
The future is Suns bright. Now if we could only do something about that silly owner of ours...
