Deandre Ayton news and discussion

[TouchPassDario]

Jokic is EXTREMELY lucky that Murray went off way beyond even his wildest dreams or he loses in the 1st round to a mediocre Utah team without Bogie/Clarkson and with an ineffective Conley in 5 games. And then the narrative is that he can’t win because the playoffs expose his weaknesses much like they did Isaiah Thomas.

[bwgood77]

Embiid is too fragile.

Jokic is HIGHLY exploitable in space AND at the rim. He’s really a poor defender. If I were to rate his offense and defense I would give him 95 and 60. Ayton is like 75/80. He’s also 4 years younger. And Jokic isn’t going to get better at defense and is offense is basically maxed out. I could see DA adding a few points to both categories, especially defense, given his athletic profile and demonstrated improvement and desire.

Jokic is one of the frontrunners for MVP...basically a point center with absurd all around offensive skills. Maybe the best passing C ever....actually probably is.

He is 100 on offense. Sure you can always be better but I don't think any C has really ever had as versatile as offensive game or year like this.

Over 26 ppg on 65% TS%, 43% from 3, almost 9 assists per game on a near 3/1 ast/to ratio. He pulls down 11 boards. He's not great defensively but not poor..or a liability.

But at some point historically great offense like him, Curry, KD, etc, dwarfs any negative on defense to still be so elite it puts you more valuable than anyone.

I mean look at the top 5 ratings this season according to RAPTOR:

[TouchPassDario]

Ok fine he’s a 100 on offense. The general point still stands. MVP is always heavily weighted towards offense when the most valuable players to win a Finals are the ones that cannot be exploited AND can exploit the opposition consistently.

Curry and KD could not be truly exploited defensively. They were decent to good when they were winning playoff series.

[RunDogGun]

Ayton went out last night and the clippers went up 10 and were scoring at will! Do something Monty!

Yeah! Give Saric some stilts or pogo legs or something! Get creative Monty!!!!

It would have been nice if Saric played well that night, but he just sucked. I don't think pogo legs would have helped that mess.

[NapoleonII]

Jokic needs to get out of the Western Conference.

Lakers shut him down and will do the same with AD/Gasol.

[starbosa10]

I've been frustrated with him in the past but he has been amazing lately and really carrying us in games like tonight

[Mulhollanddrive]

DeAndre Ayton Year 3
19 points, 12 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, 123 O-Rating per 36

David Robinson Year 4
21 points, 10 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, 113 O-Rating per 36

Tim Duncan Year 4
20 points, 11 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 106 O-Rating per 36

If Ayton can create an extra 2 shots per game next season he'd be there comparable to 2 of the best bigs of all time.

[Bogyo]

DeAndre Ayton Year 3
19 points, 12 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, 123 O-Rating per 36

David Robinson Year 4
21 points, 10 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, 113 O-Rating per 36

Tim Duncan Year 4
20 points, 11 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 106 O-Rating per 36

If Ayton can create an extra 2 shots per game next season he'd be there comparable to 2 of the best bigs of all time.

Really happy to see that! Hopefully he does that (or keeps this progress curve up, whichever way you want to slice it). He is also younger than those 2 in their 4th year, as he was 1 and done, and those 2 are 4year college guys. Although game was much different when those dudes were in their 4th year.

The way we've been playing lately (a bit too trigger happy from 3 imho) his inside presence is even more needed than usual. He should get 2-3 more shots per game. He was a huge (biggest?) factor in our last 2-3 wins in my opinion.

[sunsbg]

DeAndre Ayton Year 3
19 points, 12 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, 123 O-Rating per 36

David Robinson Year 4
21 points, 10 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, 113 O-Rating per 36

Tim Duncan Year 4
20 points, 11 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 106 O-Rating per 36

If Ayton can create an extra 2 shots per game next season he'd be there comparable to 2 of the best bigs of all time.

Really happy to see that! Hopefully he does that (or keeps this progress curve up, whichever way you want to slice it). He is also younger than those 2 in their 4th year, as he was 1 and done, and those 2 are 4year college guys. Although game was much different when those dudes were in their 4th year.

The way we've been playing lately (a bit too trigger happy from 3 imho) his inside presence is even more needed than usual. He should get 2-3 more shots per game. He was a huge (biggest?) factor in our last 2-3 wins in my opinion.

Worth noting DA is a better FT shooter, so there is still room to expand his offensive game - going to the line more, shooting more from midrange, maybe even 3s, etc.

[Wilber85]

ya'll going to bash me, but Ayton has been a lot more consistent in his play than 90% of the team.

He is consistently going to get us 14/10 and play good defense. Some games he doesn't even get full minutes due to us either up by 20 or down by 20 and we pull startes (only a few of these this year)

[lilfishi22]

DeAndre Ayton Year 3
19 points, 12 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, 123 O-Rating per 36

David Robinson Year 4
21 points, 10 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, 113 O-Rating per 36

Tim Duncan Year 4
20 points, 11 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 106 O-Rating per 36

If Ayton can create an extra 2 shots per game next season he'd be there comparable to 2 of the best bigs of all time.

Really happy to see that! Hopefully he does that (or keeps this progress curve up, whichever way you want to slice it). He is also younger than those 2 in their 4th year, as he was 1 and done, and those 2 are 4year college guys. Although game was much different when those dudes were in their 4th year.

The way we've been playing lately (a bit too trigger happy from 3 imho) his inside presence is even more needed than usual. He should get 2-3 more shots per game. He was a huge (biggest?) factor in our last 2-3 wins in my opinion.

I don't mind him taking those 3's, in fact I think it's good to see him take it and not feel like he'd get scolded for the attempt. It would be good for him in the future to have that no-hesi mindset when it does become part of his arsenal. And FWIW, he's been shooting them fairly early in the game so the one missed shot is largely inconsequential. If it was in the clutch, then different conversation. Also he took one shot each in the Utah, LA and Washington game and before that, it was back in mid-Feb when he last attempted a shot.

I agree that he should get a couple more shots especially early. It seems to be the key in keeping him engaged throughout the game. It's a low risk/high reward approach because if he's on, then he'll get you points at a high clip and he'll stay engaged. If he's off, it's early in the game so it's not gonna matter too much but at least he has had those attempts.

[Bogyo]

DeAndre Ayton Year 3
19 points, 12 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, 123 O-Rating per 36

David Robinson Year 4
21 points, 10 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, 113 O-Rating per 36

Tim Duncan Year 4
20 points, 11 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 106 O-Rating per 36

If Ayton can create an extra 2 shots per game next season he'd be there comparable to 2 of the best bigs of all time.

Really happy to see that! Hopefully he does that (or keeps this progress curve up, whichever way you want to slice it). He is also younger than those 2 in their 4th year, as he was 1 and done, and those 2 are 4year college guys. Although game was much different when those dudes were in their 4th year.

The way we've been playing lately (a bit too trigger happy from 3 imho) his inside presence is even more needed than usual. He should get 2-3 more shots per game. He was a huge (biggest?) factor in our last 2-3 wins in my opinion.

I don't mind him taking those 3's, in fact I think it's good to see him take it and not feel like he'd get scolded for the attempt. It would be good for him in the future to have that no-hesi mindset when it does become part of his arsenal. And FWIW, he's been shooting them fairly early in the game so the one missed shot is largely inconsequential. If it was in the clutch, then different conversation. Also he took one shot each in the Utah, LA and Washington game and before that, it was back in mid-Feb when he last attempted a shot.

I agree that he should get a couple more shots especially early. It seems to be the key in keeping him engaged throughout the game. It's a low risk/high reward approach because if he's on, then he'll get you points at a high clip and he'll stay engaged. If he's off, it's early in the game so it's not gonna matter too much but at least he has had those attempts.

Slight correction here, I might have been missunderstood. I was talking about the team being too trigger happy from 3 lately, not DeAndre. I don't mind if he takes a 3 here and there, his mechanics are OK. He should get 2-3 more shots around the rim, or in his preferred zone (baseline, or whatever). We should be more nuanced as a team, especially with him in the middle. Only bombing away from 3 will get you in trouble from time to time, even if you are the splash bros - which we are not.

[lilfishi22]

Really happy to see that! Hopefully he does that (or keeps this progress curve up, whichever way you want to slice it). He is also younger than those 2 in their 4th year, as he was 1 and done, and those 2 are 4year college guys. Although game was much different when those dudes were in their 4th year.

The way we've been playing lately (a bit too trigger happy from 3 imho) his inside presence is even more needed than usual. He should get 2-3 more shots per game. He was a huge (biggest?) factor in our last 2-3 wins in my opinion.

I don't mind him taking those 3's, in fact I think it's good to see him take it and not feel like he'd get scolded for the attempt. It would be good for him in the future to have that no-hesi mindset when it does become part of his arsenal. And FWIW, he's been shooting them fairly early in the game so the one missed shot is largely inconsequential. If it was in the clutch, then different conversation. Also he took one shot each in the Utah, LA and Washington game and before that, it was back in mid-Feb when he last attempted a shot.

I agree that he should get a couple more shots especially early. It seems to be the key in keeping him engaged throughout the game. It's a low risk/high reward approach because if he's on, then he'll get you points at a high clip and he'll stay engaged. If he's off, it's early in the game so it's not gonna matter too much but at least he has had those attempts.

Slight correction here, I might have been missunderstood. I was talking about the team being too trigger happy from 3 lately, not DeAndre. I don't mind if he takes a 3 here and there, his mechanics are OK. He should get 2-3 more shots around the rim, or in his preferred zone (baseline, or whatever). We should be more nuanced as a team, especially with him in the middle. Only bombing away from 3 will get you in trouble frI still get the feeling that om time to time, even if you are the splash bros - which we are not.

We've definitely lost games where we lived and died by the 3 but they were more the exception than the rule. Overall we're a fairly disciplined team. We're like middle of the pack in 3PA and I think as an offensive strategy, the 3PT shot isn't the be all and end all which is a good thing. While Monty does want us to shoot a decent amount of 3's a game, we're far from the D'Antoni/Harden Rockets where live and die by the 3.

As far as Ayton goes I always feel like we get a better Ayton when he's getting fed early and for the most part, he shooting at a pretty high clip so anything in the paint is usually decent.

[Revived]

Ayton being so good defensively still amazes me. This guy couldn’t defend a chair his first two years in the league and was one of the worst rim protectors in all of college basketball at Arizona. Yet now he’s an absolute stud at both on ball defense and protecting the rim lol.

I’ve been watching basketball a long time and I think Ayton is the only big man I can think of who came in from college being disastrous defensively and turned that around entirely. I’ve seen perimeter players and wing players who suck at defense in college become good there eventually in the pros but never a big. Usually if you suck at defense in college as a big, you will forever suck at defense in the pros too. Idk why that is but it was almost always the case. Ayton basically busted that.

Ayton of course deserves praise but I think a lot of credit needs to be given to the assistant coaches on the team who have worked with him in the past 2 yrs. Monty probably doesn’t have time to individually work with him and make him understand the concept of defense so it had to have been a lot of hrs spend with an assistant coach. It’s not a CP3 thing either because he was very good defensively before the bubble last season as well.

[Stark]

Ayton being so good defensively still amazes me. This guy couldn’t defend a chair his first two years in the league and was one of the worst rim protectors in all of college basketball at Arizona. Yet now he’s an absolute stud at both on ball defense and protecting the rim lol.

I’ve been watching basketball a long time and I think Ayton is the only big man I can think of who came in from college being disastrous defensively and turned that around entirely. I’ve seen perimeter players and wing players who suck at defense in college become good there eventually in the pros but never a big. Usually if you suck at defense in college as a big, you will forever suck at defense in the pros too. Idk why that is but it was almost always the case. Ayton basically busted that.

Ayton of course deserves praise but I think a lot of credit needs to be given to the assistant coaches on the team who have worked with him in the past 2 yrs. Monty probably doesn’t have time to individually work with him and make him understand the concept of defense so it had to have been a lot of hrs spend with an assistant coach. It’s not a CP3 thing either because he was very good defensively before the bubble last season as well.

Ayton's improvement on defense is the reason why i always wanted to support him even though he had some bad moments and games in the past. If Ayton was scoring +20 points with with horrible defense people wouldn't call him bust as much as now but he would have a way worse impact on the court. Without a defensive anchor winning a chip is just too damn hard and as Suns fans we all know this very well. I think assistant coach Mark Bryant did an excellent job with Ayton. You can always see him next to Deandre in practice or in games he always talks to him about little stuff.

[WeekapaugGroove]

Ayton's been great. Hat tip to him

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I love Monty, was a really good hire.

Sent from my SM-G986U using RealGM mobile app

[Saberestar]

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[Mulhollanddrive]

Full credit to DA and his supporters, he's a couple months from getting the max.

[NapoleonII]

Full credit to DA and his supporters, he's a couple months from getting the max.

Even his supporters were on him.

He still needs to keep it up for the playoffs, but I think he will. He's unlocking his talent in real time, putting in the work.

And THEN we'll need to see what he does with a fat contract.

[Saberestar]

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