Jesus_H_Macy wrote:Phystic wrote:
The bit I saw it didn't seem like they blamed Ayton for it, just answered when asked. But I also didn't see them totally own their failure either. They repeated bots that monty said about being a man and taking it but nobody stepped up and said "this is me because of this" type of thing.
Rumor I heard was Monty called DA out for giving up on the team. But again, all speculation.
I don't blame DA for this loss. Or even fully blame him for his disappearing acts, the Suns don't prioritize him like they should
I'm interested to see if the details of what happened come out. It's not out of the question that Ayton did some pouting but in my opinion that's really not the type of personality he has from what I've seen. I know there were the rumors about him being unhappy but I've never really seen or heard any bad attitude from him. It looked like the whole team, including Monty, quit in Game 6 and Game 7 so without knowing more details I think it's strange and a bit hypocritical for Monty to be singling him out.
Yeah, even though he wanted the max and said he wanted to be respected like others in his class, he wasn't really bitching about anything, and Suns didn't even extend an offer at all. Later Jones said he would have been open for a 4 year max but his agents were adamant that the Suns never called them or proposed an offer, and they are respectable agents...I think Bill Duffy.
Then this Monty saying "he gave up" was from some apparent lip reader on twitter but he didn't do it from a video meaning he is saying he read lips AT the game which is very far fetched without having to look at it multiple times, especially since you would have had to been at a good angle and close up without anyone in view...I doubt any of this is true, especially since Ayton didn't appear to give up during the game and was playing pretty hard in the 2nd half when he came out, responsible for all their points so far with a steal, assist, hook shot bucket, contesting shots, etc.
I think most of this stuff said is all conjecture and rumors. No one knows what happened except a few people around the bench and anyone else they've talked to about it.
Ayton has also always said he will do whatever the team wants and needs, whether it be focus on D, set screens, whatever, so he's never vocally said at least publically that he wants more touches, though many think he should demand the ball even though he does have his hand up calling for it often and ignored.
His rep seems different than what he is.....that is, outside of some poor rebounding efforts and lapses in energy at times, but he still averaged more rebounds this year per 36 than last.
