Ayton: Post Suns Haters

[Mulhollanddrive]

A softer Dwight Howard turns out to be a good thing.

[Biff]

I wonder how long before he realizes how good he had it here. Unfortunately there's almost no humility in Ayton. Had he played the role he needed to, he would have been a perfectly fine fit. Problem is dude thinks he's star center, as evidenced by his nickname, which is an absolute joke. Dude should have called himself "Dominayted" because that is far more common.

Nurk ain't all that either but at least he knows his role and won't pout about not being a feature on O.

[bwgood77]

I wonder how long before he realizes how good he had it here. Unfortunately there's almost no humility in Ayton. Had he played the role he needed to, he would have been a perfectly fine fit. Problem is dude thinks he's star center, as evidenced by his nickname, which is an absolute joke. Dude should have called himself "Dominayted" because that is far more common.

Nurk ain't all that either but at least he knows his role and won't pout about not being a feature on O.

I don't know, Pelton said Nurk would likely not be happy being so far down on offensive pecking chart....as did Blazers fans. Maybe he accepts it though.

Also, there is no real evidence, just rumors, that Ayton cared a ton about getting a ton of touches. As a matter of fact, he talked often, particularly before last year about focusing on D and not caring about his offense much, etc. But 21-22 he had my far his best offensive year, despite enigmatics continued to say he sandbagged that year.

I am not sure when he gave himself the Dominayton nickname. I think it was early...maybe in college, when he was more of an offensive dominating force against those guys...and got the tattoo. It's not a bad nickname if he did dominate.

The biggest problem with the nickname is that he keeps talking about it and not delivering.

But regardless of how "good" he had it hear, it got too toxic, even if it was just the fans trolling him on twitter and ridiculing him..ever since the Dallas series even though Paul was the reason we lost...and no one brought it in game 7. He just became the scapegoat all the time.

And then last year he was one of the only healthy guys, doing what he could do, but was the primary focus on the defense, and we all know he shouldn't be a #1 option, so he had some bad games. And despite him being the only starter healthy outside of Bridges, people still blamed him for not winning.

He needed to be moved, for everyone's sanity, even if it likely made us worse and we'd be better with him. I imagine Vogel wanted to keep him but was overruled...he could have done a lot more with Ayton than with Nurkic. Defense is what we need, and while Ayton had really regressed on that side, a defensive coach is exactly what he needed...he did wonders for Hibbert and even a washed Howard in LA...probably could have done a lot with Ayton.

Ayton is in a horrible offensive position now though. I don't know why Portland doesn't spread the floor, but the paint is SUPER clogged, with like 3/4 defenders in there. All their other players drive or only want to score themselves...particularly Grant who has the most tunnel vision I've seen. I think Scoot is trying to develop chemistry.

They need a coach that will spread the floor and open up things for Ayton though so he can get open...and probably get a few 3 pt shooters.

Anyway, it was right to move on. I thought we should if we found the right trade...I just didn't think we really found the right one, so I would have held onto him for longer since Nurkic will really hurt us any time he tries to score much, and on defense.

[Qwigglez]

Nurk ain't all that either but at least he knows his role and won't pout about not being a feature on O.

Oh, for real?

Spoiler:

"I wish my role was bigger. I think I could help more," he said. "Like I said, I was really respectful and tried to do what they asked of me."

https://www.si.com/nba/trailblazers/analysis/whats-the-best-bigger-role-for-jusuf-nurkic-offensively

Spoiler:

“First time I have ever seen in a home crowd … there was a guy with a sign: Trade Nurk,” Nurkic said. “Right across from our bench, middle of the floor. But he didn’t show that sign until like a minute to go in the game; he was hiding it there. I was like, just put it up …”

He shakes his head at the memory, trying to play it off like it didn’t bother him, that the guy should have had the stones to display it all game. But the more he talked about it, the more it was evident that it stung him.

“That was some really … I … I just take so much pride in playing hard, so that was a disappointing thing to see,” Nurkic said. “You can like me, or don’t like me, cool. I can’t control that. But I feel like my effort is always there.”

https://theathletic.com/3097567/2022/01/28/jusuf-nurkic-has-found-his-spot-on-and-off-the-court-in-portland-this-is-who-i-want-to-be-going-forward/

Is Nurkic just as sensitive as DA?

I'm not really trying to knock Nurkic, as I like what he is able to bring to the team. The comparison to DA though is a bit frustrating especially when it comes to personality differences. DA being this emotional player and Nurkic is not is just... strange. It is fine for both of them to be emotional and care for touches.

[sunsbg]

Ayton didn't have problem with the number of touches on the Suns or at least when he was getting 10+ FGA before KD joined. A Nr 1 pick will obviously not like getting 6-7 shots. Where are the quotes of him complaining about it on the Suns or the Blazers ? It's actually the opposite, he was too unselfish, some will even say lazy to take more shots. After they didn't give him the max after the finals run I was fully expecting he'll try to prove he's worth it on the offensive end and become more selfish, take contested, lower percentage shots. That never happened. Him asking out has more to do with feeling underappreciated than wanting a bigger role.

[lonea]

Lol people talk about his rebounding… meanwhile he’s getting paid max dollar for rebounding

LOL

#1 rebounder right now Domantas Sabonis - 30 mill (2023) 42 mill (2024)
#2 rebounder right now Deandre Ayton - $32 mill (2023) 34 mill (2024)
#3 rebounder right now AD - $40 mill (2023) $43 mill (2024)
#4 rebounder right now Rudy Gobert - $41 mill (2023) $43 mill (2024)

Yep gotta pay for rebounding.

"ONLY" rebounding...

[enigmatics]

Nurk ain't all that either but at least he knows his role and won't pout about not being a feature on O.

Oh, for real?

Spoiler:

"I wish my role was bigger. I think I could help more," he said. "Like I said, I was really respectful and tried to do what they asked of me."

https://www.si.com/nba/trailblazers/analysis/whats-the-best-bigger-role-for-jusuf-nurkic-offensively

Spoiler:

“First time I have ever seen in a home crowd … there was a guy with a sign: Trade Nurk,” Nurkic said. “Right across from our bench, middle of the floor. But he didn’t show that sign until like a minute to go in the game; he was hiding it there. I was like, just put it up …”

He shakes his head at the memory, trying to play it off like it didn’t bother him, that the guy should have had the stones to display it all game. But the more he talked about it, the more it was evident that it stung him.

“That was some really … I … I just take so much pride in playing hard, so that was a disappointing thing to see,” Nurkic said. “You can like me, or don’t like me, cool. I can’t control that. But I feel like my effort is always there.”

https://theathletic.com/3097567/2022/01/28/jusuf-nurkic-has-found-his-spot-on-and-off-the-court-in-portland-this-is-who-i-want-to-be-going-forward/

Is Nurkic just as sensitive as DA?

I'm not really trying to knock Nurkic, as I like what he is able to bring to the team. The comparison to DA though is a bit frustrating especially when it comes to personality differences. DA being this emotional player and Nurkic is not is just... strange. It is fine for both of them to be emotional and care for touches.

"Personality".

No, THIS is DA's personality i.e. getting dogged on the court.

The roles were reversed when Beef Stew tried that crap with Nurk in the Pistons game. At least OUT THERE he's not a floppy wet sock and shows toughness.

Read on Twitter

[Qwigglez]

"Personality".

No, THIS is DA's personality i.e. getting dogged on the court.

The roles were reversed when Beef Stew tried that crap with Nurk in the Pistons game. At least OUT THERE he's not a floppy wet sock and shows toughness.

Read on Twitter

Whatever you say man. Ayton can't do anything right in your eyes. The Blazers won that game and Ayton had 16/11 and 5 steals.

[enigmatics]

"Personality".

No, THIS is DA's personality i.e. getting dogged on the court.

The roles were reversed when Beef Stew tried that crap with Nurk in the Pistons game. At least OUT THERE he's not a floppy wet sock and shows toughness.

Read on Twitter

Whatever you say man. Ayton can't do anything right in your eyes. The Blazers won that game and Ayton had 16/11 and 5 steals.

Those stats have nothing to do it and Bagley was who he was primarily matched up with (Duren was out).

DA was mentally soft in the media and soft on the court (still is). Just because you found a couple press clippings that were similar doesn't put Nurk's "personality" in the same immature box as Ayton's.

In fact Nurk by all appearances handles interviews infinitely better not to mention didn't give himself a stupid, max delusional nickname.

[Qwigglez]

Those stats have nothing to do it and Bagley was who he was primarily matched up with (Duren was out).

DA was mentally soft in the media and soft on the court (still is). Just because you found a couple press clippings that were similar doesn't put Nurk's "personality" in the same immature box as Ayton's.

In fact Nurk by all appearances handles interviews infinitely better not to mention didn't give himself a stupid, max delusional nickname.

So... Biff said Nurk ain't all that, but he knows his role and won't pout about not being a feature on O.

I simply responded with two articles that shown Nurkic does in fact care about his role on offense, and that he pouted when a fan had a trade Nurkic sign. Are you telling me Nurkic wasn't sensitive about the sign? I did not say anything about Nurkic personality being immature.

[enigmatics]

Those stats have nothing to do it and Bagley was who he was primarily matched up with (Duren was out).

DA was mentally soft in the media and soft on the court (still is). Just because you found a couple press clippings that were similar doesn't put Nurk's "personality" in the same immature box as Ayton's.

In fact Nurk by all appearances handles interviews infinitely better not to mention didn't give himself a stupid, max delusional nickname.

So... Biff said Nurk ain't all that, but he knows his role and won't pout about not being a feature on O.

I simply responded with two articles that shown Nurkic does in fact care about his role on offense, and that he pouted when a fan had a trade Nurkic sign. Are you telling me Nurkic wasn't sensitive about the sign? I did not say anything about Nurkic personality being immature.

You brought up the word "personality."

He CARED about his role on offense on a trash Blazers team he thought he could help. The comments about seeing a fan holding a "trade Nurk" sign - it's like you're re-imagining the conversation all distraught with tears rolling down his face. His comments are NOT what I'd call pouting.

Perhaps he should've capped it off with some lame ass comment like "you don't ever trade a Porsche." Then it would've been kosher right?

[Qwigglez]

You brought up the word "personality."

He CARED about his role on offense on a trash Blazers team he thought he could help. The comments about seeing a fan holding a "trade Nurk" sign - it's like you're re-imagining the conversation all distraught with tears rolling down his face. His comments are NOT what I'd call pouting.

Perhaps he should've capped it off with some lame ass comment like "you don't ever trade a Porsche." Then it would've been kosher right?

You are absolutely right on everything.

[enigmatics]

You brought up the word "personality."

He CARED about his role on offense on a trash Blazers team he thought he could help. The comments about seeing a fan holding a "trade Nurk" sign - it's like you're re-imagining the conversation all distraught with tears rolling down his face. His comments are NOT what I'd call pouting.

Perhaps he should've capped it off with some lame ass comment like "you don't ever trade a Porsche." Then it would've been kosher right?

You are absolutely right on everything.

No bro, e-fight me! hahah jk

[bigfoot]

aytonburger … it’s the same as a nothingburger but costs you $30m per year

[NapoleonII]

the energy in here is similar to that dude always facebook stalking his ex.

Move on!

[garrick]

I wonder how long before he realizes how good he had it here. Unfortunately there's almost no humility in Ayton. Had he played the role he needed to, he would have been a perfectly fine fit. Problem is dude thinks he's star center, as evidenced by his nickname, which is an absolute joke. Dude should have called himself "Dominayted" because that is far more common.

Nurk ain't all that either but at least he knows his role and won't pout about not being a feature on O.

Ayton looks pretty happy in Portland and engaged with his team even though he's not getting a lot of touches on offense although I wonder if he will be happy scoring around 10 ppg all season. They almost came up with a win after he scored like 6 straight points in the 4th after the Blazers made an effort to get him the ball.

Maybe Scoot and Brogdon being out had something to do with that but hopefully they continue to utilize his abilities. That team is just full of ballhogs like Grant and Brogdon who are probably trying to pad their stats to get traded elsewhere.

Like BW said I think it was more the chemistry with the team because he's never been one to complain about a lack of shots, I'm sure he wasn't happy being so far down the pecking order but the way we dealt with his contract renewal went as bad as it could get & we really should have offered him what he was asking for at the time.

I'm not sure if Booker and KD wanted him gone and I doubt Booker is the kind of guy that tries to kick people off teams like Kobe, KD definitely I could envisioning him doing something like that.

[LukasBMW]

We didn't draft Ayton at #1 overall to have him average 12 and 12 and shoot jumpers.

We drafted Ayton to average 25 and 15 and be a dominant force on both ends of the floor.

He should be dunking 5x a game, getting to the line 5-6x a game, and going off for 35/18 or 40/20 every now and then. Instead he refuses to dunk, is lucky to get to line line once a game, and totally vanishes some games with 6 point stat lines. Pathetic for a guy of his size and skill.

I think at this point, it is obvious his motor and motivation will never allow him to become the player he is truly capable of becoming.

Good riddance. What a waste.

[KdoubleDees23]

We didn't draft Ayton at #1 overall to have him average 12 and 12 and shoot jumpers.

We drafted Ayton to average 25 and 15 and be a dominant force on both ends of the floor.

He should be dunking 5x a game, getting to the line 5-6x a game, and going off for 35/18 or 40/20 every now and then. Instead he refuses to dunk, is lucky to get to line line once a game, and totally vanishes some games with 6 point stat lines. Pathetic for a guy of his size and skill.

I think at this point, it is obvious his motor and motivation will never allow him to become the player he is truly capable of becoming.

Good riddance. What a waste.

Hahahahaha

[Revived]

We didn't draft Ayton at #1 overall to have him average 12 and 12 and shoot jumpers.

We drafted Ayton to average 25 and 15 and be a dominant force on both ends of the floor.

He should be dunking 5x a game, getting to the line 5-6x a game, and going off for 35/18 or 40/20 every now and then. Instead he refuses to dunk, is lucky to get to line line once a game, and totally vanishes some games with 6 point stat lines. Pathetic for a guy of his size and skill.

I think at this point, it is obvious his motor and motivation will never allow him to become the player he is truly capable of becoming.

Good riddance. What a waste.

His motor and motivation remind me of Andrew Bynum. The stuff way we say about Ayton is what Lakers fans used to say about Bynum. But at least Bynum was an All Star and helped the Lakers win a couple titles.

[Revived]

He’s had some really good games this season. Then he follows it up duds after. There’s no sense of consistency what so ever.