Deandre Ayton news and highlights

[bwgood77]

Just to keep this about Ayton, lets talk about all other rookies, particularly with all the Doncic discussion, in the Around the NBA thread just so we can focus on his strengths, weaknesses, quotes, highlights, etc here. We know this is a season where the forum can get toxic and divisive and many have contributed to that, but I'd like to try and minimize that to the extent we can and keep the conversation productive. We have a great community here but sometimes it can get out of hand.

So... you're going to lock all of the threads?

Well I'd like to keep the threads on topic instead of veering into talking about things the thread is not supposed to be about so when lurkers stop by to read about someone they don't end up reading about something else.

And people have also gotten into personal attacks lately which is not something that we typically see a lot of around here so yes, I'd like to keep it productive and not lock threads.

[Frank Lee]

Did Eddie just say Ayton needs to foul
Or he will continue to be abused?
Needless to point out I guess
Certainly obvious
I suppose we should accept it
Cause it ain’t gonna change

[handsome salary]

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." Viewers of the Suns are clinical.

[Calvin Klein]

Could not watch. Any signs of effort?

[bwgood77]

Could not watch. Any signs of effort?

Actually I thought the team came out with effort and energy to start and when Ayton got in fairly quickly, so did he. But Portland couldn't miss in the first quarter. I really didn't think it was a lack of effort or energy to start but our shots just didn't go down and their's did. Despite the score in the first quarter, I thought they looked a lot better on the floor with hustle and stuff than the previous game.

[handsome salary]

Ayton's physique means literally nothing now against the pros. What else he got? So far nada.

[UcanUwill]

His stats look good, why the hate? And why no start the other night?

[RaisingArizona]

Ayton is the epitome of empty stats. Booker is already tired of him because he doesn't bring effort every night and he lets guards prance down the lane for uncontested layups and dunks. He is trending towards being a bust despite his stats which really mean little if you watch the games. Getting 15/10 in 30 point garbage time doesn't mean anything. He does not alter the outcome of the games and most of the time it's hard to tell he is even on the court.

[m1chal]

His stats look good, why the hate? And why no start the other night?

After 8 years of losing, disappointing trades and draft picks most Suns fans need therapy. Depression, delusions, moodiness, pessimism etc. Don't worry, few wins and we'll put our rosy glasses on.

[GoodBehavior]

He looked fine yesterday. He absolutely has to make those mid range shots. He missed too many in the first quarter where those shots were lightly contested if at all. A big part of his recent struggles has been the inability to make those midrange jumpers that he made with eyes closed during college and during the early part of the season.

Jumper looked better in the second half, hopefully he's getting out of the shooting slump. We'll find out today i supposed

[RaisingArizona]

He looked fine yesterday. He absolutely has to make those mid range shots. He missed too many in the first quarter where those shots were lightly contested if at all. A big part of his recent struggles has been the inability to make those midrange jumpers that he made with eyes closed during college and during the early part of the season.

Jumper looked better in the second half, hopefully he's getting out of the shooting slump. We'll find out today i supposed

10/9 when you're the main scoring threat is not great. Not sure he has the ability to take over games. He may be a rotation player but at #1 that's not what we were hoping for.

[Preacherpj]

He looked fine yesterday. He absolutely has to make those mid range shots. He missed too many in the first quarter where those shots were lightly contested if at all. A big part of his recent struggles has been the inability to make those midrange jumpers that he made with eyes closed during college and during the early part of the season.

Jumper looked better in the second half, hopefully he's getting out of the shooting slump. We'll find out today i supposed

10/9 when you're the main scoring threat is not great. Not sure he has the ability to take over games. He may be a rotation player but at #1 that's not what we were hoping for.

I still really like the offensive building blocks he has. I think when he gets a couple more years of maturity and is surrounded by better players he can be a really tough offensive weapon to deal with.

But he’s definitly not there yet.

[Preacherpj]

Ayton age 20
FG% 59, FT% 75, 10.1 RPG, 15.8 PPG, 2.5 APG

Jokic age 20 season
FG% 51, FT% 81, 7 RPG, 10 PPG, 2.4 APG

I think patience is important and I could see Ayton developing into Jokic type player with his passing ability - NOT to that level as a passer, but similar and a better rebounder.

The key is we have to find the right coach to develop him and we have to surround him with better talent.

And he obviously has to want it.

[GoodBehavior]

He looked fine yesterday. He absolutely has to make those mid range shots. He missed too many in the first quarter where those shots were lightly contested if at all. A big part of his recent struggles has been the inability to make those midrange jumpers that he made with eyes closed during college and during the early part of the season.

Jumper looked better in the second half, hopefully he's getting out of the shooting slump. We'll find out today i supposed

10/9 when you're the main scoring threat is not great. Not sure he has the ability to take over games. He may be a rotation player but at #1 that's not what we were hoping for.

I am not saying you're wrong or will be right, but dont you think it's a little premature to call him a bust?

Centers take some time to develop. Embiid out of college wasn't close to being Embiid during his rookie year. I'll give Ayton two years to develop before calling him a rotational player. FWIW, I doubt Embiid would put up the same stats right out of college.

[Preacherpj]

He looked fine yesterday. He absolutely has to make those mid range shots. He missed too many in the first quarter where those shots were lightly contested if at all. A big part of his recent struggles has been the inability to make those midrange jumpers that he made with eyes closed during college and during the early part of the season.

Jumper looked better in the second half, hopefully he's getting out of the shooting slump. We'll find out today i supposed

10/9 when you're the main scoring threat is not great. Not sure he has the ability to take over games. He may be a rotation player but at #1 that's not what we were hoping for.

I think its way too early to declare that "he may be a rotation player"

He has a chance to be much much more than that. And its not a tiny miniscule chance. There's a very real scenario IMO that he develops into an all-star level player.

I don't think he's ever going to be a all-nba superstar level guy - but I think he can be a multiple time all star type player which is completely fine.

Again, he's a Sun. The organization made their choice; now they have to develop him and give him every chance to succeed.

Uncle Clancy, who works the family farm in Wisconsin; will tell you the very best corn seeds won't germinate and grow well if the soil is crap. Young players are very much like corn seeds, and right now the Suns' fields are full of rocks, weeds and blight. That needs to be fixed if we expect to develop young players.

This goes for next year's draft as well.

[GoodBehavior]

He looked fine yesterday. He absolutely has to make those mid range shots. He missed too many in the first quarter where those shots were lightly contested if at all. A big part of his recent struggles has been the inability to make those midrange jumpers that he made with eyes closed during college and during the early part of the season.

Jumper looked better in the second half, hopefully he's getting out of the shooting slump. We'll find out today i supposed

10/9 when you're the main scoring threat is not great. Not sure he has the ability to take over games. He may be a rotation player but at #1 that's not what we were hoping for.

I think its way too early to declare that "he may be a rotation player"

He has a chance to be much much more than that. And its not a tiny miniscule chance. There's a very real scenario IMO that he develops into an all-star level player.

I don't think he's ever going to be a all-nba superstar level guy - but I think he can be a multiple time all star type player which is completely fine.

Again, he's a Sun. The organization made their choice; now they have to develop him and give him every chance to succeed.

Uncle Clancy, who works the family farm in Wisconsin; will tell you the very best corn seeds won't germinate and grow well if the soil is crap. Young players are very much like corn seeds, and right now the Suns' fields are full of rocks, weeds and blight. That needs to be fixed if we expect to develop young players.

This goes for next year's draft as well.

Good point, my only issue is your comment about Ayton's ceiling. It's impossible to handicap what his ceiling is at this point. He could be a so-so all star like you mentioned or he could be a HOF, transcendental center that he's physically capable. I think this is true for all young centers with unlimited potential (Embiid, AD, Bynum (yes Bynum), Ogden, Duncan).

[bwgood77]

Interesting to go back and read through the draft threads...

Drafting a big man ahead of Doncic and Young in an era where big men are largely irrelevant could be disastrous.

Ayton can be sooooo awful defensively. I really want to like him but bigmen with questionable defense and motor issues don't fit in today's NBA, even if they're awesome on offense.

At this point are there any teams that would not take Ayton with the #1 pick?

Hopefully the Suns.

[GoodBehavior]

Interesting to go back and read through the draft threads...

Drafting a big man ahead of Doncic and Young in an era where big men are largely irrelevant could be disastrous.

Ayton can be sooooo awful defensively. I really want to like him but bigmen with questionable defense and motor issues don't fit in today's NBA, even if they're awesome on offense.

At this point are there any teams that would not take Ayton with the #1 pick?

Hopefully the Suns.

Ayton's defense isn't as bad as people make it out to be. After Canaan was dropped from the starting lineup, team defense & Ayton improved sharply until Booker's injury forced Igor to put Okobo (like Canaan is a defensively liability) on the starting lineup. If Ayton is playing with decent defensive guard, his defense is middle of the pack and acceptable. People wonder why he looked so great during Summer league but dreadful during the season? Well, its Shaq Harrison guarding the PNR vs Isaac Canaan, its a huge difference.

I was browsing on the main forum and someone posted that the Sixers' defense has dropped to 27th after the trade. The reason from what I gathered is not just the trade but poor guard defense overall during the season. This is a team with three elite defenders (Embiid, Simons, Butler/Covington). The Jazz is another team that defensively underperformed this year despite Gobert and Favors anchoring the middle. Still a good defensive team, but no where what fans expect to be (and a key reason why they're playing 0.500 ball). Again, the issue is poor guard defense.

Gobert, Embiid, Butler/Covington are the elite of the elite when it comes to defense. DPOY caliber players. If their defense is impacted by poor guard play, what chance does Ayton have with piss poor guard defenders? I'll reserve judgement until he's surrounded by plus defender

[bwgood77]

Interesting to go back and read through the draft threads...

Drafting a big man ahead of Doncic and Young in an era where big men are largely irrelevant could be disastrous.

Ayton can be sooooo awful defensively. I really want to like him but bigmen with questionable defense and motor issues don't fit in today's NBA, even if they're awesome on offense.

Hopefully the Suns.

Ayton's defense isn't as bad as people make it out to be. After Canaan was dropped from the starting lineup, team defense & Ayton improved sharply until Booker's injury forced Igor to put Okobo (like Canaan is a defensively liability) on the starting lineup. If Ayton is playing with decent defensive guard, his defense is middle of the pack and acceptable. People wonder why he looked so great during Summer league but dreadful during the season? Well, its Shaq Harrison guarding the PNR vs Isaac Canaan, its a huge difference.

I was browsing on the main forum and someone posted that the Sixers' defense has dropped to 27th after the trade. The reason from what I gathered is not just the trade but poor guard defense overall during the season. This is a team with three elite defenders (Embiid, Simons, Butler/Covington). The Jazz is another team that defensively underperformed this year despite Gobert and Favors anchoring the middle. Still a good defensive team, but no where what fans expect to be (and a key reason why they're playing 0.500 ball). Again, the issue is poor guard defense.

Gobert, Embiid, Butler/Covington are the elite of the elite when it comes to defense. DPOY caliber players. If their defense is impacted by poor guard play, what chance does Ayton have with piss poor guard defenders? I'll reserve judgement until he's surrounded by plus defender

Ayton's D can be really bad around the basket, especially when he watches an opposing player drive to the layup a foot or two away from him.

But yeah, that lineup with Booker/Bridges/Ariza/Warren/Ayton was playing good ball for 5 games or so before the injuries. It's just too bad once we get in a rythmn things like the injuries happen.

[JDJ26]

I'm hoping the front office is looking for a defensive PF to pair with Ayton.