Deandre Ayton news and highlights

[Revived]

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[jcsunsfan]

Sigh. Watch 10 minutes and think you understand all about his defense. Rook is playing at all-star level and all people want to do is rip him.

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[Saberestar]

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Everyone can look terrible if someone wants to accomplish that on a one minute clip. This video is **** IMO.

Yeah, Bradley Beal scored easily a few times against Ayton...and what? Beal makes those baskets against every big man in the NBA, he is an All Star for a reason.

[Revived]

Sigh. Watch 10 minutes and think you understand all about his defense. Rook is playing at all-star level and all people want to do is rip him.

Read on Twitter

All star? Not yet. No player has ever made All Star team with the team’s winning % at what it is.

His rim protection is still very weak but he shows some promise there every now and then.

I like that he’s actually playing physically and fouling more lately. Hated in when he was playing soft and avoiding fouls before. One of the reasons Rudy Gobert is the best defensive big in the league today is because he was never afraid of contact even his rookie and sophomore seasons. This led to him fouling at a crazy high rate his first few years but he eventually figured it out and learned to maintain the physicality but without fouling.

[thamadkant]

Suns have no PF who can hold their man from abusing the paint for which Ayton can come over and block from the weak side.

Suns has shown some glimpses of good perimeter defense.. But they need an enforcer next to Ayton here and there to help protect the paint which allows Ayton to challenge from the weak side.

Even Hakeem had Otis Thorpe, Shaq had Horry, Robinson had Reid and Rodman, Ewing had Mason and Oakley... Heck Mutombo had Ellis..

The modern game will mean that who ever is in that PF spot will need to be quick to cover perimeter but strong enough to hold position down low too.... But then can spot up to draw defenses out.

Zion??

I would prefer someone like a Favors... Ideally a younger Horford... Or Ibaka... Or Rasheed Wallace lol

But currently the only player on the Suns who can cover inside and outside is Josh Jackson... He is usually assigned to a PG who dominates the Suns and he does well guarding them... Maybe if Josh can bulk up next season... He can then cover three spots consistently defensively

[jcsunsfan]

Sigh. Watch 10 minutes and think you understand all about his defense. Rook is playing at all-star level and all people want to do is rip him.

Read on Twitter

All star? Not yet. No player has ever made All Star team with the team’s winning % at what it is.

His rim protection is still very weak but he shows some promise there every now and then.

I like that he’s actually playing physically and fouling more lately. Hated in when he was playing soft and avoiding fouls before. One of the reasons Rudy Gobert is the best defensive big in the league today is because he was never afraid of contact even his rookie and sophomore seasons. This led to him fouling at a crazy high rate his first few years but he eventually figured it out and learned to maintain the physicality but without fouling.

Sure he is playing at all star level. I did not say the team was, I said his level of play is all-star level and it is. I am not saying he will be selected.


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[lilfishi22]

Sigh. Watch 10 minutes and think you understand all about his defense. Rook is playing at all-star level and all people want to do is rip him.

Read on Twitter

All star? Not yet. No player has ever made All Star team with the team’s winning % at what it is.

His rim protection is still very weak but he shows some promise there every now and then.

I like that he’s actually playing physically and fouling more lately. Hated in when he was playing soft and avoiding fouls before. One of the reasons Rudy Gobert is the best defensive big in the league today is because he was never afraid of contact even his rookie and sophomore seasons. This led to him fouling at a crazy high rate his first few years but he eventually figured it out and learned to maintain the physicality but without fouling.

I never really understood why he gives up on defensive plays so often. He's long enough, quick enough and athletic enough to chase down a guy driving on him and get the block but he just gives up, stops trailing and just watched the guy get to the rim. The other plays where he just gets a bit lost and a back door play is run, it's a bit hard to fault the rookie. For those that watch him play defense intently, you don't really need a one minute video to confirm what you see but it is useful

Ayton has gotten better as the season rolled on but it's those plays where he just gives up which kind of leaves me a bit confused. He only needs to take two more steps and he would be able to meet his man at the rim from behind.

[Revived]

Sigh. Watch 10 minutes and think you understand all about his defense. Rook is playing at all-star level and all people want to do is rip him.

All star? Not yet. No player has ever made All Star team with the team’s winning % at what it is.

His rim protection is still very weak but he shows some promise there every now and then.

I like that he’s actually playing physically and fouling more lately. Hated in when he was playing soft and avoiding fouls before. One of the reasons Rudy Gobert is the best defensive big in the league today is because he was never afraid of contact even his rookie and sophomore seasons. This led to him fouling at a crazy high rate his first few years but he eventually figured it out and learned to maintain the physicality but without fouling.

I never really understood why he gives up on defensive plays so often. He's long enough, quick enough and athletic enough to chase down a guy driving on him and get the block but he just gives up, stops trailing and just watched the guy get to the rim. The other plays where he just gets a bit lost and a back door play is run, it's a bit hard to fault the rookie. For those that watch him play defense intently, you don't really need a one minute video to confirm what you see but it is useful

Ayton has gotten better as the season rolled on but it's those plays where he just gives up which kind of leaves me a bit confused. He only needs to take two more steps and he would be able to meet his man at the rim from behind.

I can’t explain it but it reminds me of the effort Harden used to show defensively during his first couple seasons in Houston. He’s gotten a lot better now so hope Ayton can do the same.

[darmani]

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[WeekapaugGroove]

Sigh. Watch 10 minutes and think you understand all about his defense. Rook is playing at all-star level and all people want to do is rip him.

All star? Not yet. No player has ever made All Star team with the team’s winning % at what it is.

His rim protection is still very weak but he shows some promise there every now and then.

I like that he’s actually playing physically and fouling more lately. Hated in when he was playing soft and avoiding fouls before. One of the reasons Rudy Gobert is the best defensive big in the league today is because he was never afraid of contact even his rookie and sophomore seasons. This led to him fouling at a crazy high rate his first few years but he eventually figured it out and learned to maintain the physicality but without fouling.

I never really understood why he gives up on defensive plays so often. He's long enough, quick enough and athletic enough to chase down a guy driving on him and get the block but he just gives up, stops trailing and just watched the guy get to the rim. The other plays where he just gets a bit lost and a back door play is run, it's a bit hard to fault the rookie. For those that watch him play defense intently, you don't really need a one minute video to confirm what you see but it is useful

Ayton has gotten better as the season rolled on but it's those plays where he just gives up which kind of leaves me a bit confused. He only needs to take two more steps and he would be able to meet his man at the rim from behind.

I kind of think at some point when he was younger some coach instructed him not to foul because they couldn't afford to lose him on O and now it's a habit.

As far as the switching and weak side D he's certainly a work in progress. Better perimeter d will help for sure. I think some is just timing it better, he's a touch slow to react at times and gets caught in no man's land. Hopefully with experience that comes a little more naturally.

He also never shares the floor with another shot blocker so that puts a lot on his shoulders. I don't mind doing this now because long term it will help him because playing with a 4 out type system will be best for his offense.
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[jcsunsfan]

All star? Not yet. No player has ever made All Star team with the team’s winning % at what it is.

His rim protection is still very weak but he shows some promise there every now and then.

I like that he’s actually playing physically and fouling more lately. Hated in when he was playing soft and avoiding fouls before. One of the reasons Rudy Gobert is the best defensive big in the league today is because he was never afraid of contact even his rookie and sophomore seasons. This led to him fouling at a crazy high rate his first few years but he eventually figured it out and learned to maintain the physicality but without fouling.

I never really understood why he gives up on defensive plays so often. He's long enough, quick enough and athletic enough to chase down a guy driving on him and get the block but he just gives up, stops trailing and just watched the guy get to the rim. The other plays where he just gets a bit lost and a back door play is run, it's a bit hard to fault the rookie. For those that watch him play defense intently, you don't really need a one minute video to confirm what you see but it is useful

Ayton has gotten better as the season rolled on but it's those plays where he just gives up which kind of leaves me a bit confused. He only needs to take two more steps and he would be able to meet his man at the rim from behind.

I kind of think at some point when he was younger some coach instructed him not to foul because they couldn't afford to lose him on O and now it's a habit.

As far as the switching and weak side D he's certainly a work in progress. Better perimeter d will help for sure. I think some is just timing it better, he's a touch slow to react at times and gets caught in no man's land. Hopefully with experience that comes a little more naturally.

He also never shares the floor with another shot blocker so that puts a lot on his shoulders. I don't mind doing this now because long term it will help him because playing with a 4 out type system will be best for his offense.
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using RealGM mobile app

I was thinking the same thing. People have to remember that one college season is far too short to unlearn something like this. Ayton has already played more pro games than college games.

[Revived]

Sigh. Watch 10 minutes and think you understand all about his defense. Rook is playing at all-star level and all people want to do is rip him.

All star? Not yet. No player has ever made All Star team with the team’s winning % at what it is.

His rim protection is still very weak but he shows some promise there every now and then.

I like that he’s actually playing physically and fouling more lately. Hated in when he was playing soft and avoiding fouls before. One of the reasons Rudy Gobert is the best defensive big in the league today is because he was never afraid of contact even his rookie and sophomore seasons. This led to him fouling at a crazy high rate his first few years but he eventually figured it out and learned to maintain the physicality but without fouling.

Sure he is playing at all star level. I did not say the team was, I said his level of play is all-star level and it is. I am not saying he will be selected.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

Not yet because his defense needs to be at least average for that. If not, then his offense has to be like James Harden/Steph Curry level and while his numbers look good, his impact isn’t anywhere close to theirs on the offensive end.

[bwgood77]

All star? Not yet. No player has ever made All Star team with the team’s winning % at what it is.

His rim protection is still very weak but he shows some promise there every now and then.

I like that he’s actually playing physically and fouling more lately. Hated in when he was playing soft and avoiding fouls before. One of the reasons Rudy Gobert is the best defensive big in the league today is because he was never afraid of contact even his rookie and sophomore seasons. This led to him fouling at a crazy high rate his first few years but he eventually figured it out and learned to maintain the physicality but without fouling.

Sure he is playing at all star level. I did not say the team was, I said his level of play is all-star level and it is. I am not saying he will be selected.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

Not yet because his defense needs to be at least average for that. If not, then his offense has to be like James Harden/Steph Curry level and while his numbers look good, his impact isn’t anywhere close to theirs on the offensive end.

Of course not. He's a rookie, and he doesn't have the ball in his hands to start every possession. He is looking WAY WAY WAY better on defense the last 4-5 games. I am really surprised....not because I didn't think he would get there, but I didn't think he would start doing this much this fast on D. He still has a lot to work on, but I am impressed.

[thamadkant]

Ayton's skill set and talent... being a third option offensively might be "fine" for his rookie season as a 20 year old... but for him to live up to his potential (27ppg 14rpg 4apg 2.5bpg) he will need to be key focus of the Suns offense... perhaps similar to how Spurs used Duncan, Parker and Ginobili evenly during the 2007-2010.... right now, he is being used like Capela which is a travesty, but again... since its his rookie year, can live with it

[Kerrsed]

If anybody sees NTB around, give him HELL! I found this "Gem" by him in the Game Thread on the Magic Board!

I think the Suns blew it last year too. JJJ, Doncic, and maybe Bagley will be better.

Young, Wendell, Knox, Shai will be better too.

[jcsunsfan]

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Man all it took was 10 minutes of watching the Orlando overtime to see that DeAndre Ayton is a candidate for DPOY.

Anyone who tells you they have a player figured out after watching him for 10 minutes should be ignored completely.

[Revived]

Read on Twitter

Man all it took was 10 minutes of watching the Orlando overtime to see that DeAndre Ayton is a candidate for DPOY.

Anyone who tells you they have a player figured out after watching him for 10 minutes should be ignored completely.

Ayton has had far more than 10 minutes of bad play defensively this season. And overall so far this season, he's had many more bad moments on that end than he has had good ones thus the "black Enes Kanter" nickname that he earned.

But yes he was brilliant today especially in OT. Hope he can keep it going forward because it clearly seems to be an effort/lazy thing and not a skill thing.

[Revived]

Sure he is playing at all star level. I did not say the team was, I said his level of play is all-star level and it is. I am not saying he will be selected.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

Not yet because his defense needs to be at least average for that. If not, then his offense has to be like James Harden/Steph Curry level and while his numbers look good, his impact isn’t anywhere close to theirs on the offensive end.

Of course not. He's a rookie, and he doesn't have the ball in his hands to start every possession. He is looking WAY WAY WAY better on defense the last 4-5 games. I am really surprised....not because I didn't think he would get there, but I didn't think he would start doing this much this fast on D. He still has a lot to work on, but I am impressed.

I agree and I was actually looking up how many rookies have made the All Star team in recent years and it's literally been just Yao Ming and Blake Griffin. I'm guessing Yao's All Star appearance may have had a lot to do with the fan voting in China so that's almost a scratch.

I don't even think Doncic will be able to make it. It's nearly impossible to make it as a rookie especially in the West.

[Saberestar]

Ayton is finally averaging 1 block per game, and he is altering more shots than at the beginning of the season. His improvement on defense is a joy to watch.

Stats for his last ten games (5W-5L):

17.7 points
12.9 rebounds
1.8 assists
1.5 blocks
62% FG

[NTB]

If anybody sees NTB around, give him HELL! I found this "Gem" by him in the Game Thread on the Magic Board!

I think the Suns blew it last year too. JJJ, Doncic, and maybe Bagley will be better.

Young, Wendell, Knox, Shai will be better too.

I hope you guys realize that it was sarcasm Didn't feel like I need to use green font.