Deandre Ayton news and highlights

GoodBehavior · Post #1081 » by **GoodBehavior** » Wed Jan 16, 2019 1:29 pm

He's averaging 1.0 block and 0.8 steal per game. Those are respectable numbers for a rookie center. Team defense overall is putrid (Booker, Warren, etc), so it's really hard to accurately gauge his defensive impact. But I believe he's third in DTRG on this team after Melton (110) and Holmes (109), both are defensive specialists. He's at 111, higher than Mikal.

I am cautiously optimistic he's going to be an elite 2-way player. I will say this, when our guards are playing solid defense, he looks like an elite rim protector and perform outstanding on PNR defense.

Revived · Post #1082 » by **Revived** » Wed Jan 16, 2019 7:31 pm

bwgood77 wrote:Any complaints about Ayton just watch this...

Read on Twitter

Though Len actually had a great game tonight.

I feel bad for Trae, that was such a good pass. His vision is really underrated and that was actually my favorite part about his game even in college more so than his shooting.

Post #1083 » by **lilfishi22** » Wed Jan 16, 2019 10:40 pm

Ayton certainly dunks more than Len but I still think Ayton is soft when he's in full dunking position. Like positions where Amare would just smash it in to not just give us 2pts but also demoralise the other team and let them know if they are coming up to challenge me, you're likely going to be put on a poster.

It's not a legit complaint because he's still giving us 2pts but it's just frustrating when I'm watching a guy this big, this long and this super human athletically not dunk the ball when everyone is like half a foot smaller than him.

Frank Lee · Post #1084 » by **Frank Lee** » Wed Jan 16, 2019 10:48 pm

He misses out on 2-3 dunks a game minimum

He’s just too nice
Not exactly a trait you want in your biggest guy on the court

Damkac · Post #1085 » by **Damkac** » Wed Jan 16, 2019 10:50 pm

I don't care if he dunks or not as long as he shoots at good %. Not every big must be Amare/Shaq to be good. I would rather see him playing more agressive on defense.

Post #1086 » by **lilfishi22** » Wed Jan 16, 2019 10:56 pm

Damkac wrote:I don't care if he dunks or not as long as he shoots at good %. Not every big must be Amare/Shaq to be good. I would rather see him playing more agressive on defense.

The difference is that defense takes time to learn and takes experience. Dunking the ball is something he's done since he was probably like 12. He can change that now

GoodBehavior · Post #1087 » by **GoodBehavior** » Wed Jan 16, 2019 11:06 pm

lilfishi22 wrote:Ayton certainly dunks more than Len but I still think Ayton is soft when he's in full dunking position. Like positions where Amare would just smash it in to not just give us 2pts but also demoralise the other team and let them know if they are coming up to challenge me, you're likely going to be put on a poster.

It's not a legit complaint because he's still giving us 2pts but it's just frustrating when I'm watching a guy this big, this long and this super human athletically not dunk the ball when everyone is like half a foot smaller than him.

Dunks does take a lot out of you. You see players, especially more experienced players, decidedly dunking less than when they were young. Maybe he's smart and conserving his energy. Given his conditioning so far, I don't think that's a bad strategy.

Amare dunked a ton but he was non-existent on the board/defense. I don't mind a dunk here or there (for momentum purposes) but I don't want him to sacrifice effort on the other end to make highlight reels. As long as he's ridiculously efficient around the rim, I see no problem with the current approach.

Post #1088 » by **lilfishi22** » Wed Jan 16, 2019 11:16 pm

GoodBehavior wrote:
lilfishi22 wrote:Ayton certainly dunks more than Len but I still think Ayton is soft when he's in full dunking position. Like positions where Amare would just smash it in to not just give us 2pts but also demoralise the other team and let them know if they are coming up to challenge me, you're likely going to be put on a poster.

It's not a legit complaint because he's still giving us 2pts but it's just frustrating when I'm watching a guy this big, this long and this super human athletically not dunk the ball when everyone is like half a foot smaller than him.

Dunks does take a lot out of you. You see players, especially more experienced players, decidedly dunking less than when they were young. Maybe he's smart and conserving his energy. Given his conditioning so far, I don't think that's a bad strategy.

Amare dunked a ton but he was non-existent on the board/defense. I don't mind a dunk here or there (for momentum purposes) but I don't want him to sacrifice effort on the other end to make highlight reels. As long as he's ridiculously efficient around the rim, I see no problem with the current approach.

Yeah like I said, it's not a legit gripe against him but it's just frustrating when he's not doing something he can be doing now. Maybe you're right that he's conserving his energy (same reason he ball watches and not challenge shots at the rim more often?) so alright. Like Luka, Ayton needs to go through a strength and conditioning program in the offseason

Saberestar · Post #1089 » by **Saberestar** » Thu Jan 17, 2019 2:28 pm

lilfishi22 wrote:Ayton certainly dunks more than Len but I still think Ayton is soft when he's in full dunking position. Like positions where Amare would just smash it in to not just give us 2pts but also demoralise the other team and let them know if they are coming up to challenge me, you're likely going to be put on a poster.

It's not a legit complaint because he's still giving us 2pts but it's just frustrating when I'm watching a guy this big, this long and this super human athletically not dunk the ball when everyone is like half a foot smaller than him.

I do not care at all if he makes a dunk or a layup...two points are two points.

He is extremely good finishing at the rim and he has great hands. That is what I want to see and I value that a lot.

I hate when Josh Jackson or Chriss (oh my) go to the rim trying to dunk and the miss the easy basket.

How many time Jackson has been denied by the rim or another player trying to dunk? It has happened a lot, it is frustrating to watch.

spanishninja · Post #1090 » by **spanishninja** » Thu Jan 17, 2019 8:56 pm

Saberestar wrote:
lilfishi22 wrote:Ayton certainly dunks more than Len but I still think Ayton is soft when he's in full dunking position. Like positions where Amare would just smash it in to not just give us 2pts but also demoralise the other team and let them know if they are coming up to challenge me, you're likely going to be put on a poster.

It's not a legit complaint because he's still giving us 2pts but it's just frustrating when I'm watching a guy this big, this long and this super human athletically not dunk the ball when everyone is like half a foot smaller than him.

I do not care at all if he makes a dunk or a layup...two points are two points.

He is extremely good finishing at the rim and he has great hands. That is what I want to see and I value that a lot.

I hate when Josh Jackson or Chriss (oh my) go to the rim trying to dunk and the miss the easy basket.

How many time Jackson has been denied by the rim or another player trying to dunk? It has happened a lot, it is frustrating to watch.

yeah, Len is incomparable to Ayton. Len couldn't even catch an interior pass.

Post #1091 » by **lilfishi22** » Thu Jan 17, 2019 10:37 pm

Saberestar wrote:
lilfishi22 wrote:Ayton certainly dunks more than Len but I still think Ayton is soft when he's in full dunking position. Like positions where Amare would just smash it in to not just give us 2pts but also demoralise the other team and let them know if they are coming up to challenge me, you're likely going to be put on a poster.

It's not a legit complaint because he's still giving us 2pts but it's just frustrating when I'm watching a guy this big, this long and this super human athletically not dunk the ball when everyone is like half a foot smaller than him.

I do not care at all if he makes a dunk or a layup...two points are two points.

He is extremely good finishing at the rim and he has great hands. That is what I want to see and I value that a lot.

I hate when Josh Jackson or Chriss (oh my) go to the rim trying to dunk and the miss the easy basket.

How many time Jackson has been denied by the rim or another player trying to dunk? It has happened a lot, it is frustrating to watch.

That's because JJ and CHriss try to jump from the FT line. Those very very different cases. They very clearly try to jump from the furthest point possible for...no reason at all. I'm not saying I want to see Ayton jump from outside the restricted area (like Amare used to do), I just want him to try and dunk it more often when he's under the basket which he's completely capable of doing.

Post #1092 » by **bwgood77** » Fri Jan 18, 2019 9:33 pm

9. Deandre Ayton's soft man hands
It is really hard to knock the ball out of Ayton's hands.

He's like an action movie hero: Three henchmen blanket him and whap at his arms -- almost obscuring Ayton -- and then he rises up, tosses the enemies aside, and lays the ball in.

Ayton is averaging a hair below two turnovers per game -- an encouraging mark for a rookie who gets the ball a lot on a terrible team, and isn't afraid of ambitious passes.

Ayton has quietly -- because every normal human stopped watching Phoenix games two months ago -- made the kind of progress the Suns hoped to see. In October and November, he defended as if he had never seen a pick-and-roll. He would tilt his body the wrong way, opening driving lanes galore, abandon help assignments early, and bolt in random directions at random times.

Two months later, Ayton resembles a normal addled rookie center. He can (sometimes) track two actions at once. He has a better sense of how to corral ball handlers on the pick-and-roll without letting the screener -- his guy -- slip free.

He has a long way to go. Opponents have hit 67.5 percent of shots at the rim with Ayton nearby, the fourth-worst mark among all rotation centers, per NBA.com. On offense, he's a little thirsty for midrangers -- a big reason he doesn't get to the line enough.

Luka Doncic has (justifiably) overshadowed this entire rookie class. But considering the fawning (some justified, some a little much) over the two-way potential of Jaren Jackson Jr. and Wendell Carter Jr., Ayton's work in Year 1 hasn't gotten enough attention.

Read on Twitter

Saberestar · Post #1093 » by **Saberestar** » Fri Feb 1, 2019 9:12 pm

Read on Twitter

Frank Lee · Post #1094 » by **Frank Lee** » Sun Feb 3, 2019 2:54 pm

If this kid can perfect two or three moves, he will be a 20 pointer per.

That little jump hook from 5 -6 feet doesnt require him to bang in for position or put the ball on the floor much. And it looks like money. Will he ever be able to go lefty with it ? Doesnt matter... its almost unstoppable.

The foul line+ jumper is open ALL the time. Start making it at a good clip and passing lanes will open. Then, with a slight miracle, his quickness may set up blow bys. But even then, he should be able to hit that at a 50%+ rate.

hes tried a dream shake or two... but that might be asking too much.

I dont think hes aver going to be a force... that requires a competitiveness he just doesnt seem to have. But he can be a solid 20/10 guy with reasonable defense. Face it, we may have drafted the 3rd best player in the draft. For your own good/sanity... you have to look forward and not back on this kid. The 'What if' syndrome just cripples his likability.

RaisingArizona · Post #1095 » by **RaisingArizona** » Sun Feb 3, 2019 3:53 pm

Frank Lee wrote:If this kid can perfect two or three moves, he will be a 20 pointer per.

That little jump hook from 5 -6 feet doesnt require him to bang in for position or put the ball on the floor much. And it looks like money. Will he ever be able to go lefty with it ? Doesnt matter... its almost unstoppable.

The foul line+ jumper is open ALL the time. Start making it at a good clip and passing lanes will open. Then, with a slight miracle, his quickness may set up blow bys. But even then, he should be able to hit that at a 50%+ rate.

hes tried a dream shake or two... but that might be asking too much.

I dont think hes aver going to be a force... that requires a competitiveness he just doesnt seem to have. But he can be a solid 20/10 guy with reasonable defense. Face it, we may have drafted the 3rd best player in the draft. For your own good/sanity... you have to look forward and not back on this kid. The 'What if' syndrome just cripples his likability.

Yeah. There was too much pressure to not take the local hero and the whole the Suns have never had a dominant big man seemed to come into play. I saw many threats of boycotts if Doncic was selected which was absurd because if this team needed anything to pair with Booker it would have been a floor general. Idk who made the selection but it is going to set us back if he's content being a good player. The Suns needed a star and he will never be a star being this passive. I don't see the desire or fight in Ayton. I don't think that's something you can develop either. It concerns me a lot. I brought it up earlier in the year with his comments about just being good enough and how he over respects his opponents, etc. It's ridiculous that the Suns haven't brought in Barkley to try and get this guy to play like a star. The talent is there but the heart just isn't.

handsome salary · Post #1096 » by **handsome salary** » Sun Feb 3, 2019 6:26 pm

Suns have a worse record with Ayton than the previous terrible seasons. That is his impact at the moment. He has not been a game changer or a dominating presence on either side of the floor. And yes, rookies can be that.
So far he gives you numbers but not wins. Watching games I forgot he's even on the floor.

Bogyo · Post #1097 » by **Bogyo** » Sun Feb 3, 2019 7:29 pm

RaisingArizona wrote:
Frank Lee wrote:If this kid can perfect two or three moves, he will be a 20 pointer per.

That little jump hook from 5 -6 feet doesnt require him to bang in for position or put the ball on the floor much. And it looks like money. Will he ever be able to go lefty with it ? Doesnt matter... its almost unstoppable.

The foul line+ jumper is open ALL the time. Start making it at a good clip and passing lanes will open. Then, with a slight miracle, his quickness may set up blow bys. But even then, he should be able to hit that at a 50%+ rate.

hes tried a dream shake or two... but that might be asking too much.

I dont think hes aver going to be a force... that requires a competitiveness he just doesnt seem to have. But he can be a solid 20/10 guy with reasonable defense. Face it, we may have drafted the 3rd best player in the draft. For your own good/sanity... you have to look forward and not back on this kid. The 'What if' syndrome just cripples his likability.

Yeah. There was too much pressure to not take the local hero and the whole the Suns have never had a dominant big man seemed to come into play. I saw many threats of boycotts if Doncic was selected which was absurd because if this team needed anything to pair with Booker it would have been a floor general. Idk who made the selection but it is going to set us back if he's content being a good player. The Suns needed a star and he will never be a star being this passive. I don't see the desire or fight in Ayton. I don't think that's something you can develop either. It concerns me a lot. I brought it up earlier in the year with his comments about just being good enough and how he over respects his opponents, etc. It's ridiculous that the Suns haven't brought in Barkley to try and get this guy to play like a star. The talent is there but the heart just isn't.

Well, he knows that if he gets to his second contract he is going to have a 100+ million income - and he knows he is good enough as is to get that second contract, so he doesn't really care all that much. He is not putting in his heart and soul, that proverbial and overused 110%. That will keep him from true greatness forever - or until something or somebody changes that mindset in him, but I don't see it happening, as he just really seems to be content with Luka getting all the limelight... Dude doesn't even have a hard dunk every game to get into sportscenter... nuff said...
Funny thing is, with his size and natural talent alone he will be an all-star and 20/10 guy going forward, pretty easily.

RedIndian · Post #1098 » by **RedIndian** » Mon Feb 4, 2019 7:21 am

We passed on Doncic, but it's not like Ayton is a bust. His floor is an Aldridge/Pau type 20/10 guy at the very least for a good 10-15 years. That's a very good perennial all star player - so we need to make our peace with that. If he makes the necessary defensive improvements (and there is plenty to suggest that he might), then he might even be better than that.

That's not a franchise changing talent, but is definitely a valuable part of a 3 man winning core.

handsome salary · Post #1099 » by **handsome salary** » Mon Feb 4, 2019 5:56 pm

Worse still after picking number one.

Phoenix ranks 30th in rebounds per game with 39.9. For comparison, only the Milwaukee Bucks and Dallas Mavericks have had fewer than 40 rebounds per game over the past five seasons. That shouldn’t be happening for the Suns after they selected Deandre Ayton No. 1 overall in the 2018 draft, and one of the big man’s skills was snatching basketballs at high rates off the glass. Their current pace is worse than last season when Alex Len, Dragan Bender, and Marquese Chriss were the ones doing the heavy lifting in this category.

Post #1100 » by **bwgood77** » Mon Feb 4, 2019 6:11 pm

handsome salary wrote:Worse still after picking number one.

Phoenix ranks 30th in rebounds per game with 39.9. For comparison, only the Milwaukee Bucks and Dallas Mavericks have had fewer than 40 rebounds per game over the past five seasons. That shouldn’t be happening for the Suns after they selected Deandre Ayton No. 1 overall in the 2018 draft, and one of the big man’s skills was snatching basketballs at high rates off the glass. Their current pace is worse than last season when Alex Len, Dragan Bender, and Marquese Chriss were the ones doing the heavy lifting in this category.

Ayton and Holmes worse per 36 rebounding than Len and Chandler. http://bkref.com/tiny/ub5g5