Deandre Ayton news and highlights

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

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If Ayton combines his current level of defense with the offense he unveiled against Dallas, he'll soon join Booker on an All-NBA Team. I'm shook.

[Fo-Real]

What the **** makes his light turn on some games and not at all others?!?! His light was on this game for sure!!!

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

What the **** makes his light turn on some games and not at all others?!?! His light was on this game for sure!!!

Honestly, I think he responds to the instructions of the coaching staff. I think he wanted to get his jumper working, and the staff worked on it with him and encouraged it. Monty told him to play his game. He thought his game is, if they give you a twelve footer, you have to knock that down. Once they start covering that jumper, then you can get to the basket.

But after trying it and trying it, and REALLY letting it rip against Memphis, the coaching staff huddled around Deandre and asked him to stop taking that shot, even though it's open. Put it on the floor first, move your man. Get your back to the basket and then get to the basket, get an eight footer, get a little floater. Better arch and better touch on those shots. Make that your plan A, you plan B, your plan C. We'll work on that jumper later, big fella.

My best guess.

[ATTL]

I really wanted him to get that dunk on kristaps

[WeekapaugGroove]

What the **** makes his light turn on some games and not at all others?!?! His light was on this game for sure!!!

I think some guys just run a little hot and cold and he falls in that group. I do think he's thinking less and playing faster as he understands what he needs to do out there better.

Last night I'd guess the fact he was playing Luka probably put a little extra pep in his step. I also think he realized very early that Dallas didn't have anyone who could really guard him. I thought the whole suns team did a good job recognizing that Dallas came out a little sluggish and really took it to them early.

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[NapoleonII]

Does Ayton's offensive game remind anyone of a young Timmy Duncan?

I get the physical resemblence to Admiral.

But Ayton is actually really fundamentally sound, light feet, strong base, long, consistent short hook shots, isn't insanely quick but good foot work and spins, can shoot the 15 footer with ease, gobbles up rebounds.

I think he should be studying tape of Tim.

Watch on YouTube

[ATTL]

Does Ayton's offensive game remind anyone of a young Timmy Duncan?

I get the physical resemblence to Admiral.

But Ayton is actually really fundamentally sound, light feet, strong base, long, consistent short hook shots, isn't insanely quick but good foot work and spins, can shoot the 15 footer with ease, gobbles up rebounds.

I think he should be studying tape of Tim.

Watch on YouTube

Yes I see it. Similar body dimensions as well.
I see some Ewing too with his midrange.

Its too bad Duncan works for the spurs, I remember Alex Len worked out with duncan a few years ago. I'd love if ayton could just spend the summer with tim. I want ayton living with tim for the summer.

Just like tim did with David

Watch on YouTube

[lilfishi22]

Does Ayton's offensive game remind anyone of a young Timmy Duncan?

I get the physical resemblence to Admiral.

But Ayton is actually really fundamentally sound, light feet, strong base, long, consistent short hook shots, isn't insanely quick but good foot work and spins, can shoot the 15 footer with ease, gobbles up rebounds.

I think he should be studying tape of Tim.

Watch on YouTube

I'd worried that Timmy's methodical and slower style game wouldn't be as effective in this era. It certainly suited those late 90's to mid 2000 Spurs where they just loved to grind it out and running a good chunk of their offense through Timmy but I just question whether it would suit this era of pace and space. I'd much prefer he study tape of someone more contemporary like a Towns.

[suns12345]

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If Ayton combines his current level of defense with the offense he unveiled against Dallas, he'll soon join Booker on an All-NBA Team. I'm shook.

If Ayton has the defensive impact of Gobert, and lives up to his offensive potential... He could prove to be a pretty unbelievable player and well worth the #1 pick

Maybe that's unlikely but we will see. He has gone from, as Zach Lowe put it "the worst big man defender he had seen", to being in the conversation (in some statistics at least) as Gobert within 89 games. Pretty impressive.

[lilfishi22]

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If Ayton combines his current level of defense with the offense he unveiled against Dallas, he'll soon join Booker on an All-NBA Team. I'm shook.

If Ayton has the defensive impact of Gobert, and lives up to his offensive potential... He could prove to be a pretty unbelievable player and well worth the #1 pick

Maybe that's unlikely but we will see. He has gone from, as Zach Lowe put it "the worst big man defender he had seen", to being in the conversation (in some statistics at least) as Gobert within 89 games. Pretty impressive.

He already is worthy as the #1 pick in his rookie season based on his production. The only point of contention was whether he was the best player in his draft (which you would expect he is being the #1 pick)

[suns12345]

If Ayton combines his current level of defense with the offense he unveiled against Dallas, he'll soon join Booker on an All-NBA Team. I'm shook.

If Ayton has the defensive impact of Gobert, and lives up to his offensive potential... He could prove to be a pretty unbelievable player and well worth the #1 pick

Maybe that's unlikely but we will see. He has gone from, as Zach Lowe put it "the worst big man defender he had seen", to being in the conversation (in some statistics at least) as Gobert within 89 games. Pretty impressive.

He already is worthy as the #1 pick in his rookie season based on his production. The only point of contention was whether he was the best player in his draft (which you would expect he is being the #1 pick)

I guess thats what I meant when I said "worth the #1 pick". My main hope is that he has a big impact on winning games.

[Frank Lee]

Hold on there.... Duncan ? Almost GOAT of PF-Cs ?

Simmer down son. Lets see if he can do this against all competition and not just the inferior ones. Glad to see his recent output, but lets not pretend he doesnt have problems with 'As big and stronger' Cs.

Next up.... one of the beastiest of boys

[starbosa10]

Hold on there.... Duncan ? Almost GOAT of PF-Cs ?

Simmer down son. Lets see if he can do this against all competition and not just the inferior ones. Glad to see his recent output, but lets not pretend he doesnt have problems with 'As big and stronger' Cs.

Next up.... one of the beastiest of boys

Agreed. He tends to pop off against weaker/less physical opposition. He has the tools and ability but needs to step his game up against Embiid, Gobert. Sabonis, Adam's types. That's the next leap he needs to make in his career

[ATTL]

Hold on there.... Duncan ? Almost GOAT of PF-Cs ?

Simmer down son. Lets see if he can do this against all competition and not just the inferior ones. Glad to see his recent output, but lets not pretend he doesnt have problems with 'As big and stronger' Cs.

Next up.... one of the beastiest of boys

Agreed. He tends to pop off against weaker/less physical opposition. He has the tools and ability but needs to step his game up against Embiid, Gobert. Sabonis, Adam's types. That's the next leap he needs to make in his career

He struggles against girthy players like sabonis. In summer league motley was pushing him around because of how thick he was. Harrell with the clips has big games against him.

Ayton definitely likes being stronger than the opponent. He should consider taking supplements in the summer to help put on mass.

[bwgood77]

Yeah, Duncan was averaging 19-12 at that age. Of course he was a junior at Wake Forest at the time.

It's pretty impressive that two years after Ayton's freshman year he is averaging 18-12 at the NBA level.

I know comparing to Duncan is a tall order, and defense was really where Duncan excelled, but it seems people were comparing them more offensively....I think Ayton can be as good on offense as Duncan though. Duncan only averaged slightly over 50% from the field for his career and Ayton was over 58% last year and is at about 54% this year with only about 17 games and a couple of poor shooting nights which were a rarity before, and I think will continue to be pretty rare.

[starbosa10]

Yeah, Duncan was averaging 19-12 at that age. Of course he was a junior at Wake Forest at the time.

It's pretty impressive that two years after Ayton's freshman year he is averaging 18-12 at the NBA level.

I know comparing to Duncan is a tall order, and defense was really where Duncan excelled, but it seems people were comparing them more offensively....I think Ayton can be as good on offense as Duncan though. Duncan only averaged slightly over 50% from the field for his career and Ayton was over 58% last year and is at about 54% this year with only about 17 games and a couple of poor shooting nights which were a rarity before, and I think will continue to be pretty rare.

Think Ayton has it in him to develop a 3 ball? Obviously not KAT level but respectable?

[cberry78]

Yeah, Duncan was averaging 19-12 at that age. Of course he was a junior at Wake Forest at the time.

It's pretty impressive that two years after Ayton's freshman year he is averaging 18-12 at the NBA level.

I know comparing to Duncan is a tall order, and defense was really where Duncan excelled, but it seems people were comparing them more offensively....I think Ayton can be as good on offense as Duncan though. Duncan only averaged slightly over 50% from the field for his career and Ayton was over 58% last year and is at about 54% this year with only about 17 games and a couple of poor shooting nights which were a rarity before, and I think will continue to be pretty rare.

Actually, at 21 TD was also in his second season in the NBA, and their stats (DA and TD) are remarkably similar pretty much across the board, especially per 36. Looking at the per 100 shows the TD was a better player at that age, but he also started 4 full seasons (at over 30 mpg) at Wake Forest at that age.

http://bkref.com/tiny/wtLVj

I included Robinson in the comparison because TD had the HUGE benefit of playing in the front court with another all time great while he was putting up those numbers. Hard to say if TD would have put up the same or better numbers if he was alone in the front court though (probably better numbers TBH).

[bwgood77]

Yeah, Duncan was averaging 19-12 at that age. Of course he was a junior at Wake Forest at the time.

It's pretty impressive that two years after Ayton's freshman year he is averaging 18-12 at the NBA level.

I know comparing to Duncan is a tall order, and defense was really where Duncan excelled, but it seems people were comparing them more offensively....I think Ayton can be as good on offense as Duncan though. Duncan only averaged slightly over 50% from the field for his career and Ayton was over 58% last year and is at about 54% this year with only about 17 games and a couple of poor shooting nights which were a rarity before, and I think will continue to be pretty rare.

Think Ayton has it in him to develop a 3 ball? Obviously not KAT level but respectable?

Yes, eventually, but if they don't feel he is ready to shoot 3s, that is one thing I trust them on, and even if he can come fairly close to his efficiency from the other night, even 10-15, that is the equivalent of shooting 40% from 3, even better. Shooting 10 3 pointers at 40% gets you 16 points. Shooting 10 2 pointers at 66.7%, gets you 20, and likely more free throws, to add onto it.

However, the 3 ball, and dragging out a big to the 3 point line, should make any guard or wing going to the rim or inside, even more effective, with less altered or blocked shots, so it helps, but it won't be what he's best at, but if he can become respectable, even 35% or so, it's probably worth it at times, unless it doesn't draw out the big. It's a nice weapon, but overall scoring efficiency for the entire team at any time he starts shooting the 3, would have to be examined to see if it helps the entire team on efficiency as much as just scoring efficiently at close range.

[bwgood77]

Yeah, Duncan was averaging 19-12 at that age. Of course he was a junior at Wake Forest at the time.

It's pretty impressive that two years after Ayton's freshman year he is averaging 18-12 at the NBA level.

I know comparing to Duncan is a tall order, and defense was really where Duncan excelled, but it seems people were comparing them more offensively....I think Ayton can be as good on offense as Duncan though. Duncan only averaged slightly over 50% from the field for his career and Ayton was over 58% last year and is at about 54% this year with only about 17 games and a couple of poor shooting nights which were a rarity before, and I think will continue to be pretty rare.

Actually, at 21 TD was also in his second season in the NBA, and their stats (DA and TD) are remarkably similar pretty much across the board, especially per 36. Looking at the per 100 shows the TD was a better player at that age, but he also started 4 full seasons (at over 30 mpg) at Wake Forest at that age.

http://bkref.com/tiny/wtLVj

I included Robinson in the comparison because TD had the HUGE benefit of playing in the front court with another all time great while he was putting up those numbers. Hard to say if TD would have put up the same or better numbers if he was alone in the front court though (probably better numbers TBH).

Age matters of course, but having effective coaching, at the college level and pro level is a big deal, so I think Ayton still is more impressive offensively given overall circumstances. His defense is getting better, and his DFG%, so lets hope that continues. His help D has improved immensely as well, so if he continues this trend, he may not get to the block level of Duncan at the same age, but as long as he alters shots, and we end up with the ball, it is just as effective, especially since blocked shots often go out of bounds and the offensive team retains possession.

[lilfishi22]

I still prefer Ayton work on his ball handling. I think developing a 3 ball (even if not at a KAT-level clip) wouldn't be too difficult since we've already seen him shooting in practice. The bigger development would be for him to be able to put the ball down make a move