Calculating Trade Value. Deandre Edoneille Ayton And everybody just trusting me to be that guy protecting the paint.. Yes, Gobert gobbles up to board and Crowder makes the foul, but the end result is Rudy on the line rather than a lay-up for Conley. He scored 46 versus the Suns in the 2018-19 season and averaged 28.3 in four games against them in 2019-20 season. Motor? The goal was to get the ball out of Durant and Booker's hands even if that meant conceding three-pointers to Craig and Okogie. And while some fans will (and arguably should) continue to ask more domination from Dominayton, Im more interested in his defense at the moment. So far this season, Ayton is defending 4.7 such shots per game and has a defended field goal percentage of 64.6, which is almost dead-on with the 64.7 season average for those shooters. Some other big men known for great defense, like Gobert and Joel Embiid, are also appearing to have less impressive performances on that end so far this season. He appeared to be tentative in early contests against the Mavericks and Kings, but by the time the Suns played the Nuggets, Deandre was using his size and physicality to move the opposition off of their spots. Your default site has been set for 7 days, Deandre Ayton's evolution steals spotlight in Suns statement win in Miami, career-high offensive rating and defensive rating. His defensive rating per 100 possessions is the best of his career, proving to be a slam dunk addition by general manager James Jones last offseason. The team is currently 1st in the NBA opponents-points-per-game. The physicality turned up a little bit more. Advanced Game Log So I stopped looking at Mikal highlights and began analyzing Deandre Ayton. Pitching to as close to a perfect game as possible in the short roll could force Denver away from blitzing Booker and Durant at every turn. Ayton has not looked comfortable within that setting in the postseason. And its getting ugly. Durant's 23.3 percent usage ranked 33rd for players that have played in at least 50 playoff minutes, behind guys like Norman Powell, Jalen Johnson, and Malik Monk. Thats probably why Gobert is still considered a premier defensive player in the league, despite many fans dismissing him as borderline unplayable against smaller, quicker, trigger-happy lineups. Through their first 10 games, the Suns had a. To have a center who loves to play defense and is excited to learn how to better that skillset isnt something youll find on many Twitter highlights or postgame shows. Or write about sports? Points allowed: Suns 115.6 (9th), Nuggets 105 (5th). Gambling Problem? The Nuggets finished the regular season with the best record in their conference for the first time in franchise history. Last season? Here is what I have found. There may come a time when Denver needs to make small changes to its rotation. PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 25: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers in action against Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston . It paid off handsomely. His defensive rebounding percentage is down very slightly, its really not notable. Remember that highlight on ESPN that night? Thats a pretty significant difference from last year in both how often hes defending these shots and his success in keeping them from going on. But last years team won an awful lot, so this is not isolatable to Ayton. Its the playoffs. Being that anchor and aggressor. Ayton had 18 points in Game 1, but he grabbed just eight rebounds with only three coming in the first half of last weeks loss. Ayton's averaging 16 points on 53 percent from the field to go with 11.8 rebounds in the postseason. This early in the season we could still be dealing with a bit of an anomaly that will smooth out with time. As a result of his understanding of the pick and roll, Deandre easily blocks his shot, Booker retrieves the rebound, and the Suns begin a transition possession. Oops. Any center worth his weight in Chipotle burritos should have the ability to box out on the defensive end. You know, role players. Just being patient, playing circle ball.. ", Just being a presence on both ends of the floor. Phoenix, meanwhile, has struggled on that end of the floor with the fourth-worst playoff defense. They have split their 14 matchups with Ayton winning four of his seven in that 2021 postseason sweep. With Ayton securing the. DeAndre Jordan weighs 265 lbs (120 kg). Ayton isnt there yet, but he is showing that the game is slowing down for him. Guys will bump into each other in scripted actions due to a lack of familiarity. His block percentage is up slightly from last season to 2.5% from 2.1%, his steal percentage is down slightly to 0.8% from 1.1%. Eligibility restrictions apply. Blocked. July 23, newsletter. Hard call. Whether Ayton likes it or not, the Suns need his motor to be running hotter from here on out. Thats Dominayton, man, said Ayton, using a hybrid off his last name and "domination. As a team, the Nuggets are shooting the fourth-best three-point percentage in the postseason. Clutch win%: Suns 66.7% (2-1, 6th), Nuggets 75% (3-1, 5th). for No. They improve to 29-13 for the season, good for second-best in the Western Conference. Really? He is also very good on the perimeterfor a big man, at least. Home The Suns' transition attack has been downright spooky, ranked first out of all sixteen playoff teams. Deandre Ayton is easily having the best playoff debut run by any player in NBA history. Players often gain reputations as good or bad defenders based mainly on reputation around the league or the always-reliable eye test.. Yeah, me neither. Couple that with Crowders ability to see it as well and close in time to challenge the shot, and the shooter is taken out of his rhythm and misses. Actions that involved switching between two guards or wings were particularly problematic for Phoenix. Luka Doncic uses a high screen set by Willie Cauley-Stein in an effort to switch out of the pesky defense of Bridges. Ayton was initially drafted by the Suns with the #1 overall pick as an old-school post-up big man. It is no easy task keeping him from the basketball. Players eligible for leaderboards are those who have played in at least 70 percent of their teams games and average at least 24 minutes per game (including stats from the regular season and playoffs). Do you blame him? Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. All rights reserved. Those highlights are discussed around the proverbial water cooler, not the next day at work, but as they are happening. After defending Anthony Edwards in Round 1, KCP will get another crack at an explosive scorer at the shooting guard position. Jokic is the reigning two-time MVP. He was the #1 pick in the 2018 draft. Two days and a conversation with Williams later, Ayton was more upbeat after Mondays practice about how hes impacted the series going into Tuesdays Game 5 at Footprint Center. Odds and lines subject to change. Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul fill out the rest of their "Big Four." Ayton averages 16 PPG and leads the team in rebounds at 11 per game in the postseason, while Paul averages 14 PPG and leads the Suns in the postseason at assists at 8 per game. Due to the constant uploading of spectacular slams, awesome oops, and thundering threes, fans have been conditioned to expect those highlights from their favorite players. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Still, Phoenix shot a robust 51.2%, and its 110.5 offensive rating in Game 1 was practically the equivalent of the regular-season Rockets (Houston had the third-worst offensive efficiency in the . We wrote about those small-ball, switch-heavy lineups in the week leading up to the playoffs. The team is currently 1st in the NBA opponents-points-per-game (100.8), 4th in defensive rating (104.4), and 8th in opponent-eFG% (.513). The 6'11" center stuffed the stat sheet with 17 points, 16 rebounds, three assists, and three blocks. Check out this Caesars Sportsbook promo code for April 2023 here. That rings twice as true for backup center, Bismack Biyombo. The fact that Ayton isn't some "nobody" rotational Center but instead a former #1 pick who stands 7'1 250 and averages a double double for his career is going to bring a ton of scrutiny and slander HIS WAY. DeAndre Ayton Trade Value. More: Phoenix Suns fans slam Monty Williams for playing Landry Shamet in loss to Denver Nuggets, The Suns dont have much of a chance this series against Denver if Deandre Ayton has moments like this.Simply inexcusable to watch your teammates fight for a loose ball while standing on the baseline. It's abundantly clear to anyone who has seen Deandre Ayton perform that he is a high-level NBA prospect. pic.twitter.com/VaHtoxu9fn, Lakers Vino (@VinoUncorked) April 30, 2023, Wth is DeAndre Ayton doing here? Altitude, minutes and Suns bench: Durant and Booker averaged 44 and 43.2 minutes in the Clippers series. Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin atdmrankin@gannett.comor contact him at 480-787-1240. Game 1 between Denver and Phoenix will tip Saturday at 6:30 p.m. MT and air on TNT. Scripting more of-ball sets for Durant, increasing his post-ups, and allowing him to run the pick-and-roll with greater frequency could be a major deciding factor in the second-round series. They're shooting a blistering 53.3 percent from the field and have the best postseason offense. I believe the stat is pick and rolls defended by Mikal and Ayton yielded just .71 PPP so far this season. Late in the season, Denver busted out a small-ball lineup against the Golden State Warriors that eventually led to one of the most exciting victories of the season. Zion is looking to barrel towards the basket and slam home one of those Twitter highlights as he uses an Adams pick at the top of the key. The Suns will need more than a Tesla motor to stop the two-time MVP. Chris Paul is a feisty defender but is likely too small to tangle with Murray. All rights reserved. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. That's a pretty sizable discrepancy, one that Denver should absolutely look to take advantage of in the second round. Statistical model by Nate Silver. Phoenix, meanwhile, has taken things up another level in the playoffs with Durant in the fold. Denver has kicked things into high gear in the postseason and ranks fifth in defensive rating after finishing just 17th during the regular season. The results from there were pretty mixed. However, the story of the postseason for Phoenix has been Devin Booker, who averaged 37.2 points on 60.2 percent shooting and 46.7 percent from three to go with 6.4 assists in the first round. But two of those matchups occurred before Phoenix acquired Durant. Join our linker program. Despite a 10 height disparity, Ayton accepts the challenge and holds his base. Now, no team has performed better than Denver at defending in transition in the postseason, but the Suns are a whole new level of a challenge. Which is really really good. But Michael Malone has the opportunity to completely swing the series in Denver's favor. That, in large part, is due to Chris Paul coming into town, who primarily operates within the screen-and-dive game. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. I'm just the anchor for the defense"Deandre Ayton season-high 22 at Denver after season-low 4 at Utah"Our defense is winning games. Aytons court vision allows for the recognition on this play. 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Our capsules show the matchups along with the Net Rating, Offensive Rating and Defensive Rating for each team. Its a fast paced game these days. Denver finished with the fifth-best offense during the regular season and led the NBA in field goal percentage. Phoenix, on the other hand, has ranked just 11th in rebounding in the playoffs. The Nuggets use Murray and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as screeners regularly, and if Phoenix struggles to switch between its guards, those two will gleefully rain down three-pointers. You want to talk about motor, man. A block. The Portland Trail Blazers aren't serious contenders for Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton but may be eyeing Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort in a draft-pick trade. The end result is a missed three-pointer and a rebound for DA. DeAndre Jordan was born in Houston, Texas. A play during the Suns' 125-107 loss to the Denver Nuggets in Game 1 didn't help his cause in quieting his critics. He can guard multiple positions due to his lateral quickness and length. Spread: Suns +2.5 . He's a fantastic spot-up option, as well, but there are more ways to utilize Durant within an offense. Denver's pick-and-roll defense will rightfully be put under the microscope against Phoenix. Deandre Ayton has a defensive rating of 111.0 this season. Over the years, he's transformed into more of a nominal pick-and-roll big man. It was 12.0 back in 04-05. Boston's Kyrie Irving was regarded as a slightly above-average defender by RPM last year, for instance. I think he just hears it from a little bit of everybody, Booker said. The responsibility of a center no longer is to crash the offensive boards. He is continuing to learn, to read what the opposition is doing, and to execute what he sees. He is shooting a career-high 64.7 percent from the field and his per-36 average of 20.7 points is a career-best as well. So, what can Malone do instead? . Suns-Nuggets preview, Pt. Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. Allowing the opposition to have extra possessions isnt just frustrating, its darn near irresponsible. Jae Crowder on what they've been emphasizing to Deandre Ayton and the potential the Suns have with him defensively: pic.twitter.com/9PbasSyJEY. The Suns got zilch from their bench when the game was a game, didn't match Denver's physicality and . The Deandre Ayton experience can be frustrating. The Pick: Deandre Ayton Over 10.5 Rebounds (-137) -- I've faded Deandre Ayton's rebounds prop in the past, but you simply can't argue with the results of late. Averaging 16/10 in his 4 year caeer. Void in ONT. Gobert then recovers back to Joki once Conley returns to Murray, thus pulling off the "hedge and recover.". The 6'11" center was one of five players for the Phoenix franchise to score in double figures including a team-high 23 points from Devin Booker as they handed the Miami Heat, tied for fifth-best team in the East, with their fourth-straight loss. Lets face it. That's not a ton of dress rehearsal for the revamped Suns, who now head into battle against a Denver team with years of continuity. 8. Have opinion about current state of theSuns? On NBA 2K23, Kevin Durant is Phoenix Suns' highest rated player, followed by Devin Booker in second place, and Chris Paul in third. The national motto for the Bahamas is "Forward Upward Onward Together," which is defined as moving in "the direction and manner in which the Bahamian nation should move.". 1 overall pick, who . The Suns are leaving too much food on the table by having Durant space the floor as much as he has. Denver and Phoenix each boast high-powered offenses with Hall of Fame hubs commandeering things, so there's a good chance this series becomes a bit of a shootout. More: 'Going to be fun': Deandre Ayton looking forward to matchup with two-time MVP Nikola Jokic Altitude, minutes and Suns bench: Durant and Booker averaged 44 and 43.2 minutes in the Clippers. Will Porter Jr. be used as a secondary defender against Booker and Durant in the pick-and-roll or in the post? Below is Phoenix Suns' 2K full team roster. 6. See terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Who cares if he is averaging 16.8 points and 10.7 rebounds in only 116 career games? Your weekly roundup of Phoenix Suns news, rumors, notes and videos from the prior week plus a preview of the week to come. He was one of five Suns players to score in double figures including a team-high 23 points from. The second round of the 2023 postseason starts off with a bang when the #1 seed Denver Nuggets go head-to-head with the #4 seed Phoenix Suns in a series that's stuffed to the brim with star talent. Deandre Ayton Nikola JokiKevin Durant Aaron GordonTorrey Craig Michael Porter Jr. Chris Paul Kentavious Caldwell-PopeDevin Booker Jamal Murray. DominAyton, Tiger, Dominator are nicknames for Deandre Ayton. Phoenix needs to clean things up in both of these areas versus Denver. "He was just talking about . Never made an all star team (or all nba or all defense team). There is an expectation that the 2018 #1 overall draft pick should be creating plays worthy of being printed on posters. Landry Shamet and Cameron Payne come to mind first, but Damion Lee, T.J. Warren or Terrence Ross may get a shot, too. Eventually, the ball finds Zubac in the post, and Durant was no match for the overpowering LA center, leading to free throws. Overall, Ayton this season is defending 13.9 shots per game and holding opponents to 48% shooting: 1.1% below where they would expect to be. More: Suns-Nuggets: Nikola Jokic needs NBA title to take spot alongside MVPs like LeBron, Jordan. Deandre Ayton is on Twitter at DeandreAyton. Maybe. 16. He understands his impact on winning and I just think its phenomenal that hes of that mindset and understands that theres going to be games where he scores and theres going to be games where hes doing what he did in the last two games, where hes creating a lot of opportunities with space underneath the basket for other people.. Defensive rating: Suns 116.3 (12th), Nuggets 109.6 (6th). Im not saying etch the Defensive Player of the Year award with Deandres name on it. Blitzing will be key for the Nuggets. Ayton can also play with way too much finesse as a finisher. Deandre Ayton is not in the Hall of Fame. No team has cleaned the glass better than Denver in the postseason, who outrebounded the Timberwolves in four of their five total games. Fully charged., More: Phoenix Suns fans slam Deandre Ayton after Game 3 vs. Clippers: 'Youre better than this'. Yes, small sample size, but it is something to continue to monitor as the year progresses. The Nuggets are at 20.4. Deandre's commitment to being an anchor on defense has been a primary contributing factor to the Suns' success early on this year. Ayton is averaging 17.0 points and 11.1 rebounds in 124 starts this season. More: 'Going to be fun': Deandre Ayton looking forward to matchup with two-time MVP Nikola Jokic. Room for growth exists, however, as his adjusted box out rate is in the 61st percentile. Status: Restricted free agent.Position: Center.Last team: Phoenix Suns.2021-22 stats: 17.2 points, 10.2 rebounds. Far away from home in Phoenix, it's that Bahamian mindset that has helped Deandre Ayton have peace with his unrewarded contract situation with the Suns. Joki will defend a big man that likes to set screens and roll to the rim. Jalen Brunson, Dallas . Make those guys beat you and lean into interchangeability at all five positions when Joki sits. He consistently holds opponents to well below their normal field goal percentage (he's one of the best big men in the league by this measure). Landry Shamet continues to be the first guy off the bench for the Suns. At 6'11" with a 7'5" reach, Durant is an excellent secondary shot blocker with a condor-like wingspan. The Suns will need more than a Tesla motor to stop the two-time MVP. Offensive rating: Suns 122.5 (1st), Nuggets 117.2 (4th). But there are some metrics we can look to as guidessome fairly objective and others a bit more subjective, but frequently accepted as evidence in association with other data. Craig will have his hands full with Porter Jr.'s movement shooting, who shot 42.4 percent from three in the first round. Nuggets. He went 7-for-11 from the field. As special as Jokic is, Durant is more proven in the postseason. Its worth the price of admissionif we were permitted to attend. Hes averaging 37.2 points in the postseason and coming off a 47-point cooking of the Clippers in Game 5 closeout that tied a career playoff high. The Clippers used Torrey Craig and Josh Okogie's defenders to double-team Devin Booker and Kevin Durant throughout the first round, especially at the end of games. The third-year center continues to develop into an interior force. Landry Shamet continues to be the first guy off the bench for the Suns. Sign up for the Ayton has scored a total of 13 points in the second half of the last three games, but hes a plus rating in all four games in the second half so far in the series. Have no fear, Mikal, as DA is there. Yet despite its occasional clunkiness, the Suns are scoring the second-most halfcourt points per 100 possessions in the postseason, a reflection of the baseline level of absurd offensive talent on the roster. Murray used to torch Phoenix before his knee injury that sidelined him the entire 2021-22 season. On-Off. One of Aytons strengths as a defender relative to many other bigs around the NBA is his mobility, which allows him to defend players on the perimeter that celebrated elite defensive centers like Rudy Gobert simply wouldnt dare to guard more than ten feet from the rim. Having the ability to navigate it successfully from a defensive standpoint is challenging. Explore all Phoenix Suns NBA player stats - including scoring, rebounding, shooting, assists & more! Like every player in the Association, there are plays in which Aytons rotations are passive, where his hustle is muted, and he is unwilling to leave his man. Additional contributions by Neil Paine. Deandre Ayton averages 18.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game. Double Booker, Durant is unleashed. When he reaches his hands into the air to create a wall, it is a dauntingly visible deterrent. Defense isnt sexy. Instagram: Durant, Booker and Paul each scored 17 points in the second half of Saturdays Game 4 win, but Aytons plus-13 was the highest plus/minus of any starter in the second half of Game 4. Following the Phoenix Suns' shocking postseason exit, all eyes are now on Deandre Ayton's free agency. How old is DeAndre Jordan? Explore Who was drafted #1 overall in 2020? All statistics courtesy of NBA Stats or Cleaning the Glass unless stated otherwise. Though Booker will have an immense offensive load, he's probably Phoenix's best option for defending Murray, at least until Josh Okogie enters the game. There are times when Ayton struggles within his new rolea role that's narrow but requires him to excel at the finer details of the game. As mentioned earlier, Denver should absolutely explore blitzing Phoenix's pick-and-rolls with Booker and Durant to get the ball out of their hands. The "short roll" is when a player screens and then receives a pass halfway to the basket. newsletter. Apr 27, 2023, 8:15 AM. His defensive rating (a fairly complicated calculation designed to provide an estimate of points allowed per 100 possessions, so lower is better) is 109 this season, which is up from 105 last season. Its opening everything else for everybody else.. Deandre Ayton's Biggest Weakness Was on Full Display Against Buffalo The NBA's next big unicorn prospect has struggled with defense since high school, and it became a full-blown nightmare in. The Suns have looked just as comfortable finding the open man against zone defenses in the postseason. Collectively the Suns are defined appropriately as pesky. 1 overall of the 2018 NBA Draft, shot 8-of-12 from the field and was a team-best +20 in his 34 minutes. Just give them the space and they got it. The battle on the boards is also worth keeping an eye on. Many Phoenix Suns fans have been critical of Deandre Ayton's effort and "heart" on the court through the years. The Nuggets might need additional ball handling. Call (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelpline.ma.org (MA), Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Developed WARP rating and . By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Using Gordon and Jeff Green at center was even more effective against Minnesota. Center of the Sun: The Rubio mentality, next-level Booker, and respect. Points per game: Suns 122 (2nd), Nuggets 114.2 (9th). It's an odd. Last season, Ayton defended 5.6 shots per game inside six feet, and had a defended field goal percentage of just 58%: almost six percent BELOW those same shooters averages at the distance. View Gallery: Photos: Suns vs. Clippers Game 4 playoffs, April 22, 2023, Phoenix Suns fans slam Deandre Ayton after Game 3 vs. Clippers: 'Youre better than this', Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. What? NBA Power Rankings: Here's where every team stands heading in to . Playing in the Denver altitude is always an issue for visiting teams. Filter or search to find players. His frame and high release point on his shot make him unguardable, and he's crafted a snazzy dribbling package over the years to get to his favorite spots on the court at will. The Phoenix Suns dropped from best odds to win the West to 3rd best, despite still being 2nd best to win the whole league. Phoenix Suns center. pic.twitter.com/gD09a1icHe, DA has moments where he looks active and effective and then he has moments where hes doing this.The Deandre Ayton experience is an endless rollercoaster ride. Call (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelpline.ma.org (MA), Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Yet time and again, although he has proven to be an efficient scorer (currently 58% FG%), his finesse approach to his offensive game does not satisfy the masses. Deandre Ayton FOLLOW PPG 18.0 RPG 10.0 APG 1.7 PIE 14.5 HEIGHT 7'0" (2.13m) WEIGHT 250lb (113kg) COUNTRY Bahamas LAST ATTENDED Arizona AGE 24 years BIRTHDATE July 23, 1998 DRAFT 2018 R1 Pick 1. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network. potter palmer family tree, kansas superintendent salaries by district,

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