(45-37, 4th place in NBA Western Conference), Next Game: He has a vertical approach to his defense; he jumps straight up and allows players to attempt to occupy his space. Naming the head coach as a playoff x-factor is unique, if not unprecedented. He is averaging 13.7 per this season after grabbing 13.5 per game last season. 5 DFGA). He recently said that he anchors Phoenix on both offense and defense. Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin [email protected] contact him at 480-787-1240. Defensive rating: Suns 116.3 (12th), Nuggets 109.6 (6th). Its a fast paced game these days. He has Chris Paul, a career 37.5 percent three-pointer shooter, open at the left wing but instead hoists a midrange shot that misses. Booker carryover: Next to Miamis Jimmy Butler, Booker has been the best player in the playoffs so far. This area of Deandres game has been the most noticeable. 8. There's no reason for Malone to go away from his small-ball gambit against the Suns. Support local journalism. Through their first 10 games, the Suns had a. Developed WARP rating and . When things don't work so swimmingly, Durant is just occupying space away from the action. Being that anchor and aggressor. Ayton currently ranks 12th in the NBA in total rebounding with 10.7 per game. All #1 picks who have 0x all star: Deandre Ayton, Markelle Fultz, Anthony Bennett, Greg Oden, Andrea Bargnani, Kwame Brown, Michael Olowokandi, Joe Smith (until 1990 , btw didnt include Ant and Cade for obvious reasons) The Suns are still among the best defensive teams in the NBA, but statistics seem to show that Ayton hasnt been the force he was last season. The Nuggets are at 20.4. pic.twitter.com/cyGL05LP9h. He recorded a 105 defensive rating on the year, and he does a solid job of protecting the rim. This was Deandre Ayton's last defensive possession of the game that appeared to prompt Monty to sub him out for the final time. Suns-Nuggets preview, Pt. 7'1" big 24.6 years old #1 pick in 2018. . Deandres commitment to being an anchor on defense has been a primary contributing factor to the Suns success early on this year. The anchor of the defense mirrors the responsibilities of a middle linebacker: call out what you see and direct your resources towards your teams weaknesses. He can guard multiple positions due to his lateral quickness and length. Clippers big Ivica Zubac had 11 rebounds in the first half, 15 for the 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. Its ever so subtle on this play, but as Dorian Finney-Smith rolls out of a dribble hand-off, Ayton recognizes it. bs, High School: His 76 wingspan is a hinderance to any ball-handler who makes their way towards the basket. He is continuing to learn, to read what the opposition is doing, and to execute what he sees. Guys will bump into each other in scripted actions due to a lack of familiarity. Defensively, Ayton is not a big-time shot blocker, at least according to stats, but he still helps anchor one of the game's best defenses. 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. Whats scary about Durant is hes played just 13 games with Phoenix and the Suns have won 12 of them. Interpreted as: Deandre Ayton defense rating this regular season StatMuse has season-level data for defensive rating going back to the 1973-74 season. They're shooting a blistering 53.3 percent from the field and have the best postseason offense. The two toughest defensive assignments will go to Caldwell-Pope and Aaron Gordon. In other words, they'll need Ayton to play like a . Suns vs. Nuggets odds. 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. Just being a force, Booker said. The Phoenix Suns have been one of the best stories of the 2020-21 season and the evolution of center Deandre Ayton has been a huge part of that. It's also a great way to test the decision-making of Deandre Ayton, which is a gamble absolutely worth taking for the Nuggets (more on this in a second). Using Gordon and Jeff Green at center was even more effective against Minnesota. Data Provided By deandreayton, Position: Points per game: Suns 122 (2nd), Nuggets 114.2 (9th). Our capsules show the matchups along with the Net Rating, Offensive Rating and Defensive Rating for each team. Averaging 16/10 in his 4 year caeer. Here is a breakdown of the series and prediction: The Nuggets are the No. The more he focuses on excelling, the better he will be. If so, then Williams will need more from his bench. Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns (RFA) The Suns had a chance to sign Ayton to a rookie-scale extension before this season began, but the two sides couldn't agree on terms. The Suns are currently 5th in offensive rating and 2nd in defensive rating, which are the markings of an elite team. Just being patient, playing circle ball.. . Denver finished with the fifth-best offense during the regular season and led the NBA in field goal percentage. 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. He's a fantastic spot-up option, as well, but there are more ways to utilize Durant within an offense. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. It's also available for football, hockey and baseball. Joki will defend a big man that likes to set screens and roll to the rim. Cauley-Stein begins a delayed roll on the weak side. My name is Dominayton. I anchor the Phoenix Suns on both ends the floor. On NBA 2K23, Kevin Durant is Phoenix Suns' highest rated player, followed by Devin Booker in second place, and Chris Paul in third. Doing anything to get a rebound and thats the type of player I am. They outscored the Timberwolves by 18.4 points per 100 possessions with these lineups, good for the 98th percentile. The relationship between Ayton and the Suns has reportedly soured . He's averaged 20.3 points a game on 69.6% shooting, plus grabbed 13.5 rebounds a game, but it's more than the . DeandreAyton There are a lot of NBA fans that have probably recently heard about Deandre Ayton's improvement on defense. But Jokic, whom he was responsible for guarding for a lot of the night, had 24 points and 19 rebounds in the game. Durant has two finals MVPs. Keeping its non-Joki small-ball units on the floor as much as possible is also in Denver's best interest. Denver must force someone else to beat them other than Durant or Booker. Gordon will likely guard Durant similarly to how he defended Towns, utilizing his strength and stocky frame to push Durant off his spots and make him uncomfortable on his touches. The Suns got zilch from their bench when the game was a game, didn't match Denver's physicality and . Please enter a valid email and try again. The Suns and Nuggets faced off four times in the regular season, splitting the series 2-2. He isn't DPOY-level, but he's a very good defender. Denver has kicked things into high gear in the postseason and ranks fifth in defensive rating after finishing just 17th during the regular season. Hard call. Or write about sports? Willie stays high on this play, creating an iso-situation between Ayton and Luka. Luka Doncic uses a high screen set by Willie Cauley-Stein in an effort to switch out of the pesky defense of Bridges. 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. What? That, in large part, is due to Chris Paul coming into town, who primarily operates within the screen-and-dive game. Something went wrong. 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. Do you have a blog? Trade value on the open market is 20.83 which ranks him 15th among center's and 57th overall. And if you think Zubac appears comfortable posting up against smaller Suns defenders, boy, wait until you see how Nikola Joki looks in that setting. Ayton has posted a double-double in back-to-back contests, and the Suns have claimed a 2-1 lead over the Clippers after dropping Game 1. Deandre Ayton was drafted by Phoenix Suns, 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), 2018 NBA Draft. Deandre Ayton. Here's an example of what that looks like from the Timberwolves series. Deandre's commitment to being an anchor on defense has been a primary contributing factor to the Suns' success early on this year. The year Steve Nash came to Phoenix in 2004-05 and led the league with a pace of 95.9, the league average was 90.9. Ayton did an admirable job defending Joker in the 2021 series, but typically after an . Thats about it. Because he's such a good shooter, Phoenix has frequently used Durant as a floor spacer in the corners. Despite finishing the series against LA with averages of 28.4 points on 51.8 percent shooting and 45.8 percent from three, 7.6 rebounds, and 6.2 assists, Durant's offensive utilization felt a tad bit odd. Historically, Joki has had a pretty easy time scoring against Ayton and has made 49.4 percent of his shots with Ayton as the closest defender in his career. Instinctively Bridges drops to covers Willie which allows Ayton to challenge a Luke middy. Deandre Ayton is on Twitter at DeandreAyton. Sign up for the Phoenix appeared a beat slow on its defensive switches throughout the series against LA. Reach Jeremy [email protected]. 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Any center worth his weight in Chipotle burritos should have the ability to box out on the defensive end. His 101 defensive rating is the best of his career, per Basketball-Reference.com.Phoenix's defense ranks third in rating . Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Monday, May 1, 4:39AM. When he reaches his hands into the air to create a wall, it is a dauntingly visible deterrent. Design and development by Ryan Best, Jay Boice and Ella Koeze. No team has cleaned the glass better than Denver in the postseason, who outrebounded the Timberwolves in four of their five total games. As a center you see plenty of these sets run right at you nightly. More: The NBA doesn't award an annual Comeback Player of the Year trophybut if it did, Damian Lillard, Kawhi Leonard, and Klay Thompson should be considered this year's favorites. It's been a popular tactic for Denver's opponents to ignore Gordon at the three-point line, and Gordon gives Durant the perfect opportunity to cheat off his man and sky for blocks when Denver tries to get to the rim. I love the playoffs, but the contact is a little bit different. Advanced Game Log It's an odd. 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. Chris Paul is one of the greatest pick-and-roll players of all time. After the Suns declined to sign Ayton to a five-year, rookie-scale max extension before the 2021-22 season, restricted free agency is now on the horizon for the athletic big man. ", Just being a presence on both ends of the floor. Not to mention the fact that his performance came against an All-Star caliber forward/center in Bam Adebayo. Examining potential sign-and-trade destinations for Deandre Ayton. Ayton's averaging 16 points on 53 percent from the field to go with 11.8 rebounds in the postseason. You have to possess the ability to make quick decisions in transition. Me rolling to the basket, I know that brings so much attention to the rim and so many guys load up on me when Im rolling to the basket or anywhere around the basket,'' he said. Mikal can be great and take risks due to the presence of Ayton. Jokic a dcoup DeAndre Ayton et la dfense des Suns tout le match. PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 25: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers in action against Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston . He has a long way to go. 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. Nikola Joki Deandre AytonAaron Gordon Kevin DurantMichael Porter Jr. Torrey CraigKentavious Caldwell-Pope Devin BookerJamal Murray Chris Paul. 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. More than likely, the Nuggets will mix and match coverages to throw Phoenix off the scent. Never made an all star team (or all nba or all defense team). He scored 46 versus the Suns in the 2018-19 season and averaged 28.3 in four games against them in 2019-20 season. The Suns team rebounding this season, with tap outs and hustle, has been impressive to watch. . But Im of the mind that effectively guarding shots close to the rim is probably the most valuable defensive contribution any NBA center can provide, even if they are capable of playing a larger role too. Murray then scored 31 on the Suns in 2020-21 season. He could be frustrated, but he wasnt. A lot of the talk about Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton has been about his point and rebound totals. pic.twitter.com/VaHtoxu9fn, Lakers Vino (@VinoUncorked) April 30, 2023, Wth is DeAndre Ayton doing here? Defensive awareness needs to improve. Double Booker, Durant is unleashed. From there, it's on that player to either continue dribbling toward the rim, take a midrange jumper, or make a pass to an open teammate. Jokic vs. Ayton. His defensive rebounding percentage is down very slightly, its really not notable. When we set the shot distance to six feet or less, we can get a good idea of how often a player is defending shots in the paint, and what the outcome of those shots has been. 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. Averaging 14.8 points on 54.2% shooting and 11.3 rebounds in this series, Ayton has posted a double-double in the last three games of this series, all won by the Suns. Ayton later addressed the notion he lacks a motor, as his critics have come out in high volume on his play in the series. The key stats to watch here are personal fouls and turnovers. Have opinion about current state of theSuns? Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. 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. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. The moment did not go over well on social media, where many used the video of the play to slam Ayton's effort, a recurring theme on social media. What is exciting is his growth. 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. #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/yi4627io3C, Sweet Lettuce (@Sw33tL3ttuc3) April 30, 2023, DeAndre Ayton gives up on basketball pic.twitter.com/CpR4mzr3cC, Trade Deandre ayton this offseason, im done defending him pic.twitter.com/vQcP0gTbbX, Deandre Ayton keeps this up and Suns gettng swept, horrible effort. However, the Nuggets dont have anyone to slow down Kevin Durant or Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton has held his own against Jokic over the years. Twice in the first half, Phoenix set screens at the elbow for Durant to curl off and dribble into midrange jumpers. Motor? Having the ability to navigate it successfully from a defensive standpoint is challenging. Booker is quick and strong, but he'll need to be at the top of his defensive game to keep pace with Denver's electric point guard. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. 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). Offensive and defensive ratings for NBA players. Void in ONT. With Ayton securing the. Ideally. Aaron Gordon, meanwhile, will try to make things tough for one of the best scorers on the planet after doing an excellent job against Minnesota's Karl-Anthony Towns. Make those guys beat you and lean into interchangeability at all five positions when Joki sits. Phoenix's defensive matchups are a little more interesting. Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin [email protected] contact him at 480-787-1240. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Nuggets coach Michael Malone and Williams established a culture that has been the foundation for the success of their teams. 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. Jokic is the better overall player, he stuffs the stat sheet, but Ayton has shown the ability to stay in front of him in the post and score against the reigning two-time MVP. Deandre Ayton DFG% by season:2018-19: 64.9% 2019-20: 53.6% 2020-21: 51.3%Ayton is currently 13th in the NBA in DFG% (min. Advantage: Durant. "Mainly just communicating," Deandre Ayton told The Athletic. Yes, small sample size, but it is something to continue to monitor as the year progresses. And then finally, Michael Porter Jr. will be somewhat of a free safety for Denver. Altitude, minutes and Suns bench: Durant and Booker averaged 44 and 43.2 minutes in the Clippers series. Figures displayed are rounded to the nearest tenth, but placement along the line is based on unrounded RAPTOR or WAR values. Yet it wasnt the Wardens play that caught my eye. Deandre stands with arms raised, covering the width of a Dodge Ram 1500. Its very similar to the performance so far of the Miami Heats Bam Adebayo, for example. Hillcrest Prep in Phoenix, Arizona, Draft: The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. A block. Think of it as a very brief switch. This doesnt put Ayton in terrible company. Eligibility restrictions apply. You get to push guys around and you get to jump over people. Odds and lines subject to change. Explore Who had the most wins as a favorite last season? Follow him on Twitter at@DuaneRankin. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. The Suns' record went from 19-63 to 34-39 to 51-21 in Ayton's three seasons. Deandre Ayton. The battle on the boards is also worth keeping an eye on. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. 1 overall pick, who . If you have your Bleacher Report notifications set to on, you will receive numerous micro-updates of the plays that awe and amaze nightly. Their 33-point loss was the worst defeat at home in a Game 7 since the St. Louis Bombers lost by 39 in 1948. All rights reserved. 4/30 Suns center Deandre Ayton is confident that Phoenix will rebound after its 125-107 blowout loss to the higher-seeded Nuggets in Game 1 of their second-round matchup, per Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. DeAndre Jordan weighs 265 lbs (120 kg). Due to Aytons versatility as a defender, the pick and roll is hard to execute consistently against the Suns. Durant's usage rate was reflective of that. Just give them the space and they got it. Oops. Who cares if Trae Young shot 9 for 22 last Monday; did you see his crossover-into-fail-bait last night? Maybe he loves basketball so much he cant help to just watch pic.twitter.com/71Oi4Mr3qj, Three Level Scorer (@3LevelScorer) April 30, 2023. Gambling Problem? Call (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelpline.ma.org (MA), Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Its only 7 games into the new season. Who cares if he is averaging 16.8 points and 10.7 rebounds in only 116 career games? But two of those matchups occurred before Phoenix acquired Durant. It is no easy task keeping him from the basketball. Deandre Ayton has a defensive rating of 111.0 this season. Whatever they write about a guy not scoring an X amount, but the pressure that hes putting on the rim and forcing guys to guard him around the basket is creating so many opportunities for Book and Kevin, Williams said. Switching 1-through-5 could be one of Denver's best forms of defense against Phoenix's high-octane offense. Below, the Clippers ran a double pick-and-roll for Russell Westbrook, and Durant switched onto Ivica Zubac even with Zubac's man, Bismack Biyombo, standing right there. 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. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. 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. Initially he is beat by Conley as he opts to go left. Join our linker program. Everybody was cursing me out to rebound, Ayton said. The team is currently 1st in the NBA opponents-points-per-game. How do we answer back?" Through three playoff contests, the fifth-year big man is averaging 14.7 points and 10.7 rebounds, but he's shooting just 60 percent from the free-throw line. Mike Conley gets nailed by Joki's screen, so Gobert "hedges" out to Murray to stop his dribble. How tall is DeAndre Jordan? I believe the stat is pick and rolls defended by Mikal and Ayton yielded just .71 PPP so far this season. Offense Deandre Ayton is a fourth-year center who would bolster the Toronto Raptors' offense. The "short roll" is when a player screens and then receives a pass halfway to the basket. DeAndre Jordan is 34 years old. So Im putting the ball on the ground and trying to see what I can get out of it.. Sam Cooper (@scooperhoops) April 30, 2023, Im off but this is unacceptable Ayton tripping pic.twitter.com/TP6p7nlO9K, The Suns are not a contender if this is the version of Ayton they get dude is an unserious basketball player. His self-awareness and body control allow for him to challenge opposing players without committing fouls. The 24-year-old scoffed at the notion . DeAndre Ayton Trade Value. Eventually, the ball finds Zubac in the post, and Durant was no match for the overpowering LA center, leading to free throws. There are a lot of buttons to be pushed in order to beat a team as talented as the Phoenix Suns. I think he just hears it from a little bit of everybody, Booker said. 5. Jamal Murray led the show for the Mile High squad against Minnesota and averaged 27.4 points on 47.1 percent from the field and 44.2 percent from three-point range. Needlessly standing there, hands at his sides, completely uninvolved in the offense. Nope, I run on Tesla battery. 2022-2023 Game Log Booker, Paul, and Durant are all too experienced and too talented to see one style of defense over and over and over. His maximum trade value within the past 60 days is 31.87. Its important to communicate., Ayton even joked that his two-year old son of the same name gave him an earful about it, but he has responded in averaging 12.3 boards in the last three games of the series. Not only did Durant become a Sun just two short months ago, he also dealt with an ankle sprain in March that kept him off the floor for three full weeks. July 23, Where was DeAndre Jordan born? But his opponents' shooting data suggests he's a big liability instead. We calculate trade values by evaluating the performance of all center's across dozens of stat categories including how their performance has stacked up to expectations and their projected outlook. Personal fouls: Suns 21.2 (10th), Nuggets 23.0 (15th). Averaging 14.8 points on 54.2% shooting and 11.3 rebounds in this series, Ayton has posted a double-double in the last three games of this series, all won by the Suns. It paid off handsomely. The views on this page do not necessarily represent the views of the NBA or its clubs. In Game 2 against the LA Clippers, the Suns ran more sets for Durant. Even. When you think of pick and roll, you think of Steven Adams and Zion Williamson, dont you? Motor, come on, Ayton said. That rings twice as true for backup center, Bismack Biyombo. 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%. He won the 2020 defensive player of the year award but somehow got criticized because he doesn't regularly attempt to shut down the opposing team's best perimeter scorer one-on-one. The Suns have absolutely destroyed drop coverage in the postseason, which is a style of pick-and-roll defense in which the big man hangs back close to the rim instead of near the screen. For the Suns to take down the top-seeded Nuggets in their second-round series, they'll need Ayton to narrow his role - then thrive in it. Communicating to my teammates what they cant see. Their defensive rating has gone from 29th to 17th to sixth. Your weekly roundup of Phoenix Suns news, rumors, notes and videos from the prior week plus a preview of the week to come. Deandre Ayton stood there at one point watching Nikola Jokic play tip drill on the rim. NBA Power Rankings: Here's where every team stands heading in to . Ayton's decision-making in the open floor as the "short roller" left a lot to be desired. While talented on the offensive end, the team has displayed the ability to switch, defend, and deter. Everything runs through reigning two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, but Denver having a healthy Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. gives it beyond a fighting chance against Phoenix. Clutch win%: Suns 66.7% (2-1, 6th), Nuggets 75% (3-1, 5th). 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. The NBA is a highlight driven league. His defensive IQ continues to grow and with it comes the intelligence on how to effectively stop the fast break.
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