Deandre Ayton appreciation post

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Regarding DA’s FT rate, I would say that if this team really wanted to get DA more FTs, they should actively seek out mismatches in the post. If the team found a way to get DA 2 post touches per quarter with a smaller guy on him, I’m betting that he would convert on over half of them and get fouled on a lot of the occasions that he doesn’t make the basket.

The problem is, the team isn’t good enough shooting the ball yet. When Ant and Brogdon come back and guys like Thybulle and Walker continue to improve their shooting, this is something I’d like for the team to implement. No gripe with his FT rate for me, BUT giving DA more opportunities to get us free points with the clock stopped would help this team greatly.

I really don’t even think there is much effort into tweaking the game plan a little bit to incorporate DA more so he can average 20ppg.
Seek out mismatches so he can shoot a fade away Melo jumper or a fade away hook? He has to take the ball strong against mismatches to get fouled and convert at the clip he should.
 
Actually he did his job there and saw there was no reason to get a moving pick foul.
Yeah, is that Mays on the 1st one. didn't get close enough to him to actually use the screen, not Ayton's fault. Set a pick for Grant, which the defender went under, which helped create space for an open jump shot from Grant. If he tries to really set either pick, he likely gets called for a moving screen.
The guy sets poor picks, don't wanna defend him generally, but while the optics are amusing, don't really think this is entirely on him.
 
Yeah, is that Mays on the 1st one. didn't get close enough to him to actually use the screen, not Ayton's fault. Set a pick for Grant, which the defender went under, which helped create space for an open jump shot from Grant. If he tries to really set either pick, he likely gets called for a moving screen.
The guy sets poor picks, don't wanna defend him generally, but while the optics are amusing, don't really think this is entirely on him.
I kind of agree with you here.

It's not entirely on him... but mostly. His teammates could have used the screens better.
The first 2 screening situations, Ayton needed to be ~1 step closer to the defender he was 'screening'. Grant was wide open for the 3pnt shot because John Collins blew the coverage. The 3rd 'screen' was ineffective because of the blown coverage. IF Collins stayed with Grant, the 3rd screen would not have done anything.

Ayton has a lot of strengths, but he is not a high IQ player. During last nights game, I saw 3-4 times where the ball handler at the top of the arc was getting upset at Ayton because he was in the wrong spot and apparently didn't know where to be or what the play was.

The biggest thing he needs to fix are the 6" between his ears... Unfortunately, that always seems like the hardest muscle to 'fix'.
 
I kind of agree with you here.

It's not entirely on him... but mostly. His teammates could have used the screens better.
The first 2 screening situations, Ayton needed to be ~1 step closer to the defender he was 'screening'. Grant was wide open for the 3pnt shot because John Collins blew the coverage. The 3rd 'screen' was ineffective because of the blown coverage. IF Collins stayed with Grant, the 3rd screen would not have done anything.

Ayton has a lot of strengths, but he is not a high IQ player. During last nights game, I saw 3-4 times where the ball handler at the top of the arc was getting upset at Ayton because he was in the wrong spot and apparently didn't know where to be or what the play was.

The biggest thing he needs to fix are the 6" between his ears... Unfortunately, that always seems like the hardest muscle to 'fix'.

Billups entire offense is Low IQ.

If Ayton isn't a good screener, why is he being used that way, especially when he's a fantastic mid-range shooter?

Ayton is a mobile big man who can cut quickly to the hoop from the 3-point line, and also drain mid-range shots in the open.
 
Did anyone notice this awesome action to Ayton from Kris Murray?

Our broadcast crew was busy talking about OKC and didn't even mention that a basket was scored.

Anyway, Kris Murray inbounds the ball to Ayton from the right sideline. Ayton hands the ball back to Murray, who curls around and drives down the left side of the lane.

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Chet Holmgren bites on this while Ayton heads towards the right side of the lane undefended.

When Murray gets to the hoop he throws what seems to be an errant layup attempt, which is in fact a perfect pass over the hoop to Ayton on the weak side.

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At this point it's all over for the defense. They can only watch as Ayton goes up, grabs the ball and puts it in. Look where Chet (#7) is when Ayton's putting it in.

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Ayton on the weak side is murder for the other team, even a good team like OKC.

Kudos to Murray for making this happen.

Blazers should be running stuff like this ALL Night Long with Ayton. Ayton's man is the rim protector, and typically has the duty to help off Ayton if someone is attacking the hoop.

Instead, Billups is having Ayton set picks for Skylar Mays and Blazer teammates throwing the ball to Ayton's ankles.
 
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Blazers should be running stuff like this ALL Night Long with Ayton.

Instead Billups is having Ayton set picks for Skylar Mays and Blazer teammates throwing the ball to Ayton's ankles.
Deandre has long arms and quick hands. So a lot of times he can get a paw on one of those shin high specials. Therefore an argument can begin about Ayton catching ankle dusters, I saw it hit his hand.
 
Deandre has long arms and quick hands. So a lot of times he can get a paw on one of those shin high specials. Therefore an argument can begin about Ayton catching ankle dusters, I saw it hit his hand.
The opinion of the Suns' announcers is that teammates should only pass to Ayton chest and up. They have watched him for years.
 
God it’s pathetic how much these people are fixated on this dude.
Pathetic like how people are fixated on bashing Billups in here, complain about Simons and other stuff negative nancy’s in this board post all the time?
 
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