Not bad, to be clear, but it feels like there's another level for him on this iteration of the Phoenix Suns. Then in the fourth quarter, Ayton set a pindown screen (which is an off-ball screen where the screener faces the baseline) for Durant, who caught the pass and rose up at the free-throw line for the bucket. 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. Deandre Ayton has made at least $40,379,230 playing professional basketball. In the team's win in Miami, a statement victory that helped the Suns get back on track, he contributed across the board with 17 points, 16 rebounds, three assists, and three blocks. He didnt dunk it! Deandre Ayton is on Twitter at DeandreAyton. 5. If you have your Bleacher Report notifications set to on, you will receive numerous micro-updates of the plays that awe and amaze nightly. How the Suns lost Game 1, and what that means for the rest of the series, The odds are now well against the Phoenix Suns in this series, though a few tweaks and better effort could make a world of difference, Center of the Sun: The Rubio mentality, next-level Booker, and respect. Ayton did an admirable job defending Joker in the 2021 series, but typically after an . Center of the Sun: The Rubio mentality, next-level Booker, and respect. 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. As a team, the Nuggets are shooting the fourth-best three-point percentage in the postseason. Twice in the first half, Phoenix set screens at the elbow for Durant to curl off and dribble into midrange jumpers. 2021 Western Conference semifinals (Suns won in four). It stresses the defense and tires their legs. The team is currently 1st in the NBA opponents-points-per-game. Phoenix needs to clean things up in both of these areas versus Denver. Landry Shamet continues to be the first guy off the bench for the Suns. But again, he is learning how to use his body to negate defenders from the ball. Offensive and defensive ratings for NBA players. See More at HoopsRumors Deandre Ayton Overview Game Logs Game-by-game stat line for the player 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 Explore Who had the most wins as a favorite last season? NBA 2K23 UPDATED PLAYER RATINGS 02.17. At other points, Phoenix's switching defense would present them with disadvantageous matchups. 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. Sign up for the Status: Restricted free agent.Position: Center.Last team: Phoenix Suns.2021-22 stats: 17.2 points, 10.2 rebounds. 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 . Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. How old is DeAndre Jordan? More: But it is absolutely paramount to the success of a teams interior and perimeter defense. Just being a force, Booker said. See terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. 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. There are a lot of NBA fans that have probably recently heard about Deandre Ayton's improvement on defense. He saves that intensity and focus for defensive side of the ball. 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. "Mainly just communicating," Deandre Ayton told The Athletic. newsletter. His defensive IQ continues to grow and with it comes the intelligence on how to effectively stop the fast break. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network. Phoenix's defensive matchups are a little more interesting. His ability to face-up and splash shots from the midrange almost immediately made him the go-to option in Phoenix. A daily roundup of Phoenix Suns news from Bright Side of the Sun, By submitting your email, you agree to our, Monty and the Suns need to realize that Shamet aint it. Latest on Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN Filter or search to find players. You know, role players. 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. The result? On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & resort (KS). Yet it wasnt the Wardens play that caught my eye. Other than that, yeah, I guess. Utilizing Joki as the drop defender is just asking for a thunderstorm of midrange buckets. 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. With just over 5:08 left in the first half, Ayton was shown watching Kevin Durant battle with Nikola Jokic for a rebound instead of coming to his teammate's aid by trying to secure the rebound himself. Ibaka led the NBA in blocks per game in the 2012 and 2013 seasons with 3.7 BPG and 3.0 BPG and made the All-Defensive First Teams between 2012 and 2014 as well. Arizona has forced only 11.8 turnovers per game, and that includes three games against overmatched . Even. Read more about how our RAPTOR player ratings work, or download this data. Nuggets wing Bruce Brown is probably the best bench player of both teams. As the season has progressed, Aytons confidence in his defense has strengthened. Deandre Ayton attended Hillcrest Prep in Phoenix, Arizona and Arizona. Splits Phoenix Suns center. Advantage. Have no fear, Mikal, as DA is there. Jae Crowder is cut off from defending him. Jokic is the reigning two-time MVP. Jimmy Butler Jimmy Butler's 2021-2022 defensive statistics are similar to Draymond Green's; they aren't great. Spread: Suns +2.5 . following a play where Ayton didn't get back on transition defense. We hear from him, too. Ayton is having another excellent season, arguably the best of his career. Here's an example of what that looks like from the Timberwolves series. Not to sound like the old guy in the room, but its a different game these days. Ayton's averaging 16 points on 53 percent from the field to go with 11.8 rebounds in the postseason. If it reaches a Game 7 in Denver, Phoenix will be in trouble, but it wont. The two toughest defensive assignments will go to Caldwell-Pope and Aaron Gordon. How many career 30+ point games does Deandre Ayton have? They started off in the drop. The Nuggets finished the regular season with the best record in their conference for the first time in franchise history. 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. 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 . Not to mention the fact that his performance came against an All-Star caliber forward/center in Bam Adebayo. He can also erase the effectiveness of Malone's small-ball lineups by unleashing brute physicality against mismatches. He also appears to be lagging last years pace on defensive win shares, which purport to estimate player impact contributed due to defense. They're shooting a blistering 53.3 percent from the field and have the best postseason offense. Deandre Edoneille Ayton Sr. (born July 23, 1998) is a Bahamian professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). 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. by John Wilmes. Willie stays high on this play, creating an iso-situation between Ayton and Luka. It was an unnecessary switch. Although he still has much to learn in this area (the NBA is an ever-changing chess match of set plays and talented finishers), you are beginning to see his play recognition and understanding of switches. You're doing something right when one of the best offensive players of all-time ends up with a completely uncontested shot. He is shooting at a ridiculous 70.6% FG and has a True Shooting percentage of 70.3, the most in NBA history. Points allowed: Suns 115.6 (9th), Nuggets 105 (5th). Offensively, thats just not who he is. "He's notone-dimensional. Which is really really good. The Phoenix Suns dropped from best odds to win the West to 3rd best, despite still being 2nd best to win the whole league. The Suns, meanwhile, bolstered their roster tremendously at the trade deadline by adding two-time Finals MVP Kevin Durant via a blockbuster deal. Calculating Trade Value. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. Phoenix appeared a beat slow on its defensive switches throughout the series against LA. Despite a 10 height disparity, Ayton accepts the challenge and holds his base. The relationship between Ayton and the Suns has reportedly soured . DeAndre Jordan was born on July 21, 1988. The Suns' record went from 19-63 to 34-39 to 51-21 in Ayton's three seasons. 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. But Michael Malone has the opportunity to completely swing the series in Denver's favor. Nuggets coach Michael Malone and Williams established a culture that has been the foundation for the success of their teams. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. More importantly, they could not stop the LA Clippers in Round 1, who were without Kawhi Leonard and Paul George for most of the series. A play during the Suns' 125-107 loss to the Denver Nuggets in Game 1 didn't help his cause in quieting his critics. Ayton, per B-Ball Index, is in the 92nd percentile relative to his position in defensive rebounds per 75 possessions, good for an A rating. The end result is a missed three-pointer and a rebound for DA. PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 25: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers in action against Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston . Deandre Ayton's role has fluctuated a ton in Phoenix. Really? On-Off. What is exciting is his growth. Eligibility restrictions apply. See terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. 16.3 shots per game, 44%, 4.1% below shooter averages. Ayton, the No. The Phoenix Suns dropped from best odds to win the West to 3rd best, despite still being 2nd best to win the whole league. The oldest play in the book. Positions are estimated from lineups. There are times when it almost feels like the Suns forget they have Kevin Durant on the team. And its getting ugly. Deandre Ayton is on Instagram at deandreayton. Follow him on Twitter@Jeremy_Cluff. There are a lot of buttons to be pushed in order to beat a team as talented as the Phoenix Suns. Its not all glitz and glamour, defensive dominance and swatted leather. 7'1" big 24.6 years old #1 pick in 2018. . 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. 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. Deandre Ayton 7'1" big 24.7 years old Profile Positions On/Off Stats Game Logs Lineups Trends Team Efficiency and Four Factors The rest of this page is for subscribers only. Which team has the most wins as home dogs since 2015-16? And then finally, Michael Porter Jr. will be somewhat of a free safety for Denver. How do we answer back?" Yes, small sample size, but it is something to continue to monitor as the year progresses. Through their first 10 games, the Suns had a. The Suns are currently 5th in offensive rating and 2nd in defensive rating, which are the markings of an elite team. On NBA 2K23, Kevin Durant is Phoenix Suns' highest rated player, followed by Devin Booker in second place, and Chris Paul in third. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. They change it up on me, so I change it up on them, Ayton said after Game 4, about working out of the short roll. Click to login It includes: On/off/position stats for team and opponent shooting by location Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch said he expected his team to win the minutes that Joki sat heading into the series, but Malone's unexpected small-ball adjustment completely changed things. Someone like Reggie Jackson comes to mind. The more he focuses on excelling, the better he will be. Ayton has become a lightning rod for discussion for Suns fans. It may be worth noting that Ayton defends far fewer such shots than some other centers (seven players in the league are defending eight or more such shots per game), but that goes less to Aytons performance and more the Suns defensive tactics. When you think of pick and roll, you think of Steven Adams and Zion Williamson, dont you? 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. Below is Phoenix Suns' 2K full team roster. Teams use switches constantly to create favorable mismatches for their offense. 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. Mike Conley gets nailed by Joki's screen, so Gobert "hedges" out to Murray to stop his dribble. While talented on the offensive end, the team has displayed the ability to switch, defend, and deter. Advantage: Suns. 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. His 76 wingspan is a hinderance to any ball-handler who makes their way towards the basket. There is an expectation that the 2018 #1 overall draft pick should be creating plays worthy of being printed on posters. 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. Or write about sports? So, what can Malone do instead? They give Durant extra attention, Booker can continue to cook. You have to possess the ability to make quick decisions in transition. Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets dunks past the defense of Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix . What? 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. Deandre Ayton. Teams are looking to rebound any missed field goal, get the ball out, and run. Too much just standing around and watching from Ayton. It'll be interesting to see if Denver adopts a similar strategy. bs, High School: My name is Dominayton. I anchor the Phoenix Suns on both ends the floor. Statistical model by Nate Silver. Thats a meaningful amount. Jae Crowder on what they've been emphasizing to Deandre Ayton and the potential the Suns have with him defensively: pic.twitter.com/9PbasSyJEY. Luka Doncic uses a high screen set by Willie Cauley-Stein in an effort to switch out of the pesky defense of Bridges. This early in the season we could still be dealing with a bit of an anomaly that will smooth out with time. He has continued to not only show a cerebral increase and understanding of the not-so-sexy side of the ball, he has displayed an affinity for it as well. 2: Booker's defense could face healthy Murray. Ayton's decision-making in the open floor as the "short roller" left a lot to be desired. LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Suns vs Rockets . How the Suns lost Game 1, and what that means for the rest of the series, The odds are now well against the Phoenix Suns in this series, though a few tweaks and better effort could make a world of difference, Suns drop to 3rd best title odds as Warriors advance to second round. Do you blame him? Switching 1-through-5 could be one of Denver's best forms of defense against Phoenix's high-octane offense. I'm so tired. Its effective. DeAndre Jordan is 6-11 (211 cm) tall. 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. Have opinion about current state of theSuns? We all have the same objective and thats to win the game. Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. Just give them the space and they got it. . Le pivot a un vritable coup jouer, et il a montr en 2021 qu'il peut parfois sur-performer durant une srie. Aytons court vision allows for the recognition on this play. But it may be evidence Ayton is peaking, which if true is something worth thinking about. Make those guys beat you and lean into interchangeability at all five positions when Joki sits. 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. 1 overall of the 2018 NBA Draft, shot 8-of-12 from the field and was a team-best +20 in his 34 minutes. The team may be undersized at times but they still are tenacious on the glass. It was 12.0 back in 04-05. More than likely, the Nuggets will mix and match coverages to throw Phoenix off the scent. Your weekly roundup of Phoenix Suns news, rumors, notes and videos from the prior week plus a preview of the week to come. Needlessly standing there, hands at his sides, completely uninvolved in the offense. The Seven Seconds of Less era truly revolutionized the way way the game is played. In this style of pick-and-roll defense, the big man just outright double-teams the ball-handler. Explore all Phoenix Suns NBA player stats - including scoring, rebounding, shooting, assists & more! Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Sometimes, he'll just outright miss the open shooter. 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. The team's most recent championship series appearance was in the 2021 NBA Finals when they were defeated by the Giannis Antetokounmpo-led Milwaukee Bucks. Deandre Ayton is easily having the best playoff debut run by any player in NBA history. Pace: Suns 99.50 (Tied-9th), Nuggets 94.82 (Tied-11th). He thought wrong. 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. 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. "Blitzing" against the pick-and-roll should also get a lengthy look. Nikola Joki Deandre Ayton Aaron Gordon . 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. How often do we see this play in the NBA? Over the years, he's transformed into more of a nominal pick-and-roll big man. Ayton has had to adjust in this series to facing Zubac and backup Clippers big Mason Plumlee one minute and working against Ty Lues small lineup the next. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. And everybody just trusting me to be that guy protecting the paint.. Call (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelpline.ma.org (MA), Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). The likes of Luka, Jamal Murray, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Zion have all switched into Ayton at some point this year. He went 7-for-11 from the field. 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.
