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Re: Summer League 2018
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2018 1:46 pm
by Mori Chu
I was as skeptical of picking Ayton as anybody. But I don't see the point of nitpicking him to death after 3-4 summer league games. The whole point of SL is to have an opportunity to learn and grow. I don't expect to see polished finished products out there. I just want him to get reps and get practice playing at this level. I'd be a little worried if he had horrible numbers, but overall he's been pretty impressive I would say. He isn't exactly "dominant," but I don't know if the SL is set up for a big to be dominant if the guards don't do a lot to help make that happen.
Re: Summer League 2018
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2018 2:07 pm
by TOO
I didn't see Robinson get double and triple teamed from the get go. He didnt have the attention of the entire defense on him from the jump, sooooo.. Numbers here mean squat to me.
Re: Summer League 2018
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2018 2:37 pm
by In2ition
TheOriginalOriginal wrote: ↑Fri Jul 13, 2018 2:07 pm
I didn't see Robinson get double and triple teamed from the get go. He didnt have the attention of the entire defense on him from the jump, sooooo.. Numbers here mean squat to me.
But the block shots stats have to be eye opening though, no?
Re: Summer League 2018
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2018 4:29 pm
by ShelC
And he's affecting the game without the ball. He can be a role playing defensive bigman with elite athleticism like a Camby, DeAndre Jordan, DHow, etc. Their games are different, but the numbers don't necessarily mean squat. I just hope Ayton is as good as advertised offensively and he and Booker can be a legit 1-2 punch inside and out, with guys like Bridges and Ariza being 3pt threats, Jackson being a slasher/defender and maybe Bender being a stretch 4. PG is still the major question mark.
Re: Summer League 2018
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2018 4:40 pm
by Superbone
ShelC wrote: ↑Fri Jul 13, 2018 4:29 pm
And he's affecting the game without the ball. He can be a role playing defensive bigman with elite athleticism like a Camby, DeAndre Jordan, DHow, etc. Their games are different, but the numbers don't necessarily mean squat. I just hope Ayton is as good as advertised offensively and he and Booker can be a legit 1-2 punch inside and out, with guys like Bridges and Ariza being 3pt threats, Jackson being a slasher/defender and maybe Bender being a stretch 4. PG is still the major question mark.
I'm really curious if McD plans to futher address the PG position before the start of the season. Teodosic or Dragic would be great!
Re: Summer League 2018
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2018 6:23 pm
by Wally_West
Re: Summer League 2018
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2018 7:56 pm
by INFORMER
Superbone wrote: ↑Fri Jul 13, 2018 11:06 am
Ayton is far from a finished product. If people don't know that, I don't know what to tell them.
I don't think a draft pick has to be a finished product to play great in summer league.
Re: Summer League 2018
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2018 10:12 pm
by Superbone
INFORMER wrote: ↑Fri Jul 13, 2018 7:56 pm
Superbone wrote: ↑Fri Jul 13, 2018 11:06 am
Ayton is far from a finished product. If people don't know that, I don't know what to tell them.
I don't think a draft pick has to be a finished product to play great in summer league.
Who said that they did?
Re: Summer League 2018
Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2018 10:34 am
by In2ition
Another thing I was encouraged by about Ayton was that even in this short time and small sample size, you can see improvements in his defensive awareness from what he showed at UofA. It's small improvements, but a little higher consistency. He's still not at the level of Mitchell Robinson defensively, but he is improving slowly. I anticipate that he will make even more improvements going into the season, but still get exposed here and there when the games start to count as all rookies do. Lots to be encouraged by, and I really hope that the Suns can clearly communicate their goals for him and what to work on. Crossing my fingers that Ayton camps out in Hakeem's guest house for the next 2 months. I really wish there was a big man coach like Pete Newell around, but it seems that those coaches are all but dead and forgotten nowadays.
Re: Summer League 2018
Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2018 10:39 am
by ShelC
A guy like Robinson clearly has a natural instinct for blocking shots. He didn't play last year all and still averaged the most blocks per game in Summer League history. That's not to say Ayton won't improve, but if he's not doing now he probably won't become some shotblocking menace in the future. What's more important is individual and team defense. If he can pick that up from Chandler, he'll be fine. Chandler never averaged more than 2bpg but still won a DPOY.
Re: Summer League 2018
Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2018 2:05 pm
by INFORMER
Superbone wrote: ↑Fri Jul 13, 2018 10:12 pm
INFORMER wrote: ↑Fri Jul 13, 2018 7:56 pm
Superbone wrote: ↑Fri Jul 13, 2018 11:06 am
Ayton is far from a finished product. If people don't know that, I don't know what to tell them.
I don't think a draft pick has to be a finished product to play great in summer league.
Who said that they did?
You implied that by responding to criticisms of his play with that comment.
Re: Summer League 2018
Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2018 2:07 pm
by INFORMER
In2ition wrote: ↑Fri Jul 13, 2018 2:37 pm
TheOriginalOriginal wrote: ↑Fri Jul 13, 2018 2:07 pm
I didn't see Robinson get double and triple teamed from the get go. He didnt have the attention of the entire defense on him from the jump, sooooo.. Numbers here mean squat to me.
But the block shots stats have to be eye opening though, no?
Yeah, Robinson looks like he could be a tremendous steal. And you have touted him as a great prospect for awhile, so well done.
Re: Summer League 2018
Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2018 2:53 pm
by Superbone
INFORMER wrote: ↑Sun Jul 15, 2018 2:05 pm
Superbone wrote: ↑Fri Jul 13, 2018 10:12 pm
INFORMER wrote: ↑Fri Jul 13, 2018 7:56 pm
Superbone wrote: ↑Fri Jul 13, 2018 11:06 am
Ayton is far from a finished product. If people don't know that, I don't know what to tell them.
I don't think a draft pick has to be a finished product to play great in summer league.
Who said that they did?
You implied that by responding to criticisms of his play with that comment.
I did not. You totally misunderstood my message and made assumptions. It was totally stand-alone. I said that he's a work in progress. Do you not agree?
Re: Summer League 2018
Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2018 3:01 pm
by INFORMER
30 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals for Danuel House yesterday for Houston. I wonder if he has a chance to make the team.
Re: Summer League 2018
Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2018 3:04 pm
by INFORMER
Superbone wrote: ↑Sun Jul 15, 2018 2:53 pm
I did not. You totally misunderstood my message and made assumptions. It was totally stand-alone. I said that he's a work in progress. Do you not agree?
I'm sorry, I didn't realize it was a stand alone comment. I think any rookie is a work in progress.
Re: Summer League 2018
Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2018 3:06 pm
by Superbone
INFORMER wrote: ↑Sun Jul 15, 2018 3:04 pm
Superbone wrote: ↑Sun Jul 15, 2018 2:53 pm
I did not. You totally misunderstood my message and made assumptions. It was totally stand-alone. I said that he's a work in progress. Do you not agree?
I'm sorry, I didn't realize it was a stand alone comment. I think any rookie is a work in progress.
Some are more ready than others. Doncic comes to mind.
Re: Summer League 2018
Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2018 3:08 pm
by INFORMER
Jaren Jackson, Jr. made a subtle play yesterday that showed a lot of promise. He took his man off the dribble from the 3-point line, pulled up, spun, and drop off a pass to a cutting guard for a lay up.
Re: Summer League 2018
Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2018 3:12 pm
by INFORMER
Superbone wrote: ↑Sun Jul 15, 2018 3:06 pm
INFORMER wrote: ↑Sun Jul 15, 2018 3:04 pm
Superbone wrote: ↑Sun Jul 15, 2018 2:53 pm
I did not. You totally misunderstood my message and made assumptions. It was totally stand-alone. I said that he's a work in progress. Do you not agree?
I'm sorry, I didn't realize it was a stand alone comment. I think any rookie is a work in progress.
Some are more ready than others. Doncic comes to mind.
Of course some are more ready than others. I'm not sure about Doncic though. I think for him, it could go either way. It may take some time to adjust to NBA athleticism. It took Saric about a year to adjust.
For Ayton, I don't really see a reason why he shouldn't be NBA ready. Of course, he probably won't come out of the gate averaging 20/10, but he should be an impact player from day one.
Re: Summer League 2018
Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2018 3:23 pm
by In2ition
INFORMER wrote: ↑Sun Jul 15, 2018 3:12 pm
Superbone wrote: ↑Sun Jul 15, 2018 3:06 pm
INFORMER wrote: ↑Sun Jul 15, 2018 3:04 pm
Superbone wrote: ↑Sun Jul 15, 2018 2:53 pm
I did not. You totally misunderstood my message and made assumptions. It was totally stand-alone. I said that he's a work in progress. Do you not agree?
I'm sorry, I didn't realize it was a stand alone comment. I think any rookie is a work in progress.
Some are more ready than others. Doncic comes to mind.
Of course some are more ready than others. I'm not sure about Doncic though. I think for him, it could go either way. It may take some time to adjust to NBA athleticism. It took Saric about a year to adjust.
For Ayton, I don't really see a reason why he shouldn't be NBA ready. Of course, he probably won't come out of the gate averaging 20/10, but he should be an impact player from day one.
The good thing for Ayton is that he doesn't need to be an automatic 20/10 guy right out the gates to be an impact player on this team. He'll probably be 3rd or even 4th option as a rookie and he could excel in that role.
On a separate note, JJ shouldn't be a #1 or #2 option if for some reason they start him. He just needs more work and when he forced the issue at SL, he just didn't look so good.
Re: Summer League 2018
Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2018 3:55 pm
by O_Gardino
In2ition wrote: ↑Sun Jul 15, 2018 3:23 pm
INFORMER wrote: ↑Sun Jul 15, 2018 3:12 pm
Superbone wrote: ↑Sun Jul 15, 2018 3:06 pm
INFORMER wrote: ↑Sun Jul 15, 2018 3:04 pm
Superbone wrote: ↑Sun Jul 15, 2018 2:53 pm
I did not. You totally misunderstood my message and made assumptions. It was totally stand-alone. I said that he's a work in progress. Do you not agree?
I'm sorry, I didn't realize it was a stand alone comment. I think any rookie is a work in progress.
Some are more ready than others. Doncic comes to mind.
Of course some are more ready than others. I'm not sure about Doncic though. I think for him, it could go either way. It may take some time to adjust to NBA athleticism. It took Saric about a year to adjust.
For Ayton, I don't really see a reason why he shouldn't be NBA ready. Of course, he probably won't come out of the gate averaging 20/10, but he should be an impact player from day one.
The good thing for Ayton is that he doesn't need to be an automatic 20/10 guy right out the gates to be an impact player on this team. He'll probably be 3rd or even 4th option as a rookie and he could excel in that role.
On a separate note, JJ shouldn't be a #1 or #2 option if for some reason they start him. He just needs more work and when he forced the issue at SL, he just didn't look so good.
Who is the #2 option if not Ayton? Are you still hoping for a trade? These are honest, non-rhetorical questions.
I think Ayton has a chance to put together a very impressive stat line for us. He's already a good scorer and rebounder, and in summer league he showed better passing than you would expect from a rookie. He should get a ton of touches. And with Booker on the court, he won't face 4 defenders like he did in summer league.
Even so, it would be incredibly special if he averages 20/10. Only Shaq and Elton Brand have done it at age 20, and there just are so few 20/10 guys left in the league.