Phx-Suns.Net

Mori Chu wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 16, 2021 10:29 am

Yeah, well, DeAndre Ayton is still only 22 years old. He has lots of time to learn and improve. He's already improved several aspects of his game this season. I also don't think DA "needs" to learn to shoot 3s or get fouled a lot to be effective. It'd be nice if he worked on either of those things, but would his being a 3-point guy strictly improve his game? I like him close to the basket.

The article you're quoting suffers from a bit of a lack of imagination. I think DA is neither an interior bruiser nor a 3-point shooting center. He's something else. Let's call it a finesse interior player. He plays inside, with shots and moves close to the basket along with screen/rolls, oops, and putbacks. But he does it in a cautious way, going for comfortable / rhythm shots rather than trying to bash his way through the defender. He has a sharp eye for reading the defense and passing out if he feels like his own shot or path to the basket is too heavily contested. Sometimes this means he passes up shots we want him to take, or lays up / fades away when he should dunk. But it also means his FG% is sky-high and that he rarely hurts us by chucking up bad shots.

I'm often amazed to look at the box score and see that he's shot 8/11 or something gaudy like that. On a team with scorers like Booker, Paul, and all our 3-point-bombing wings, he complements the other guys really well. I don't know if it'd be better for him to scream for the ball and want to take 30 shots a game and bash through people on his way to the hoop. That'd be an exciting player, maybe more individually valuable and talented. But would that player help this team more? I'm not so sure.

I'm not settling for mediocrity from DA, nor am I trying to be overly defensive about him. I want him to work on his game, too, and he has a ways to go yet. But I just want to appreciate the many things he does well and the subtle aspects of his game that help the team where most other players would hurt us. I actually think he's really good and really want to keep him here.

Shabazz wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 16, 2021 12:36 pm

Mori Chu wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 16, 2021 10:29 am

Yeah, well, DeAndre Ayton is still only 22 years old. He has lots of time to learn and improve. He's already improved several aspects of his game this season. I also don't think DA "needs" to learn to shoot 3s or get fouled a lot to be effective. It'd be nice if he worked on either of those things, but would his being a 3-point guy strictly improve his game? I like him close to the basket.

The article you're quoting suffers from a bit of a lack of imagination. I think DA is neither an interior bruiser nor a 3-point shooting center. He's something else. Let's call it a finesse interior player. He plays inside, with shots and moves close to the basket along with screen/rolls, oops, and putbacks. But he does it in a cautious way, going for comfortable / rhythm shots rather than trying to bash his way through the defender. He has a sharp eye for reading the defense and passing out if he feels like his own shot or path to the basket is too heavily contested. Sometimes this means he passes up shots we want him to take, or lays up / fades away when he should dunk. But it also means his FG% is sky-high and that he rarely hurts us by chucking up bad shots.

I'm often amazed to look at the box score and see that he's shot 8/11 or something gaudy like that. On a team with scorers like Booker, Paul, and all our 3-point-bombing wings, he complements the other guys really well. I don't know if it'd be better for him to scream for the ball and want to take 30 shots a game and bash through people on his way to the hoop. That'd be an exciting player, maybe more individually valuable and talented. But would that player help this team more? I'm not so sure.

I'm not settling for mediocrity from DA, nor am I trying to be overly defensive about him. I want him to work on his game, too, and he has a ways to go yet. But I just want to appreciate the many things he does well and the subtle aspects of his game that help the team where most other players would hurt us. I actually think he's really good and really want to keep him here.

It would absolutely help the team if DA drew more fouls. Look at how rarely we get opposing bigs into foul trouble and how often we're hurt by DA picking up 2 quick ones.

ShelC wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 16, 2021 4:58 pm

Mori Chu wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 15, 2021 12:29 pm

I'm rooting for Smith, but it's hard to spin this Smith news as anything but a failure.

INFORMER wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 16, 2021 8:08 pm

Mori Chu wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 15, 2021 12:29 pm

I'm rooting for Smith, but it's hard to spin this Smith news as anything but a failure.

Way too early for that conclusion. I think it is another Ayton-Doncic situation, except less dramatic. Haliburton is better and probably should have been the pick, but that doesn't mean Smith is doomed to be terrible. He can still turn into a good player.

ShelC wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 17, 2021 12:48 pm

Stix highlights...now this is DOMINAYTON

Superbone wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 17, 2021 9:49 pm

One of the power ranking articles mentioned Mason Plumlee. That works for me.

Danimal wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 17, 2021 11:48 pm

Superbone wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 17, 2021 9:49 pm

One of the power ranking articles mentioned Mason Plumlee. That works for me.

His salary seems too high to trade for though. I don’t think we can just trade him for spare parts and he’s on a 2 year deal so pistons likely wouldn’t jump dump him