As far as Ayton's D. They are saying that some of those lapses were just because he was gassed.
I have a hunch this has a lot to do with it. Sometimes that is conditioning and sometimes it is just natural ability. Shawn Marion could go flat out without stopping an entire game. Eric Bledsoe couldn't. Conditioning can only go so far.
The coach might have to figure out how to rest Ayton strategically so that he can be most effective when he is on the court. Not sure a run and gun game is for him.
Game Day (Home Opener): Mavericks (0-0) @ Suns (0-0), Wed 10/17/18
Re: Game Day (Home Opener): Mavericks (0-0) @ Suns (0-0), Wed 10/17/18
Ayton was visibly gassed. He was breathing very hard while waiting to rebound FTs. Hopefully, it's just a matter of him getting in better shape as the season moves on.
"Be Legendary."
Re: Game Day (Home Opener): Mavericks (0-0) @ Suns (0-0), Wed 10/17/18
His conditioning has improved since summer league, when he had hands on knees by the 2nd quarter.
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Re: Game Day (Home Opener): Mavericks (0-0) @ Suns (0-0), Wed 10/17/18
Yes. But also our shooting was unbelievable. It won't happen regularly. Honestly, if we are lucky, the combo of TJ, JJ, Ariza and Ryan will be around 33% for the year. Not 61% like that game. I would bet, as a team, we are going to see more nights like last night where we shot 28% from three than the 56% against Dallas. But I do expect us to be near the league average as a whole, instead of dead last like last season.