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.Mori Chu wrote: ↑Tue Feb 16, 2021 10:29 amYeah, 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.
Suns News: Week 9 2/15-2/21
Re: Suns News: Week 9 2/15-2/21
Re: Suns News: Week 9 2/15-2/21
He averages twice as many fouls as made FTs.Shabazz wrote: ↑Tue Feb 16, 2021 12:36 pmIt 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.Mori Chu wrote: ↑Tue Feb 16, 2021 10:29 amYeah, 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.
Re: Suns News: Week 9 2/15-2/21
These are all good comments. You folks are right that it would be helpful if he were more assertive on the offensive end. I guess what I was trying to say is that he doesn't need to fundamentally change the way he scores. He doesn't have to become a bull in a china shop like Barkley. He just needs to use his head and learn when he can draw contact from his defender and get to the line, and then do that more often.
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Re: Suns News: Week 9 2/15-2/21
Well hey obviously the guy thought he might have something against Jalen off the dribble
Little did he know Jalen practices/plays 1v1 against Frank so he needed to come better than that
SUNS Fan from the Land of Sun, Sea and Sand
Re: Suns News: Week 9 2/15-2/21
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.
Trendon Watford. Please and thank you.
Re: Suns News: Week 9 2/15-2/21
Thank you.
"Too little, too late, too unbothered."
- Phoenix Suns 2023-2024 season motto.
"Be Legendary."
- Phoenix Suns 2023-2024 season motto.
"Be Legendary."
Re: Suns News: Week 9 2/15-2/21
Didn't Nick Nurse coach Siakam and VanFleet in the G league? It can be a useful development league. There's no need to think of it as a dumping ground for failed talent.
The league needs heroes, villains... and clowns. -- Aztec Sunsfan
Re: Suns News: Week 9 2/15-2/21
It's perfect for Stix right now in terms of playing time and reps. My only concern would be the coaching he's getting and how it fits with what we're doing. Monty mentioned picking up our terminology so not sure if that's something he can grasp playing down there. But he's a worker by all accounts, so hopefully he's making the most of it.
Re: Suns News: Week 9 2/15-2/21
Stix highlights...now this is DOMINAYTON
Re: Suns News: Week 9 2/15-2/21
I know the competition is very different, but imagine if DA dribble-drove that much in a week, much less 1 game.
Re: Suns News: Week 9 2/15-2/21
I think he's a 5. Call him undersized or whatever, he's a 5.
Re: Suns News: Week 9 2/15-2/21
He looks good. It might not be the Suns but, he’s getting playing time.
Re: Suns News: Week 9 2/15-2/21
Not to change the subject or anything, but is the team looking to fill out the backup 4/5 situation at all? Why aren't we linked to guys like Bjelica and McGee at all...
Re: Suns News: Week 9 2/15-2/21
McGee is not a Jones/Monty guy at all.
The league needs heroes, villains... and clowns. -- Aztec Sunsfan
Re: Suns News: Week 9 2/15-2/21
One of the power ranking articles mentioned Mason Plumlee. That works for me.
"Too little, too late, too unbothered."
- Phoenix Suns 2023-2024 season motto.
"Be Legendary."
- Phoenix Suns 2023-2024 season motto.
"Be Legendary."
Re: Suns News: Week 9 2/15-2/21
I saw the Plumlee news, and I like him fine, but he's a bit more expensive and might require several rotational players. Not sure I feel so comfortable with that. And I certainly don't want to put up and draft assets to get him if we end up moving guys like Galloway and Moore.
Re: Suns News: Week 9 2/15-2/21
I think he got a 3 year 25 mil deal? Not sure if there's a partial guarantee on the third though.