[Rankin] “He’s an 18 and 10 player and if you were to ask the game’s greatest players how easy it is to do that, they’ll tell you it’s extremely difficult, but even that bar isn’t high enough for him and others.” James Jones on Deandre Ayton #Suns
"He’s an 18 and 10 player and if you were to ask the game’s greatest players how easy it is to do that, they’ll tell you it’s extremely difficult, but even that bar isn’t high enough for him and others.” James Jones on Deandre Ayton #Suns
Full story here: https://t.co/VYOki3X6b4 pic.twitter.com/kQIFAYP7Pf
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) July 22, 2023
by Kimber80
21 Comments
If he can give the Suns at least an efficient 15/10 with good defense they will be in good shape next season. He’s probably the best 4th option in the league.
I’m not as low on Ayton as most of this sub but averaging 18 and 10 in todays league is levels easier than the past. It’s also a lot easier when you have Chris Paul playing point.
The Ayton hate is getting a bit out of hand. He averaged 15/12 in the Finals was a net plus +10 in a series they lost 2-4.
18/10 in the regular season don’t mean shit if you get benched at halftime putting up 5 and 4 against Dwight Powell in game 7. Suns had a dynasty with luka and instead drafted for fit and supposed ticket sales for the hometown kid.
There is no one you can get for him that can replace what he does. Simple.
Mavs fans seriously thought they could dump Hardaway for this dude. 😂
I think people wouldn’t criticize if he was a consistent 18/10 in the playoffs.
He was a solid 16/11 against the Clippers.
He was 11/8 against Denver and they needed more than that.
If he is the scoring option behind KD, Booker, and Beal, I think his current production will be completely fine for them.
He actually doesn’t need to score or be good offensively. On the team as currently constructed, he needs to be a physical monster rim protector, good screensetter, and a good rebounder.
He sucks at most of those things unfortunately. I think most Suns fans would be happy for him to just play a rim running defensive role, but his effort on defense seems to always be lacking.
Ayton’s issue is that the Suns don’t need his style of center. This suns team would be better with a young Deandre Jordan type. Or even a current day Vuc or a Zubac than Ayton. They need someone who is gonna slam the ball in and power his way to the hoop. This suns team is crying out for someone to have a different dynamic than their midrange assassin stars.
​
It’s not that he’s bad, he’d probably really impress in a system more built around him but his more unique skills he brings to the Center position aren’t what this suns team is designed to ever need as much as he can give it. I think his defense will improve next season but I also think that he gets traded for a few role players.
​
Edit: lol not Vuc.
If he was a consistent 18/10 player it’d be fine. Problem is too often he’ll just not be there during games and check out and you get like 10/3 stat lines, which doesn’t cut it for a dude who’s got the role he does. Even if he’s not a big scoring option, you gotta soak up rebounds and let your presence be known. He doesn’t do that consistently, but maybe he will with Vogel.
Regardless of your opinion on Ayton, it’s nice to hear that JJ is in his corner and sees what he’s capable of. Most of Ayton’s issues is mental, the talent is obviously there.
He is a fine player. Haters are tripping.
Here comes the circlejerk supporting Ayton after years of this sub shitting on him, such many cases!
Lol KD gonna ruin this kid if he starts getting frustrated with him
Why is James Johnson not back at UFC?!
As a mavs fan, who has to endure watching Dwight Powell as a starting center, having Ayton would feel like having Wilt on the team.
He’ll be unhappy with his role and detrimental to the team.
Stat muse says 5 players (Giannis, Davis, embiid, jokic, sabonis) had 18 and 10 with rebounds last season, but doesn’t list ayton due to rounding. [Searching for 17 and 9](https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask?q=nba+players+who+average+17+points+per+game%2C+9+rebounds+per+game+this+season) adds vucevic, randle, bam, and ayton.
For assists: harden, trae, and haliburton have 10 assists, jokic has 9.8, and all 4 have at least 20 points.
And even though nobody asked I’ll tell you the players to average 0/7/7 are: jokic, doncic, sabonis, and raiquan gray of the nets with 1 game played.
Suns fans expected a star and got “stuck” with an above average player. He’s gonna have a Wiggins type of career, and that’s pretty damn good.
Its just a weird thing with ayton. For his size, I expect him to easily bully most players in the paint. So you combine that ability he should have, with his amazing midrange shooting and finesse around the paint, and you have a backup all star player. But he doesn’t bully people in the paint! And that’s why everyone is frustrated. He doesn’t use his size.
A common counterargument is he has a bad whistle. And is true. He gets called for fouls a lot. My hope is Vogel figures that shit out. If he does, that might open up the rest of his game. That honestly might be all he needs
the money vs production is not very efficient