Ayton's Development at the Quarter Mark of 2018-2019 Season

[1Sun]

I think Ayton, like many of his teammates, is just waiting for Igor to be canned.

Very much like the "effort" Aaron Rodgers put forth on Sunday to get Mike McCarthy fired.

 

[GatorAZ]

Suns are cursed. They finally get the #1 pick and a center who’s kryptonite is the paint.

 

[Superbone]

Suns are cursed. They finally get the #1 pick and a center who’s kryptonite is the paint.

I sure hope we don’t have an Olowokandi on our hands.

 

[slinslin]

I sure hope we don’t have an Olowokandi on our hands.

What are these non-sense posts?

Dude is averaging 16/10/2 with good advanced numbers across the board. He is doing terrific for a rookie.

The expectations are absurd that somehow he should shoulder this team right now as a rookie.

 

[elindholm]

The expectations are absurd that somehow he should shoulder this team right now as a rookie.

I think that's the biggest problem. This team is bad, and needs a forceful leader, and that's not his personality or confidence level. Maybe he'll get there later, but there are very few rookies in the history of the league that would be prepared to lead this hapless roster.

 

[SirStefan32]

It's rare for me to agree with Slin, but I think he is right on this one. The expectations that some people have for Ayton are beyond unrealistic.

 

[1Sun]

It's rare for me to agree with Slin, but I think he is right on this one. The expectations that some people have for Ayton are beyond unrealistic.

Indeed. At the same time, I don't think it can be denied that at present Ayton's development is going backwards.

 

[taz02]

We should be concerned about this mess impacting his confidence. There are so many problems with this team I hope it doesn't ruin his development.

 

[SactownSunsFan]

What happened with Ayton coming out way early in the 1st for a few minutes? Was that Kokosov sending a message about his lack of effort, or something else?

 

[Superbone]

What happened with Ayton coming out way early in the 1st for a few minutes? Was that Kokosov sending a message about his lack of effort, or something else?

The former. Yes, he was sending a message about lack of effort. He didn't finish out the game either. Holmes played until he fouled out and then Bender came in.

 

[Sunstroke]

I'm afraid under this coaching staff and the lack of even a decent point guard, Ayton has moved from prodigy to project. How does a center not pick up at least one foul? This kid looks lost in the paint as opponents continue to perform lay up-drills when he's in the paint. Lack of intensity was pointed out by Chambers last night in the post game show as TC said Ayton "was soft tonight" and needed to start 'mucking it up in the paint when the team is being embarrassed.

Interesting tidbit on the Bickley and Marotta show yesterday, NBA Insider, Amin Hassan (sp?) said Ayton's development will be impaired by the lack of a point guard as he believes young bigs need to have a good point guard to aid in their growth.

In other news, Doncic wins Western Conference ROM award as the Mavs win their 9th straight.....

Still believe the Suns made the right pick. Just have to get the right pieces around him and I'm not just talking about players.

 

[1Sun]

I'm afraid under this coaching staff and the lack of even a decent point guard, Ayton has moved from prodigy to project. How does a center not pick up at least one foul? This kid looks lost in the paint as opponents continue to perform lay up-drills when he's in the paint. Lack of intensity was pointed out by Chambers last night in the post game show as TC said Ayton "was soft tonight" and needed to start 'mucking it up in the paint when the team is being embarrassed.

Interesting tidbit on the Bickley and Marotta show yesterday, NBA Insider, Amin Hassan (sp?) said Ayton's development will be impaired by the lack of a point guard as he believes young bigs need to have a good point guard to aid in their growth.

In other news, Doncic wins Western Conference ROM award as the Mavs win their 9th straight.....

Still believe the Suns made the right pick. Just have to get the right pieces around him and I'm not just talking about players.

This was precisely my fear when I railed on the lack of a point guard during preseason and why I have been railing of Kokoskov's hapless coaching performance.

 

[slinslin]

I'm afraid under this coaching staff and the lack of even a decent point guard, Ayton has moved from prodigy to project. How does a center not pick up at least one foul? This kid looks lost in the paint as opponents continue to perform lay up-drills when he's in the paint. Lack of intensity was pointed out by Chambers last night in the post game show as TC said Ayton "was soft tonight" and needed to start 'mucking it up in the paint when the team is being embarrassed.

Interesting tidbit on the Bickley and Marotta show yesterday, NBA Insider, Amin Hassan (sp?) said Ayton's development will be impaired by the lack of a point guard as he believes young bigs need to have a good point guard to aid in their growth.

In other news, Doncic wins Western Conference ROM award as the Mavs win their 9th straight.....

Still believe the Suns made the right pick. Just have to get the right pieces around him and I'm not just talking about players.

The Mavs are winning games mainly because of their bench, not Doncic. They beat the Clips without him..

 

[SactownSunsFan]

The former. Yes, he was sending a message about lack of effort. He didn't finish out the game either. Holmes played until he fouled out and then Bender came in.

Good. He should've been pulling him weeks ago. Maybe even start Holmes for the next game or two. I noticed his effort did pick up a little bit right after coming back into the game.

 

[BC867]

Good. He should've been pulling him weeks ago. Maybe even start Holmes for the next game or two. I noticed his effort did pick up a little bit right after coming back into the game.

Igor should be "pulled". It is the coach's job to develop a rookie (with only one year of college ball and at a different position). And to not station him at the 3-point line on a pick & roll. And to convince the Front Office to have obtained a serviceable Point Guard to feed the Center skillfully.

If all that had been handled professionally, the only challenge would be training Ayton to become NBA tough game by game.

There is also a psychological side to top tier professional sports. Anyone who goes online knows that the ownership group are incompetents. The General Manager turnovers are scapegoats for the Managing owner. And the Head Coach's position has been a turnstile of people supposedly learning on the job.

I have a theory that if you go to bed tired (physically), after a decent night's sleep, you wake up refreshed.

But if you go to bed weary (emotionally), even after a decent night's sleep (if you can get it), you wake up . . . still weary.

Let's not pin this on Ayton after a couple of months of the NBA and returning to the Center position.

Look at what this mess has done to the frustration level of ASFN Suns posters. And we're not the ones on the court performing game after game, with the feeling of different night, same old **** on our shoulders.

 

[GatorAZ]

It's rare for me to agree with Slin, but I think he is right on this one. The expectations that some people have for Ayton are beyond unrealistic.

Those people must’ve not watched him closely at Arizona. Everything he’s doing now was on display in college only difference being the level of competition.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Igor should be "pulled". It is the coach's job to develop a rookie (with only one year of college ball and at a different position). And to not station him at the 3-point line on a pick & roll. And to convince the Front Office to have obtained a serviceable Point Guard to feed the Center skillfully.

If all that had been handled professionally, the only challenge would be training Ayton to become NBA tough game by game.

There is also a psychological side to top tier professional sports. Anyone who goes online knows that the ownership group are incompetents. The General Manager turnovers are scapegoats for the Managing owner. And the Head Coach's position has been a turnstile of people supposedly learning on the job.

I have a theory that if you go to bed tired (physically), after a decent night's sleep, you wake up refreshed.

But if you go to bed weary (emotionally), even after a decent night's sleep (if you can get it), you wake up . . . still weary.

Let's not pin this on Ayton after a couple of months of the NBA and returning to the Center position.

Look at what this mess has done to the frustration level of ASFN Suns posters. And we're not the ones on the court performing game after game, with the feeling of different night, same old **** on our shoulders.

And then cashing million dollar checks. Let’s not succumb to “oh the poor players.” Particularly not 20 year old millionaires who have played a sum total of 20-something games.

 

[BC867]

Those people must’ve not watched him closely at Arizona. Everything he’s doing now was on display in college only difference being the level of competition.

Playing out of position. His only year of college to give no experience playing in the post.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Those people must’ve not watched him closely at Arizona. Everything he’s doing now was on display in college only difference being the level of competition.

I disagree. I watched a lot of his collegiate games. I never thought of him as soft or intimidated (except against that Stanford kid). And I thought he dispelled the effort concerns he entered college with. But these items seem to be poking their heads out now.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Playing out of position. His only year of college to give no experience playing in the post.

Yeah that’s not true. People made a big deal of his playing power forward but on offense he played plenty in the post and even defensively he still spent the majority of the time down low. The myth that he lived at the three point line offensively and defensively is growing in its false legend. Did he do so more than Ristic? Yes. Was it even the majority of his time? Not even close.

 

[BC867]

And then cashing million dollar checks. Let’s not succumb to “oh the poor players.” Particularly not 20 year old millionaires who have played a sum total of 20-something games.

On most teams, absolutely. What you posted is a good generalization.

On the hapless, dysfunctional Phoenix Suns (who, one year ago, were referred to as the laughingstock of the NBA and have gotten worse), there is much more to it.

 

[SirStefan32]

Those people must’ve not watched him closely at Arizona. Everything he’s doing now was on display in college only difference being the level of competition.

Or they saw what they wanted to see. I think a lot of people had such an irrational dislike of Doncic that they suspended their disbelief completely when watching Ayton. Don't get me wrong, I'd still draft Ayton, and I think he will be an outstanding player, but what we are seeing now should not be a surprise. Defense and effort/ drive were always huge question marks on Ayton. Suns did not draft him for what he is now. They drafted him for what he is going to be in 2-3 years. That will likely be a seven-foot version of Booker- good enough on offense that we will tolerate his defense.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Or they saw what they wanted to see. I think a lot of people had such an irrational dislike of Doncic that they suspended their disbelief completely when watching Ayton. Don't get me wrong, I'd still draft Ayton, and I think he will be an outstanding player, but what we are seeing now should not be a surprise. Defense and effort/ drive were always huge question marks on Ayton. Suns did not draft him for what he is now. They drafted him for what he is going to be in 2-3 years. That will likely be a seven-foot version of Booker- good enough on offense that we will tolerate his defense.

Again i disagree. The effort was a knock on him coming into college. But not only did that never evidence itself at UofA but most commentators were effusive in debunking that reputation . . . and I generally agreed that lack of effort wasn’t a concern of mine. As an Arizona fan I would’ve been just as critical of him last year as I am this year if I saw the same traits. I honestly am worried that he put in the effort in college to debunk his rep to get drafted #1 and now, as Steve points out, he’s trying to figure out how to keep motivated now that he’s being paid.

 

[SirStefan32]

I don't know what to tell you, Ouchie. I've only watched him a handful of times, and he didn't look any different than he looks now when it comes to effort and drive. Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder could see it. How so many people didn't see it is beyond me.

 

[GatorAZ]

Again i disagree. The effort was a knock on him coming into college. But not only did that never evidence itself at UofA but most commentators were effusive in debunking that reputation . . . and I generally agreed that lack of effort wasn’t a concern of mine. As an Arizona fan I would’ve been just as critical of him last year as I am this year if I saw the same traits. I honestly am worried that he put in the effort in college to debunk his rep to get drafted #1 and now, as Steve points out, he’s trying to figure out how to keep motivated now that he’s being paid.

Motor problems aren’t as visible when he can dominate on talent alone. One example of this is rebounding. Is he averaging double-digit boards b/c he’s the most talented big on the court or his he boxing out and attacking rebounds? His lack of desire near the rim is more mental than coaching/fit.