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

[CardsSunsDbacks]

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.

9th straight what? They are 7-3 in their last 10 games.

 

[elindholm]

Actually, there are years and years of evidence to support that. You choose to ignore it because he is a white European and it doesn't fit your narrative.

The same way my bias caused me to overlook Bender's genius, right?

 

[Raindog]

Doncic has played well enough coming out of the gate, no question. But there is also no question that (compared to most NBA players) he is not especially athletic nor (seemingly) particularly inclined to become more of an athlete as time goes on, through training, fitness or what have you. How much that will impact his career long term remains to be seen.

I would argue that due to that limitation, he is probably fairly close to his ceiling as to what he will be as an NBA player. That may well be good enough for him to have a fairly successful NBA career. On the other hand, as time goes on and he ages some, possibly has injury issues to deal with (likely an inevitability if his conditioning isn't optimal), and just naturally fills out more as he matures, his physical limitations may end up limiting or even hampering his career. Again, only time will tell.

By the same token, Ayton's "lack of drive" that so many seem to be eager to label him with, may or not be a real issue that likewise may or may not negatively impact his long term development, if in fact that is a real part of his makeup. The point being it is really way too early to come to any conclusion about either of these guys' long term legacy. It's annoying hearing people already fitting Doncic for a bust in Springfield (frankly, even before the draft) and labeling Ayton as a dog 25 games into each of their respective careers.

 

[BC867]

The only way Igor can hope to make Ayton learn that his effort is lackluster is to let him rot on the bench. I hope we see more of that if the effort continues to be a problem.

With all of the mismanagement on the Suns, are you seriously suggesting that the Coach (who is a major part of the problem) give the message to our #1 pick that the team has given up on him after a couple of months ("let him rot on the bench")?

That has to be the worst post I've ever seen on this board.

P.S.: Ayton has the intelligence to know that he was being used as a scapegoat.

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

I think the message was "If you are are going to play with little energy/fire, then you can sit and recharge..." It is about Ayton the individual player - not the scheme, the team, the score, the opponent, etc.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

It's annoying hearing people already fitting Doncic for a bust in Springfield (frankly, even before the draft) and labeling Ayton as a dog 25 games into each of their respective careers.

Know what else is annoying? Claiming these two things when no one in this board is going to either extreme.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

With all of the mismanagement on the Suns, are you seriously suggesting that the Coach (who is a major part of the problem) give the message to our #1 pick that the team has given up on him after a couple of months ("let him rot on the bench")?

That has to be the worst post I've ever seen on this board.

P.S.: Ayton has the intelligence to know that he was being used as a scapegoat.

You bench players when they (a) aren’t giving effort or (b) aren’t listening to you. JJ was benched last year. Was he “given up on?” Uh, he actually rebounded and played his best ball thereafter.

 

[BC867]

You bench players when they (a) aren’t giving effort or (b) aren’t listening to you. JJ was benched last year. Was he “given up on?” Uh, he actually rebounded and played his best ball thereafter.

Sactown didn't say "bench him". He said, "Let him rot on the bench." Really?

I agree with others who have posted that, rather than bench Ayton, give him less minutes.

And that is already happening. Let's see if Igor can turn it into a positive.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Sactown didn't say "bench him". He said, "Let him rot on the bench." Really?

I agree with others who have posted that, rather than bench Ayton, give him less minutes.

And that is already happening. Let's see if Igor can turn it into a positive.

Apologies. I wouldn’t have him rot on the bench but limiting minutes or making him second string sends a strong message.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

And it doesn't look like Zion hits the gym either but to some people he seems to be the answer to most of the Suns problems. So what's the issue? If a player isn't built like Lebron they can't be a winner? Look at Dirk, look at Nash, those are 2 former MVP's who no one would ever mistake for professional athletes if they weren't so tall. Neither of them looked carved out of granite like some other NBA players. Being buff doesn't equal success in the NBA.

Where did this false narrative that Zion is overweight or doughy come from? He’s thick, but just as a rebuttal that should end all that nonsense I’ll just leave this here:

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[Superbone]

I am all in on the Zion train. He is the opposite of soft.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I am all in on the Zion train. He is the opposite of soft.

Yeah. I don't know how many of our current problems he will solve because most of them center on the fact our players are too young or too old. But he'll solve our PF shortage and IF the rest of the players develop as projected, I think he'll put us in the serious contender argument. Fat and/or soft, he ain't.

 

[Sunstroke]

9th straight what? They are 7-3 in their last 10 games.

My Mistake. I should of known better than to trust the morning talking heads on 98.7. Franz went off on a rant against Ayton on his performance against the Kings and offered that piece about Doncic's ROM award and added the Mav's 9 game winning streak. My fault for not checking.

 

[SactownSunsFan]

Apologies. I wouldn’t have him rot on the bench but limiting minutes or making him second string sends a strong message.

Rot on the bench was an expression. Taking away a good chunk of a player's minutes when he feels he should be out there playing is the quickest way to get them to respond, and if they don't they obviously don't care enough to be a winner.

 

[Matt L]

He looks soft and uninterested.

 

[1Sun]

He looks soft and uninterested.

So does the entire team...

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Benching him must’ve really fired him up to prove the coach wrong, huh?

 

[1Sun]

Benching him must’ve really fired him up to prove the coach wrong, huh?

I think it's pretty darn clear that Igor has lost the team, Ayton included.

 

[SactownSunsFan]

Benching him must’ve really fired him up to prove the coach wrong, huh?

What benching? He was in almost immediately after the games started and has played starters minutes. Some message you're sending, Igor.

 

[Raindog]

Know what else is annoying? Claiming these two things when no one in this board is going to either extreme.

I didn't say "on this board."

 

[Yuma]

I saw at one point Ayton was 3/10 from the field where the Suns were feeding him down low and he missed/got blocked most of that time. He just doesn't have the moves/strength to play bully ball against other NBA centers at this point. At one point a couple games ago EJ was saying, Ayton needs to learn to put his elbow in the other guys chest to make room for his low post shots. I find it amazing Corliss Williamson is on our bench, and all time bully, an Ayton is not playing tougher at this point. And I LIKE Ayton!

 

[TJ]

For perspective: Josh Jackson isn’t progressing either. I’d say he’s getting worse. Both Ayton and Jackson were excellent in college and had games tailor-made for the pros. I can see someone like Bender not developing because his ceiling is very low. The others are a product of coaching. Jayson Tatum isn’t the same player on this roster. Neither is Luka Doncic.

 

[Yuma]

For perspective: Josh Jackson isn’t progressing either. I’d say he’s getting worse. Both Ayton and Jackson were excellent in college and had games tailor-made for the pros. I can see someone like Bender not developing because his ceiling is very low. The others are a product of coaching. Jayson Tatum isn’t the same player on this roster. Neither is Luka Doncic.

I think Bender's ceiling was high, but his skills were not NBA ready. A 7 footer with excellant feet. The upside is tremendous. The development has been poor. Len, Bender, Chriss, etc. Who have we developed? I think TJ and Booker are the outliers. TJ spent hours in the gym, and Booker too working on their games on their own. They developed despite our program.

 

[BC867]

Don't let Igor and DeAndre read this.

https://sports.yahoo.com/lakers-put-hands-behind-back-defense-sick-called-fouls-182852369.html

 

[95pro]

I think Bender's ceiling was high, but his skills were not NBA ready. A 7 footer with excellant feet. The upside is tremendous. The development has been poor. Len, Bender, Chriss, etc. Who have we developed? I think TJ and Booker are the outliers. TJ spent hours in the gym, and Booker too working on their games on their own. They developed despite our program.

They talked about the suns development on nba radio a few days back. And how it was virtually not there.

Whereas the Raptors has some deep picks and they’re development is great.

It’s all true.