He rarely has a good 2nd half. I'll have to look for stats on it but I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the majority of our wins come when he plays a complete game and matches his production from the first half in the second. I know he did that tonight but in games where he doesn't produce he's no help at all. I can't blame him much for having an off game against Gobert, whether he's faced him already this season or not. I know he had a good game last meeting but that probably made Gobert circle the next time he'd see Ayton on his calendar. Gobert is defensive juggernaut.
Jazz @ Suns 3-13-19
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He rarely has a good 2nd half. I'll have to look for stats on it but I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the majority of our wins come when he plays a complete game and matches his production from the first half in the second. I know he did that tonight but in games where he doesn't produce he's no help at all. I can't blame him much for having an off game against Gobert, whether he's faced him already this season or not. I know he had a good game last meeting but that probably made Gobert circle the next time he'd see Ayton on his calendar. Gobert is defensive juggernaut.
JCSunsfan
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Well. My tendency is to not believe when a player has a good game out of the ordinary. I was like that with Tyler first few games, and with Oubre. So I guess I should not read too much into a bad game by Ayton, unless it becomes a pattern.
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Here is what worries me about Ayton's performance. He needs to maintain intensity and do other things if his shot is not falling. He needs to feel like he can compete with anyone. He cannot set back and say Gobert is the better player and give himself an out not to compete.
Here are some remarks from the game:
“He was all over the place,” Ayton said. “I’m not going to lie. He’s playoff Rudy right now. He’s super athletic. I didn’t know Rudy Gobert was that athletic. He was all over the glass. He just looked super healthy. It’s like, he’s got the green light. OK. Playoff time. Let’s go. That’s the typical super-vet, All-Star dude right there to me. Defensive Player of the Year. He just looked amped up. Just set the tone for this team. They got the job done.”
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“So after I saw the first three shots that I take normally didn’t go?” Ayton continued. “I don’t want to say I shut down automatically, but it was one of those things I started moping every time I saw a miss and usually I don’t do that. I just shoot the ball. Next play. Make or miss, but today, I don’t know why I was so worried about the shots.”
https://www.azcentral.com/story/spo...zz-phoenix-suns-game-score-result/3158837002/
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Ayton needs to have a fire inside that he can beat anyone. I did not see that fire last night.
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"and usually I don’t do that. I just shoot the ball. Next play. Make or miss, but today, I don’t know why I was so worried about the shots."
This is the take away from that quote for me. He simply had an off day both physically and mentally and we shouldn't expect this to be something we see often at all.
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The "moping" comment bothered me a lot. I don't care if Ayton had an off game. It happens to every player. What bothered me is I didn't see the effort last night.
Ayton needs to feel the bigger they are the harder they fall. He can't allow himself to feel outmatched.
CardsSunsDbacks
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And it was simply one game and he specifically said that it was not a feeling that he has had in other games. Thus it is an outlier and at least for now, not something to worry about.
Chaplin
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I think it's a positive that he recognized it and has taken ownership of it. Doesn't solve the problem, but it's a good first step. Ayton is probably my favorite player on the Suns right now, and I don't think I've seen him play a worse game.
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Ayton even said it was the worse game he ever played.
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Agreed. It does not do any good to worry about it as long as Ayton learns something from the game.
Bridges had an off game as well and we are not even talking about it.
At least he is owning it that he sucked. Those are the guys that improve
Agreed
Chaplin
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Personally, I think Ayton was the difference in this game. Yes, Bridges didn't play well either, but if Ayton plays up to how he's been playing lately, he gets more points and Gobert gets less. We weren't exactly blown out.
Agreed I came away again encouraged that even in losses we are hanging with playoff teams. A young team will have it's ups and downs but I am really optimistic about next year now.
CardsSunsDbacks
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Are you suggesting that is less or more than solid?
That many shots? Less. He could have been more efficient.
He missed 3 just wide open mid range jumpers that he normally makes.
He really gets pissed when they don't go in too
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That's not a good shooting game but it's not exactly a poor one either, especially against a quality (and physical) defense.
Gina Mizell
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Per #Suns, T.J. Warren (ankle soreness) is out again tomorrow at Houston. He has missed the past 20 games, and there are 13 to go.
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Per #Suns, T.J. Warren (ankle soreness) is out again tomorrow at Houston. He has missed the past 20 games, and there are 13 to go.
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9 of 20 is a solid shooting game. It's not amazing by any means, but it is definitely not something to call out as inefficient.
Ouchie-Z-Clown
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Yuck. We would never see those quotes from amare.
BC867
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It looks like Ayton, as any rookie, especially one with high expectations, needs a mentor. Whether the Head Coach, Assistant Coach or veteran player.
Whether Tyson Chandler didn't have the skill to do it (which I doubt) or management playing him so far from the basket, it hasn't worked so far.
His confidence has not grown. With the season winding down, his development as a #1 pick has been weak, despite his overall good stats.
The two small winning streaks the Suns have had during the season do not change that overall picture. Whether at Center or Point Guard, it has given the Suns a false sense of security. Fools gold.
Yeah but as noted, he missed some wide open shots.
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Yes he did but are you really disappointed because he didn't have a perfect game? Even in practice, players miss wide open shots. All told, Devin had a pretty good game. It would be nice if he would have even better games but I'm thrilled to see him finally start to look healthy and in game shape.
