Warriors @ Suns 12-31-18

[1Sun]

He didn't say it was something to be proud of, he said something is happening. Seems like it to me? A four game win streak is a pretty big "happening" in a season that otherwise hasn't had any consecutive wins, and the team seems less dispirited and more competitive. Hopefully from here on out it will take only 10-12 games to accumulate 5 wins, as opposed to the 29 games it took to get the first 5.

Current level of play is point more toward the latter than the former, I am afraid...

 

[sunsfan88]

Ayton just isn't conditioned. He should be putting down some dunks instead of soft attempts. You can see he is winded constantly, huffing and puffing. And he seems he sweats a lot, not sure if he's just a heavy sweater.

The jump ball issue, there's not an issue. He can jump if he wants to. There was one lob where he went wayyy up there to get it, I think it was the wizard game.

I said it before the draft as well but the Suns fan base was so enamored with Doncic being out of shape that they never realized Ayton was as well.

 

[Chaplin]

I said it before the draft as well but the Suns fan base was so enamored with Doncic being out of shape that they never realized Ayton was as well.

I don't remember ever being concerned with that. My biggest concern was that he was uber-successful in Europe, and the odds aren't good with that translating to the NBA. I was wrong, but that was the #1 concern at the time. Plus, I simply liked Ayton's skill set and potential more. FULL DISCLOSURE: I am a UofA alum.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

I don't remember ever being concerned with that. My biggest concern was that he was uber-successful in Europe, and the odds aren't good with that translating to the NBA. I was wrong, but that was the #1 concern at the time. Plus, I simply liked Ayton's skill set and potential more. FULL DISCLOSURE: I am a UofA alum.

I remember this being the #1 concern for most of the posters on this site. The people that didn't care for Doncic thought he was simply too slow and un-athletic to have similar success in the NBA. There were also concerns that he wouldn't be a good enough shooter to make up for that lack of athleticism, but I don't remember much talk about him being out of shape other than to speculate that he might get a little more explosive with an NBA physical training program.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I don't remember ever being concerned with that. My biggest concern was that he was uber-successful in Europe, and the odds aren't good with that translating to the NBA. I was wrong, but that was the #1 concern at the time. Plus, I simply liked Ayton's skill set and potential more. FULL DISCLOSURE: I am a UofA alum.

My concern wasthat his shooting numbers were not that good, especially his three point shooting.

 

[SirStefan32]

My concern was that his shooting numbers were not that good, especially his three point shooting.

That was my biggest concern as well. Lack of athleticism was overblown IF he could hit that step-back three. As long as he can hit that shot, he will be able to do everything else. I figured he'd know that and would work on that shot, but I wasn't 100% sure.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I thought Doncic was going to be a star but not because I watched him play and saw "star" in the making but because there were simply too many people in his corner and too much evidence on his side. I didn't believe that all the experts could be wrong, including the ones that showered him with awards in Europe. For once, the attention was due to what he'd accomplished not what they were projecting he might be able to do, it's hard to see them all being wrong with so much info to work with.

 

[Mainstreet]

I thought Doncic was going to be a star but not because I watched him play and saw "star" in the making but because there were simply too many people in his corner and too much evidence on his side. I didn't believe that all the experts could be wrong, including the ones that showered him with awards in Europe. For once, the attention was due to what he'd accomplished not what they were projecting he might be able to do, it's hard to see them all being wrong with so much info to work with.

For me it was the Suns had the first pick in the draft and they couldn't pass on a center that seemed to be a can't miss pick.

If Ayton was not in the draft or the Suns drafted later than #1, I think most ASFN posters would have been wanting to draft Doncic.

 

[BC867]

I remember this being the #1 concern for most of the posters on this site. The people that didn't care for Doncic thought he was simply too slow and un-athletic to have similar success in the NBA. There were also concerns that he wouldn't be a good enough shooter to make up for that lack of athleticism, but I don't remember much talk about him being out of shape other than to speculate that he might get a little more explosive with an NBA physical training program.

Wasn't it more about a positive for Ayton than a negative for Doncic, which is the way it should be?

A potential generational Center is something the Suns have lacked forever. Imagine the reaction if the Suns had chosen the best distributing Wing over that Center with its only #1 pick ever.

And, as has been posted many times, even if Ayton has not mastered all of the aspects by the end of his rookie season (including the stamina needed for an NBA season), no matter what the comparison of stats shows, building a winning roster around a Center vs. a distributing Wing is a much better foundation for the future.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Wasn't it more about a positive for Ayton than a negative for Doncic, which is the way it should be?

A potential generational Center is something the Suns have lacked forever. Imagine the reaction if the Suns had chosen the best distributing Wing over that Center with its only #1 pick ever.

And, as has been posted many times, even if Ayton has not mastered all of the aspects by the end of his rookie season (including the stamina needed for an NBA season), no matter what the comparison of stats shows, building a winning roster around a Center vs. a distributing Wing is a much better foundation for the future.

The question of drafting Doncic never had anything to do with Ayton. This site was like 99% in favor of Ayton had we ended up with the #1 pick, but Doncic was mostly coming up as a player that we might draft if we had the 2nd or 3rd pick, but fortunately we weren't put into that position. Even the posters that were very much pro Doncic (like Stefan and myself) were very adamant that we would only want Doncic if it were a situation where we had the 2nd or 3rd pick and Ayton was off the board. On this board it was always Doncic versus Bagley and JJJ.

 

[AzStevenCal]

For me it was the Suns had the first pick in the draft and they could pass on a center that seemed to be a can't miss pick.

If Ayton was not in the draft or the Suns drafted later than #1, I think most ASFN posters would have been wanting to draft Doncic.

I believed in Doncic, mostly sight unseen. I watched all of Ayton's games and knew he had some significant flaws. Still, like you, I was firmly in Ayton's camp.

 

[Mainstreet]

I believed in Doncic, mostly sight unseen. I watched all of Ayton's games and knew he had some significant flaws. Still, like you, I was firmly in Ayton's camp.

The knock on Doncic was unbelievable. He couldn't do what he did and not be good. Good players can always find a position to play.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I don't remember ever being concerned with that. My biggest concern was that he was uber-successful in Europe, and the odds aren't good with that translating to the NBA. I was wrong, but that was the #1 concern at the time. Plus, I simply liked Ayton's skill set and potential more. FULL DISCLOSURE: I am a UofA alum.

Chap you may not have been concerned with Doncic’s Shape but there were plenty of comments to that extent.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I thought Doncic was going to be a star but not because I watched him play and saw "star" in the making but because there were simply too many people in his corner and too much evidence on his side. I didn't believe that all the experts could be wrong, including the ones that showered him with awards in Europe. For once, the attention was due to what he'd accomplished not what they were projecting he might be able to do, it's hard to see them all being wrong with so much info to work with.

Yup, this. I was all for the insane notion of figuring out a way to nab both of them.

 

[BC867]

Yup, this. I was all for the insane notion of figuring out a way to nab both of them.

If Doncic had miraculously wound up here with Ayton, what position do you think he'd be playing? Point Guard or Small Forward?

And what record do you think the Suns would be at right now? Would Igor have been able to make it work?

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

If Doncic had miraculously wound up here with Ayton, what position do you think he'd be playing? Point Guard or Small Forward?

And what record do you think the Suns would be at right now? Would Igor have been able to make it work?

I do think Igor would have been able to make it work. I think he’d be playing point forward because I think we would have had to trade JJ, and both Miami picks as well as another player or pick. So I think our record might not be much different but i think our future would be nuts.

 

[1Sun]

He didn't say it was something to be proud of, he said something is happening. Seems like it to me? A four game win streak is a pretty big "happening" in a season that otherwise hasn't had any consecutive wins, and the team seems less dispirited and more competitive. Hopefully from here on out it will take only 10-12 games to accumulate 5 wins, as opposed to the 29 games it took to get the first 5.

I was wrong. The way this team is playing right now, taking 29 more games to get 5 more wins appears to be overly optimistic.