Click to login It includes: On/off/position stats for team and opponent shooting by location It is due to this desire for highlight-worthy content that I feel Deandre Ayton gets a bad rap from the casual Suns fan (and sometimes the not-so-casual fan as well). This early in the season we could still be dealing with a bit of an anomaly that will smooth out with time. Ayton has scored a total of 13 points in the second half of the last three games, but hes a plus rating in all four games in the second half so far in the series. Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) controls the ball as Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) defends in the first quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Dec. 25, 2022. Currently, they're on the heels of a convincing 4-1 defeat over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round. The Phoenix Suns have been one of the best stories of the 2020-21 season and the evolution of center Deandre Ayton has been a huge part of that. Already a member? Utilizing Joki as the drop defender is just asking for a thunderstorm of midrange buckets. As a team, the Nuggets are shooting the fourth-best three-point percentage in the postseason. Deandre Ayton is on Twitter at DeandreAyton. StatMuse has season-level data for defensive rating going back to the 1973-74 season. Despite finishing the series against LA with averages of 28.4 points on 51.8 percent shooting and 45.8 percent from three, 7.6 rebounds, and 6.2 assists, Durant's offensive utilization felt a tad bit odd. pic.twitter.com/x17aJC3fOI, HTB (@HenryTheBlasian) April 30, 2023, All out effort from Ayton in this play. Other than that, yeah, I guess. "He's notone-dimensional. Ayton uses his size and strength to box out Rudy, and even though Deandre isnt the one who is credited for the rebound, the team obtains possession. Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. Yet despite its occasional clunkiness, the Suns are scoring the second-most halfcourt points per 100 possessions in the postseason, a reflection of the baseline level of absurd offensive talent on the roster. "In an ideal world, I actually want even more," Suns head coach Monty Williams said postgame on Ayton. Positions are estimated from lineups. Deandre Ayton attended Hillcrest Prep in Phoenix, Arizona and Arizona. Not only did Durant become a Sun just two short months ago, he also dealt with an ankle sprain in March that kept him off the floor for three full weeks. Late in the season, Denver busted out a small-ball lineup against the Golden State Warriors that eventually led to one of the most exciting victories of the season. Deandre Ayton has a defensive rating of 109.4 in his career. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. The Suns are currently 5th in offensive rating and 2nd in defensive rating, which are the markings of an elite team. Its opening everything else for everybody else.. The battle on the boards is also worth keeping an eye on. Thats Dominayton, man, said Ayton, using a hybrid off his last name and "domination. Players eligible for leaderboards are those who have played in at least 70 percent of their teams games and average at least 24 minutes per game (including stats from the regular season and playoffs). 21+ (18+ NH/WY). DeAndre Jordan is 34 years old. He saves that intensity and focus for defensive side of the ball. Yet time and again, although he has proven to be an efficient scorer (currently 58% FG%), his finesse approach to his offensive game does not satisfy the masses. Will that lead to Suns coach Monty Williams playing Durant and Booker less? Developed WARP rating and . The 351st-ranked defense last season, North Carolina A&T, allowed 1.23 points per possession. Deandre Ayton Defense Rating | StatMuse The anchor of the defense mirrors the responsibilities of a middle linebacker: call out what you see and direct your resources towards your teams weaknesses. Again, thats not a meaningless difference. The key stats to watch here are personal fouls and turnovers. Mike Conley gets nailed by Joki's screen, so Gobert "hedges" out to Murray to stop his dribble. You have to possess the ability to make quick decisions in transition. The Phoenix Suns dropped from best odds to win the West to 3rd best, despite still being 2nd best to win the whole league. Averaging 14.8 points on 54.2% shooting and 11.3 rebounds in this series, Ayton has posted a double-double in the last three games of this series, all won by the Suns. The views on this page do not necessarily represent the views of the NBA or its clubs. Interpreted as: ayton defense rating this regular season StatMuse has season-level data for defensive rating going back to the 1973-74 season. 116 career games means technically he is in year 2 of development No matter which side of the Deandre Ayton Draft Debate you fall on, respect must be garnered for the efforts he has put forth on the defensive end thus far this year. The Suns' record went from 19-63 to 34-39 to 51-21 in Ayton's three seasons. Please enter a valid email and try again. 2023 ABC News Internet Ventures. The goal was to get the ball out of Durant and Booker's hands even if that meant conceding three-pointers to Craig and Okogie. Yeah, me neither. He's a fantastic spot-up option, as well, but there are more ways to utilize Durant within an offense. Here's why Kevin Durant, Devin Booker will lead Phoenix Suns past In the other two, Denver sat a majority of its starters. In this style of pick-and-roll defense, the big man just outright double-teams the ball-handler. Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin atdmrankin@gannett.comor contact him at 480-787-1240. 1998 He was one of five Suns players to score in double figures including a team-high 23 points from. DeAndre Ayton Trade Value. The main struggles the Suns have faced have been on the defensive side of things, as they have averaged nearly 117 PPG through this stretch. His defensive rating per 100 possessions is the best of his career, proving to be a slam dunk addition by general manager James Jones last offseason. Landry Shamet and Cameron Payne come to mind first, but Damion Lee, T.J. Warren or Terrence Ross may get a shot, too. There's no reason for Malone to go away from his small-ball gambit against the Suns. Despite a 10 height disparity, Ayton accepts the challenge and holds his base. Deandre Ayton /// Stats /// Cleaning the Glass Jalen Brunson, Dallas . His defensive IQ continues to grow and with it comes the intelligence on how to effectively stop the fast break. Try to play hard.. Defense isnt as easy to quantify as offense, unfortunately. The Suns are still among the best defensive teams in the NBA, but statistics seem to show that Ayton hasnt been the force he was last season. But Malone's job goes beyond just dictating defensive coverages. Heck, DeAndre Jordan could even be worth a look to crash the glass against Phoenix's frail rebounding. The perimeter defense of the Suns knows that he is behind him to protect the chances they take. It paid off handsomely. Gambling Problem? Offensively, thats just not who he is.