DEANDRE AYTON STTS CODE

He shot 70.6% at the rim as a rookie, 66.0% last season and is up to 71.1% this season вЂ“ 13th in the league among those who have played at least 40 games. Success around the rim has been a staple of his interior excellence each year. A mentality shift is occurring, which is empowering Ayton in this role as a play finisher where his time of possession comes in short spurts and the Suns rely on him to maximize those opportunities.

Upon this blossoming, heвЂ™s embracing contact, acting promptly with the ball in his hands and stepping through post touches rather than stepping back. Few guys should stymie him on the roll or deep catches in the post. The outcome wasnвЂ™t optimal as frequently as it should be. HeвЂ™d shy away from contact and burp up hurried hook shots or ill-advised fadeaways. For someone of his tools and physical dimensions, those instances have led him to wilt or caused a sputtered decision-making process in which defenders recover to swarm him. Rather, itвЂ™s when his path toward a basket is confronted with a roadblock, mandating he power through, over or around defenses to score. That lob threat is not where Ayton is turning the corner, even though it remains a sizable portion of his duties. And because both are among the leagueвЂ™s most potent mid-range threats (each shooting north of 48% from mid-range this season), defenses are likely to creep up to deter those looks, abandoning the backline and opening Ayton for lobs.

DEANDRE AYTON STTS CODE

Both Paul and Book can just toss the ball near his zip code and quite often, Ayton delivers. HeвЂ™s timing his rolls properly, floats off the ground seamlessly and corrals passes with his 7-foot-6 wingspan and a wide catch radius. Playing alongside two All-Star ball-handlers, each of whom manipulate defenses with pace, craft and scoring, Ayton provides a mammoth lob threat. A simplified offensive role, encouraging him to trim the fat off his shot profile and focus on maximizing his physical tools as a scorer and however else required, is laying the groundwork for aВ midseasonВ progression. Over his past 17 games, he is averaging 17.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 0.8 steals with a 70.7 true-shooting percentage, helping guide Phoenix to a 14-3 record during that span. He is aptly assuming his role as a complementary play finisher and defensive anchor for the 41-16 Suns, owners of the leagueвЂ™s second-best record and third-best net rating (plus-6.6). As of late, Ayton has skewed much closer toward those peaks, suggesting a breakout is percolating. Its success does not hinge on him вЂ“ Chris Paul and Devin Booker are those guys вЂ“ but the degree to what exactly success means for this team may be most prominently within his control.

He is, undoubtedly, that factor which can tip the scales between second-round exit and possible Finals berth for Phoenix.

His motor and decision-making can waver in confusing manners because when he meticulously approaches his responsibilities, he overwhelms opponents to turn games. Ayton hasnвЂ™t yet distinguished himself from some of his draft class contemporaries to the degree youвЂ™d prefer. The expectations for immediate contributions are higher for first overall picks than they are for others. These peaks and valleys are usual pit stops along the way. His performance is, intentionally or otherwise, juxtaposed with theirs, forgetful of the inconsistencies young guys almost always offer. His valleys are bewildering, leaving one to wonder how there exists such a wide gulf between those endpoints and whether heвЂ™ll reach the level necessary to flourish amid the Phoenix SunsвЂ™ revival.Д«ut then it sets in: Ayton is a 22-year-old big man, just now in his third season, who, through no fault of his own, was selected ahead of All-Star guards Luka Doncic and Trae Young. His peaks inspire confidence a breakout is imminent, actualizing the hoopla surrounding him as a former No. For long stretches of his career, the Deandre Ayton Experience has been maddening.

Deandre ayton stts