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For most of the Phoenix Suns' stellar season, it was Chris Paul and Devin Booker who heaped praise from fans and analysts. But in the first two games of the playoffs, Deandre Ayton is finally getting some love. Frankly, his play should've been noticed way earlier. His averages might have gone down in his third year in the NBA but this doesn't mean he's gotten worse.
Against the Los Angeles Lakers, Ayton showed he can go toe-to-toe with a powerhouse squad with two of the best stars in the league. By now, people should start putting some respect on Ayton's name. Yes, Luka Doncic may be the best player of the 2018 NBA Draft. But Ayton is inching closer and closer to him.
Suns-Lakers X-Factor: Deandre Ayton
Here are three (3) reasons Deandre Ayton is proving his worth for the Phoenix Suns against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Offensive Rebounding
Both LeBron James and Anthony Davis admitted that Deandre Ayton's offensive rebounding killed them in Game 1. Ayton had a total of 16 rebounds — eight of which were from the offensive boards. This translated to 12 second-chance points for the Suns. One would assume that there's no way in hell Ayton would out-rebound the massive Lakers squad. But this was the reality the Lakers faced in Game 1. At one point, Ayton even had 15 rebounds while Davis only had four.
Props to the Lakers for limiting Ayton to just two offensive rebounds in Game 2. However, Ayton still finished with 22 points on 11-of-13 shooting. This proves that Ayton isn't just a mere rebounder. The Suns have integrated him well into the offense, particularly in pick-and-roll situations — the second reason why Ayton has been proving his worth for his team.
Pick-and-Roll
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Head coach Monty Williams seems to have identified that the Lakers switch on pick-and-roll situations. This makes sense since a lot of NBA teams have opted to play small ball. Also, the Lakers have a very disciplined set of players who are also diligent in their defensive rotations. But at the end of the day, it's still the bigger player who has the advantage. Just look at the possession below on how Kentavious Caldwell-Pope got switched onto Ayton. He tried to box out the big man but Ayton just shoved him out of the way.
I will give a tip of the cap to @NekiasNBA who mentioned Deandre Ayton's potential impact if teams switch. Lakers go with a late switch as CP3 comes off again. Ayton rolls, KCP tries to seal but Ayton throws him out of the way and finishes. pic.twitter.com/zZTintcjAl
— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) May 23, 2021
As mentioned, the Suns know Ayton's strengths. His size as well as his smarts for the game offer tons of advantages for them. Much props should be given to Devin Booker for spotting the opening and the nifty pass. But Ayton should also be credited for the sharp roll to the basket. We see KCP with the correct read and rotation. But it was just too late.
Great design on this Elbow action from Phoenix. Dribble handoff to the weakside, Booker coming off but notice Crowder stays spaced on the wing. No one in the corner. Drummond at the level, Ayton gets an easy roll to the rim. Nice play by Booker. pic.twitter.com/c7GpmMzxo7
— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) May 23, 2021
Mobility
The Lakers are a massive team with Anthony Davis, Andre Drummond, and Marc Gasol in their frontcourt. The Suns only have Ayton to match up against these big men. But looking at it closely, Ayton is much more mobile than Drummond and Gasol. Besides, Davis is the real threat among the three. In Game 1, Ayton used this mobility to effectively defend Davis. AD had trouble driving to the hoop or knocking down his jumpers. The Suns big man did an incredible job at contesting every shot by utilizing his length and speed.
Davis and the Lakers were able to adjust in Game 2. However, the Suns should still feel confident in this match-up. Not all teams have a player who can go toe-to-toe with the Lakers' big men especially Davis. The Suns have Ayton. And maybe he's all they need.
