https://www.blazersedge.com/2023/10...zers-deandre-ayton-teases-new-wrinkle-to-game Blazers’ Deandre Ayton Teases New Wrinkle to Game Deandre Ayton could look to become a more willing 3-point shooter with the Portland Trail Blazers. Through five NBA seasons with the Phoenix Suns, Deandre Ayton has attempted just 80 shots from beyond the 3-point line. However, that rate may change when he takes the floor for the Portland Trail Blazers. “We’ve been experimenting with a lot of things,” Ayton said. “He’s giving me the green light to be free shooting the three ball as well, making me put the ball on the ground as well and just create.” Last year, the Blazers saw an uptick in 3-point attempts from their center Jusuf Nurkic, but with a new player in the mix, could come new possibilities. Ayton hasn’t taken a 3-point shot in the team’s two preseason games so far, but perhaps that will change when the regular season comes along and he grows more comfortable. Ayton and the Blazers face the Utah Jazz in the third game of the preseason on Saturday night. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. PT at the Delta Center.
Whether he's taking 3-pointers or not, Ayton needs to find a way to get out of the post so Scoot and Sharpe can attack the hoop.
Ayton shot 69.3% in the conference finals in 2021. It's upon Chauncey Billups to make that happen as a Blazer. Ayton doesn't design the offense.
Look at where Ayton is on this sequence. Out near the 3-point line. This is EXACTLY what the Trail Blazers should be doing. Put Ayton out by the 3-point line, have Scoot and Sharpe attack the hoop and Ayton is a great cutter, use him that way. Ayton is hard to stop when he's cutting to the hoop.
Absolutely. I would like to get him unlimited high-percentage attempts at the hoop, plus a few midrange shots and he should try a couple 3-pointers a game.
It was sad seeing how Billups was using Atyton. "Go stand there, and we'll throw you the ball." Ayton can flat out run like a gazelle.
Well, to be fair we probably would've done the same had Nurk played soft and Ayton had as strong of a performance as Nurk did.
To me, the problem with both players is consistency. So one game just isn't enough. Not for either player. Nurk needs to stay healthy for a full season. Ayton needs to show drive for a full season if he wants to shake his rep. I'm just not sure if he's going to see the rock enough. Not with Simons/Grant/etc.
Nurk is awesome, I don’t blame them. It’s always been the consistency and the ability to stay healthy, with Nurk. They’ll find that out later, of course.
Bingo. I love Nurk. But his time here was done. He's in a better place at this point in his career and we have a younger big, with sky high potential, who also better fits our timeline.
I don't know. I think he needs to focus this year on making sure he masters the 10-12 footer first. I prefer he stays closer to the basket because if he is guarded closely he is just one dribble from the rim. But nothing wrong with working on both.
