Deandre Ayton appreciation post

[Natebishop3]

Didn’t score a lot but he was still a beast tonight. Those offensive boards were clutch. Also loved his interior defense.

 

[Natebishop3]

Career high boards for Ayton tonight.

 

[Cugel]

He can do more if he gets the touches. He had a couple of very nice assists too.

 

[crandc]

Not Bosnian but definitely a beast!

 

[Quatro44]

He has been doing the rebounding so far this season and a lot of the dirty work. Time to feed the big fella.

 

[Idog1976]

He has been doing the rebounding so far this season and a lot of the dirty work. Time to feed the big fella.

I know it drives me bonkers how we can't get this guy a post up, but we can (kinda) get Grant a Post-up?!?!

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I know it drives me bonkers how we can't get this guy a post up, but we can (kinda) get Grant a Post-up?!?!

I don't think his strength is posting up. There was one play with Scoot, looked like a pick and pop. set him up for a nice 12 foot shot (which he missed, ).
I don't know much about basketball tactics but it seems setting screens to give him open 10-15 foot shots would be very effective. Maybe Williams could set the screens?

 

[SheedSoNasty]

Appreciated his effort, for sure. I just wish we could get him involved more offensively.

 

[Graduate32]

Without guards that can threaten defenses by punishing defenders that go under screens on the pick and roll (and I think both Sharpe and Scoot still fall in this category), Ayton will likely not find many opportunities out of these sets. Things are just too muddy around him.

He'd help his cause by consistently setting stronger screens that might free up the guards to get downhill more frequently, but he's not there yet. And our young guards just don't have the gravity yet in these sets.

 

[andalusian]

Without guards that can threaten defenses by punishing defenders that go under screens on the pick and roll (and I think both Sharpe and Scoot still fall in this category), Ayton will likely not find many opportunities out of these sets. Things are just too muddy around him.

That's another reason it is important to have a player like Ant on the roster. Shooting and spacing is so important in this league.

 

[riverman]

We finally have a rim protecting rebounding legit big! Last night was eye opening for what he'll bring to the team! I'm pretty stoked and if last night's game was what Chauncey ball is supposed to look like, I'll eat crow soon enough. Really enjoyed how we played in Toronto

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Grant long term means we need rebounding long term, and Ayton is answering the call!

 

[blazerfan11]

Having a lot more movement in the half-court offense is all it will take for Ayton to get better looks.

And with him Domin-ayton the boards, the Blazer should be looking to run more and attack the basket hard with Scoot, Sharpe, and Grant. Grant is a great finisher on the break, something we haven't seen much of so far. We did see it with Scoot driving straight at the basket then dishing to Grant. That is very difficult to stop.

 

[Ed O]

I hope Ayton can keep up the energy even if he doesn't get a ton of shots, because... he's not going to get a ton of shots. I love what he brought last night and he can definitely be a force even without scoring a ton as long as he keeps his head on straight.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Leading the league with 20.0 RP36M

 

[STOMP]

Appreciated his effort, for sure. I just wish we could get him involved more offensively.

If he wants to focus on owning the boards and D-ing up, & isn't whining about touches on O... you'll only hear praise from me. More please!

STOMP

 

[kjironman1]

I think Ayton will eventually get more touches. Going to take some time to get things into a groove where they know how to respond to different looks.
Right now this team just looks very very young.

 

[wizenheimer]

That's another reason it is important to have a player like Ant on the roster. Shooting and spacing is so important in this league.

Portland had Ant in game one; Ayton scored 4 points on 4 shots

Ayton averaging 5 fewer FGA than his career average, and 6 fewer than last season, isn't because Portland doesn't have Ant, it's because they don't have Chris Paul....or Dame for that matter. And, Ayton averaging 4 fewer minutes than his career average is part of the equation

Portland's Ayton problem, if they have one, is due to structure, schemes, and personnel. It doesn't matter, much, if one defender is hedging 3-5 feet further from the basket because the Blazers have a shooter on the floor, if the Blazers don't have ball-handlers with good court vision that can consistently find Ayton in good scoring positions. And the Blazers do not have those kinds of ball-handlers

take a look at the assists/game rankings right now:



Portland is averaging 6.5 assists less than the league average. Blazers have a pathetic team offense right now and it's failing to capitalize on Ayton's assumed skill's.

look at Ayton's assisted FG rates over the last 3 seasons:

2020-21 - 71.6%
2021-22 - 81.2%
2022-23 - 79.3%
2023-24 - 58.8% (Portland)

Ayton relies on his team to create his scoring opportunities. He's not a C like Jokic or Embiid or Sabonis that can operate in the high post and either pass or dribble-drive. He's like most C's and he needs entry passes from savvy facilitators. That's what is primarily missing from the equation, not Ant's shooting

another thing Portland is missing is the 40% three point shooting of Grant (last season); it's 19% this season and a front-court player shooting 40% is going to clear more space for Ayton than a back-court player shooting 38%

but I think everybody knew it was going to be a rocky road replacing Dame with a 19 year old rookie

 

[andalusian]

Portland had Ant in game one; Ayton scored 4 points on 4 shots

Not going to judge that pair over 1 game, their first ever together. It means nothing at this point.

another thing Portland is missing is the 40% three point shooting of Grant (last season); it's 19% this season and a front-court player shooting 40% is going to clear more space for Ayton than a back-court player shooting 38%

but I think everybody knew it was going to be a rocky road replacing Dame with a 19 year old rookie

I disagree that Portland is missing just Grant shooting lights out from the 3. Portland is missing good 3P shooting, period, both from the perimeter and from the bigs. The fact that Scoot is not a 3P shooter is another reason that having someone like Ant on the roster is super important, both for Scoot and for DA.

Unless you have someone like Zion that can bounce anyone in his path and has the touch in tough contested shots in a crowded interior - you need spacing. Ant is the best option Portland's current roster have for creating spacing. It's that simple.

 

[wizenheimer]

Unless you have someone like Zion that can bounce anyone in his path and has the touch in tough contested shots in a crowded interior - you need spacing. Ant is the best option Portland's current roster have for creating spacing. It's that simple.

well, I just made a post explaining my view that it wasn't that simple, at all, so we aren't agreeing on the cause

I'm not saying it wouldn't be helpful to have Ant shooting well from the arc, but spacing doesn't mean shit if you don't have ball-handlers with good court vision capable of consistently making solid entry passes, and the Blazers don't have those players. Ant gunning up 9-10 three's a game while averaging 17-19 FGA isn't going to give Ayton more shots in the paint

 

[Pinwheel1]

Yeah, I think Ayton would benefit most from a player who attacks the basket and dumps it off to him. I think Scoot will get there next year, And it felt like Simons was making more of an effort before he got hurt. I think only 6 of his 16 shots were from 3pt range. (4 assists) Shae can do it as well

 

[andalusian]

I'm not saying it wouldn't be helpful to have Ant shooting well from the arc, but spacing doesn't mean shit if you don't have ball-handlers with good court vision capable of consistently making solid entry passes, and the Blazers don't have those players. Ant gunning up 9-10 three's a game while averaging 17-19 FGA isn't going to give Ayton more shots in the paint

But I would argue that the Blazers have reasonable ball-handlers and it seems like they do have good court vision.

I believe Scoot has good court vision, once he adjusts to the speed and has more space to work with and penetrate, it will be much easier for him to deliver these kinds of passes, we have already seen that when he has been able to penetrate, he made good, short passes to Grant for example within the paint - so having him able to penetrate because the paint is not crowded will help his passing game.

I also think we have seen that Shae is pretty good with the pocket pass - once again, if the paint is not crowded and he can penetrate, he can deliver these when working with a mobile big like DA. We have also seen in that last game when Shae had the ball, DA was fronted, Shae was able to make an easy entry pass because DA is so mobile that he can move within the painted area. If that paint is crowded, you make it harder for the ball handlers to get in and have people collapse on them to make the pass easier and you also restrict the movement of a big like DA within that area. So, once again, I think you are underselling how importance spacing is, even with Portland's current roster.

 

[wizenheimer]

But I would argue that the Blazers have reasonable ball-handlers and it seems like they do have good court vision.

I believe Scoot has good court vision, once he adjusts to the speed and has more space to work with and penetrate, it will be much easier for him to deliver these kinds of passes, we have already seen that when he has been able to penetrate, he made good, short passes to Grant for example within the paint - so having him able to penetrate because the paint is not crowded will help his passing game.

I also think we have seen that Shae is pretty good with the pocket pass - once again, if the paint is not crowded and he can penetrate, he can deliver these when working with a mobile big like DA. We have also seen in that last game when Shae had the ball, DA was fronted, Shae was able to make an easy entry pass because DA is so mobile that he can move within the painted area. If that paint is crowded, you make it harder for the ball handlers to get in and have people collapse on them to make the pass easier and you also restrict the movement of a big like DA within that area. So, once again, I think you are underselling how importance spacing is, even with Portland's current roster.

if all that was the true, the Blazers wouldn't be dead last in assists/game, almost 7 assists below just the NBA average.

Ayton is actually taking about his average rate of shots at the rim and in the 3-10' zone. He's just not getting the volume of shots. Last season, in Phoenix, Ayton took a bit less than 15% of the Suns' shots. This season, he's taking about 8% of Portland's shots. That rate is unlikely to increase with Ant out there shooting 16-19 times a game.

 

[blazerfan11]

But I would argue that the Blazers have reasonable ball-handlers and it seems like they do have good court vision.

I believe Scoot has good court vision, once he adjusts to the speed and has more space to work with and penetrate, it will be much easier for him to deliver these kinds of passes, we have already seen that when he has been able to penetrate, he made good, short passes to Grant for example within the paint - so having him able to penetrate because the paint is not crowded will help his passing game.

I also think we have seen that Shae is pretty good with the pocket pass - once again, if the paint is not crowded and he can penetrate, he can deliver these when working with a mobile big like DA. We have also seen in that last game when Shae had the ball, DA was fronted, Shae was able to make an easy entry pass because DA is so mobile that he can move within the painted area. If that paint is crowded, you make it harder for the ball handlers to get in and have people collapse on them to make the pass easier and you also restrict the movement of a big like DA within that area. So, once again, I think you are underselling how importance spacing is, even with Portland's current roster.

DA is a mobile 7 footer. He does not have to be in the paint at the beginning of a possession for him to score. He can be out by the 3-point line.
The reason Ayton isn't getting shots is because Billups offense doesn't care about getting him shots.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

If he wants to focus on owning the boards and D-ing up, & isn't whining about touches on O... you'll only hear praise from me. More please!

STOMP

Personally I'd like to see him ask for more shots. A guy who shot 65% out to the free throw line and beyond, just 2 years ago, should be taking more shots.

 

[Natebishop3]

well, I just made a post explaining my view that it wasn't that simple, at all, so we aren't agreeing on the cause

I'm not saying it wouldn't be helpful to have Ant shooting well from the arc, but spacing doesn't mean shit if you don't have ball-handlers with good court vision capable of consistently making solid entry passes, and the Blazers don't have those players. Ant gunning up 9-10 three's a game while averaging 17-19 FGA isn't going to give Ayton more shots in the paint

I’m not entirely sure if it would make even a bit of difference if we had Chris Paul. Getting him the ball is pointless if 2-3 guys immediately swarm him because they aren’t afraid of any of our shooters. Just having Ant isn’t enough. Grant is shooting poorly. Scoot can’t hit the broad side of a barn. Thybulle had a decent game against Toronto but has otherwise sucked. Our team can’t shoot and thus our opponents are packing the paint. This prevents Scoot from finding lanes to drive or Ayton from getting the ball and having time to score before he’s swarmed.

 

[JDC]

Chauncey found some stuff late against Toronto that gave DA more room to operate.

Horns Rip DHO



Love this action for Scoot. That angle makes it much harder for Scoot's defender to go under the screen and opens up the pocket pass. Like exit screen to the corner for Jerami as well to occupy the strong side help.



Simple flat ball screen with Scoot cutting to weak side dunker. Like the first play, the main thing here is to space the floor to help take away the heavy nail help that Ayton is seeing when we run spread ball screen--where each corner and one wing is filled. Big problem when both Tisse and Scoot are out there. Teams don't care about them off ball and are loading up damn near past the nail to muck things up in the middle.

Need to continue to move these guys around. The throwback pass is there to Scoot if he does find himself on the wing. He's quick enough to catch on the run and beat even a sagging recovering defender. Would also like him cutting behind that help more as well.

But nice to see the guys put some good things on film after a brutal start to the year. Excited for tonight.

 

[kjironman1]

Yeah, I think Ayton would benefit most from a player who attacks the basket and dumps it off to him. I think Scoot will get there next year, And it felt like Simons was making more of an effort before he got hurt. I think only 6 of his 16 shots were from 3pt range. (4 assists) Shae can do it as well

My bet is Scoot gets there in the next 20-30 games.

 

[Trailblazers76]

Chauncey found some stuff late that gives DA more room to operate.

It looks like Shae could have easily boxed out Schroder there and gotten a putback tip/dunk instead of strolling under the hoop and watching. Perhaps he didn't want to be in Ayton's space but either way I wish Shae had some more hustle in him. He also lost a ball on the floor at one point because he didn't hustle. Too casual.

 

[blazerfan11]

Chauncey found some stuff late that gives DA more room to operate.

Horns Rip DHO



Love this action for Scoot. That angle makes it much harder for Scoot's defender to go under the screen and opens up the pocket pass. Like exit screen to the corner for Jerami as well to occupy the strong side help.



Simple flat ball screen with Scoot cutting to weak side dunker. Like the first play, the main thing here is to space the floor to take away the heavy nail help that Ayton is seeing when we run spread ball screen--where each corner and one wing is filled. Big problem when both Tisse and Scoot are out there. Teams don't care about them off ball and loading to the ball damn near past the nail to muck things up.

Need to continue to move these guys around. The throwback pass is there to Scoot if he does find himself on the wing. He's quick enough to catch on the run and beat even a sagging recovering defender. Would also like him cutting behind that help more as well.

But nice to see the guys put some good things on film after a brutal start to the year. Excited for tonight.

Chauncey's offense using Ayton is pathetic. Ayton is supposed to go "set up" and stand and wait for the ball.

In Phoenix, Ayton started a lot of scoring possessions near or outside the 3-point line.

The first possession, I thought was NBA basketball 101. Not for a Billups offense.

Ayton starts outside the 3-point line, rolls to the hoop, gets the ball, and passes it to a cutter. Yes, that's pretty damn effective.

In the second possession in the video, Ayton again starts outside the 3-point line and CUTS to the hoop. What a novel idea!

In the third possession, Ayton again starts outside the 3-point line and runs to the hoop and gets an ALLEY OOP pass. Didn't Chauncey promise this kind of offense? Where the hell is it?

That Ayton isn't not constantly used as a cutter threat, starting from the 3-point line, by the Blazers makes me want to scream at Billups.

For Billups, on offense, Ayton is only the cleanup man for other players' misses. Chauncey has no inclination to relieve us from Jerami Grant's atrocious chucking.