Ayton fits with this group with age and how he plays. We don't need a big shooting 3 if it's not in his comfort zone. Ayton is a good young center that needed a different environment.
This chapter of the Blazers is built to run. Ayton is a rare big man who can run the floor. I think this will be a really fun season and most importantly a measuring stick for who Chauncey is as a coach
I’m really excited to see how he affects this side of the floor. We have Thybulle and Sharpe who both have long arms and are great playing the passing lanes. Obviously DA isn’t as good defending the rim as Embiid, but DA is much better at staying with a perimeter player, you’d think that DA stepping up for a split second while Thybulle recovers will make it tough on a lot of great guards every night. I am getting increasingly interested in Walker’s development, I would love for his rebounding and shooting to get him time on the floor. Walker is a fantastic player to have on the floor with DA. Grant will be great on help defense and stretches the floor for DA. Thybulle, I’m not totally convinced that 22 game stretch wasn’t a fluke, but I can see an Ant + Sharpe + Thybulle + Grant + DA lineup where there is so much shooting that Thybulle could be good in.
He’s the perfect fit for this roster. I’ll be pretty mad (and surprised) if they try to make him a 3 point shooter. A talented big man who plays near the basket will never go out of style. Close shots and/or dunks by a 7 footer will always be the best percentage shots in this game, no matter what. And he’s a former #1 pick. Let’s go!!
I wonder, is that really true in the current NBA? I think about the top C's currently: * Jokic has averaged over 3 three's/game over the last 6 seasons & his average shot distance is 10.1 ft * Embiid has averaged 3.4 three's & his average shot distance is 11.5 ft * Kat has averaged over 5 three's/game the last 5 seasons & average shot distance has been 12.8 * Porzingis, Myles Turner, Lopez, Vucevic all shoot a lot of three's Rudy Gobert and Steven Adams play near the basket, but there seems to be a real ceiling on their impact anymore and they have trouble in the playoffs * Sabonis and Valunciunas only shoot around 1.5/game, and Adebayo practically never shoots them so those guys seem more like the templates for Ayton. One issue is even if they don't shoot three's guys like Sabonis and Adebayo still play a lot of high-post in the offense so they can see passing lanes and take advantage of their passing skills Career Assist Rate: Jokic 35.5% Sabonis 21.3% (26% last 5 seasons) Embiid 19.5% (23% last 2 seasons) Adebayo 18.9% KAT 15.8% (21% last 4 seasons) AD 11.9% (15.6% last 5 seasons) Nurkic 14.9% (18.3% last 5 seasons) Porzingis 9.3% (13.5% last 2 seasons) Ayton 8.5% Lopez 8.2% (shoots 5 three's/game and plays with Holiday, Giannis, & Middleton) my take is that it isn't as much a 3 point threat as that a modern big needs to have some perimeter skills in his toolbox. Either shooting or passing to go along with screening. Some outside-paint ability in order to drag his opposing big man away from rim protection Ayton is 25 so maybe he can develop some of that. He'll need to, IMO, to be in a conversation for all-star C's
Technically he has the talent. I’ve been watching videos of him breaking down his progress on defense after the CP3 trade. Man, he looks like a complete player when he brings it on defense. Not as great as Bam on switches, but still good enough nontheless. Very capable mid range shooter. Can dominate guys smaller than him. Combining Z-Bo’s career arc with DA’s talent…that guy sounds like he could be a top 5 center.
A fully engaged DA with Grant helping at the rim, potentially life-changing on defense. Combined with wingspans of 6’11 Thybulle, 7’0 Shae, 7’3 Grant being able to deflect passes. Chauncey has the available talent to push for a playoff berth.
It's more if the front office will allow Chauncey to push for a playoff birth or make him sit players to tank again for another pick.
There is no need to tank again. If we are too good, Ant, Grant, and/or Thybulle are probably worth valuable compensation. And if we still end up in the playoffs despite all that, well that’s a good problem to have.
I just don’t see Robert Williams being a backup center long term to DeAndre Ayton. We have to give Ayton his minutes.
Most centers don't play huge minutes, and most centers don't stay healthy, and Williams has been injury-prone. So I really don't see a problem.
"Domin-Ayton" Deandre has been pushing this nickname for himself in a couple interviews. While it sounds good, and maybe this has always been his nickname but if not I don't think you can just make your own nickname like that. It has to come organically. It's like George Costanza trying to get people to call him T-bone.
