Deandre Ayton appreciation post

that's not accurate. He missed 27 games, not 34. The Blazers were 7-20 without him. You have the winning percentage without him correct (.259); you just double-counted wins and losses. The Blazers were 14-41 with him. That's a .254 winning percentage with Ayton

without Ayton 7-20 (.259)
without Grant 4-24 (.143)
without Simons 10-26 (.278)
without Brogdon 6-37 (.140)

winning percentages:

with Brogdon .384 (15-24)
with Grant .315 (17-37)
Blazers .256 (21-61)
with Ayton .254 (14-41)
with Simons .240 (11-35)

obviously, there was more going on all the time than just any single player missing a game. But it did look like the best player last season was Brogdon. The team just performed better when he was on the floor. That's not surprising as he was much better at organizing the offense than either Simons or Scoot

 

Ray Felton?

 

He played a lot of 4 in college so I do expect to see him on the front line with Deni/Grant/Tou & The Block Lobster at various times.

 

We're going to see it against Minnesota for sure

 

Hmm... Interesting stats here.

 

I watched Arizona several times when they had Ayton and Ristic starting. Sean Miller ran double post sets with those two. By formation and floor position it was generally two C's in opposite low-post boxes, not a C and PF. And on the other end the Wildcats went with zone defenses almost all the time. And Ristic floated outside quite a bit to give Ayton room in the paint.

those kinds of offensive sets and zone defenses won't work in the NBA too often. Just saying Ayton was a PF in college 7 years ago, when he really wasn't, doesn't mean he can consistently be one in the NBA, 7 years later. There's too much clutter in that equation

 

Whatever, I still think you will see him play some at 4, but thats just my opinion.

DeAndre Ayton to Arizona: Wildcats Land 5-Star PF ProspectBleacher Reporthttps://bleacherreport.com › College Basketball

 

I would keep Ayton, but I'm worried he still thinks he's worth more than he is. We can't pay him another max.

 

correct, I was using win percentage.
7W 20L without Ayton.

my point was the much heralded "Blazers can beat playoff teams!" moments happened with Ayton roaming the paint.

Games with Reath & Walker at Center showed some interior defensive anomalies. Opponent chippies seemed to become more prevalent.

DA stats don't show a gazillion blocks per game. But i could tell Ayton's defensive presence was absent while flipping through some highlights.

It will be exciting to see Ayton & Clingan covering the paint. I think the Blazers defense really needed a boost in rim protection.

 

What would people be comfortable paying Ayton for his next extension?

I love the idea of having Ayton/Clingon as our frontcourt combo.

 

fork it over Jody.

The Front Office says "we're focused on bringing a championship to Portland". If that's true, then 1st apron luxury tax can't be used as some type of imaginary torture chamber.

 

We still don't have a star. I'm not comfortable paying him star money at this point.

 

He was called that some in New England.

 

I'm not saying the Blazers won't try it sometimes. Against certain teams running certain lineups it might work. But, most teams have very mobile PF's. The Clippers had PG13 and Kawhi; the Lakers had Lebron; Nuggets had Gordon; Mavs had PJ Washington and Derrick Jones; Pels had Zion; Celts had Tatum; Bucks had Giannis; Suns had Durant; Miami went with Butler

Ayton will be at a huge disadvantage on the perimeter against those guys. They will drag him out 20' from the rim because of their 3-pt threat, then dribble-drive around him like he's stuck in mud. And teams aren't stupid, they will scheme against Ayton and Clingan and make mismatches all over the floor. How about Lebron and AD in a 2 man game against Ayton and Clingan when both Blazers big men have ingrained drop-coverage instincts? Tatum & Porzingis? Butler & Adebayo?

on the offensive end, Ayton simply doesn't have the skills of modern NBA PF's. he doesn't have good handles and can't dribble-drive; he can't hit three's, or at least never has. His comfort zone is the low-box on the edge of the paint; Clingan's comfort zone is the paint. They will clog the paint and make it next impossible;e for Blazers drivers to penetrate. It's a poor mesh for a twin towers

 

Match ups are key in any game.

 

Shaedon will be a star.