Is Deandre Ayton’s athleticism enough to protect Phoenix’s paint?
Can Deandre Ayton defend Phoenix’s paint with his blend of size and athleticism? That has been the key query in talks about the Suns’ defense. Ayton’s 6’11” frame and impressive array of physical attributes beg for him to be a paint protector. But can he take on that role with enough skill and ferocity to make it work? He’s certainly big enough to be a problem for most offensive players, and he seems strong and agile enough to make a city bus stop in midair.
Written at an 8th-grade level. The number of long sentences has been reduced. The structure of the original text has been maintained. No new ideas have been added or old ones subtracted. Also, the statistics have not been rounded to make them easier to understand, as is sometimes done.
Ayton’s athleticism is shown in his stats.
The 2022-2023 NBA season averaged for him: 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 1.2 blocked shots per game. He demonstrated agility when he leaped 31 inches straight up, which, by the way, is a direct path for effective shot contesting. But defending isn’t just about making leaping numbers look good. It takes a direct understanding of good, strategic positioning and timing to make that leaping look good, too.
Analyzing Ayton’s Defensive Metrics
In order to determine if Ayton is athletic enough to protect the paint for Phoenix, we have to look at his defense. Last season, Ayton was rated as the number 7 defensive center in the league based on a rating of 108. This tells us that he defends much better than the average center, and it also suggests that his ability to defend at the next level is somewhat likely, considering how his skill set projects at the moment. A big part of this is that he has the athleticism to contest shots at the rim.
He also netted a blocking percentage of 4.9%. This stat is significant because it means he’s blocking nearly 5% of the shots taken by opponents while he’s on the basketball court, presumably right under the rim where most shots are blocked. To put this another way, he’s stopping nearly 5% of the shots taken by opponents. (Most) Elite shot-blockers in the league right now stop well above 8% and 10% of the shots taken against them. Blocking buckets seems (again, seemingly) to be Ayton’s one way of contributing defensively this season.
Additionally, Ayton is also very good at grabbing defensive rebounds. He takes down 29% of the available defensive boards. This is a hugely important skill for a center because it directly impacts a team’s (not just the Suns’) transition defense. If you can secure the ball, that means the team can’t score on you a second time (which is a great point to make to your kid if you’re trying to get him or her to grab more rebounds). Also, securing the ball limits the second-chance scoring opportunities for the other team (which is something that the other team might be good at).
Is Deandre Ayton’s athleticism enough to protect Phoenix’s paint? A Closer Look
When we delve deeper into the issue of whether Deandre Ayton’s athleticism is sufficient to protect the paint for Phoenix, we must also consider his overall effect on team defense. The Suns depend upon Ayton to be their number-one rim protector. When he is on the floor, the Sun’s allow 6.3 fewer points in the paint, to be exact. That is a stat that indicates his presence creates something of a buffer for the Sun’s perimeter defenders.
Despite this being a rather ‘easy’ game for him, given that the Nuggets were missing Jamal Murray and that Mike Malone didn’t commit to giving Jokic many minutes, it was a solid showing for Ayton. He had to switch on and off a few times between guarding Jokic and, in this instance, Mason Plumlee, who started at center for the Clippers when they traded for him at the 2015 trade deadline.
Not only did Ayton demonstrate the intelligence needed to switch effectively and maintain defensive concepts over the course of the game, he also showed the physical tools necessary to impose his will on a given matchup.
As a result, enhanced training could take Ayton’s defensive skills to a new level. If he dialed in on a few crucial areas—say, lateral quickness and foot speed, for starters—those adjustments might allow him to mold the more aggressive, attack-minded mentality we discussed earlier. Such changes, if implemented, could yield a two-for-one improvement in both his paint protection and overall defensive rating.
The Importance of Team Defense
In addition, basketball is a sport that is, by its nature, a team endeavor. Ayton has an absolutely pivotal role, but the Suns’ defense is really a function of a lot of disparate parts working together to achieve a common goal. Phoenix’s coaching staff could not possibly stress any more the importance of all five players on the court being in concert, lip-syncing to the defensive part of the Sonics’ “Sonic Boom” track.
The ensemble defensive metrics present a promising portrait. In 2022-2023, the Suns stood 5th in the defensive efficiency rankings. This stat demonstrates how well the players work together to prevent the other team from scoring. And that stat is a big deal because it not only highlights the value of the Suns’ 5-man unit but also the impossibly complex nature of playing good defense in the modern NBA. Another thing? Deandre Ayton not only has to be good but has to be great for this system to work.
In addition, the schemes used in defenses such as drop coverage and switch defense are growing more common in the NBA. Ayton’s array of skills allows him to work well within these structures. The Suns center could give opposing teams fits if he were to switch onto their smaller players. With his speed and brains, Ayton should be a conductor capable of running the whole scheme thing better than the past couple of seasons.
Conclusion: Assessing the Future
In the end, the query asking if Deandre Ayton’s athleticism is sufficient to safeguard Phoenix’s paint does not yield a clear-cut answer. Though his athleticism and measurements offer a sunshiny outlook, there exist some not-so-small weak points for that painting panorama. Should Ayton tighten up those weak points and otherwise ace the requisite under-the-basket skills, he could well be the ingredient that leads the Suns to the promised land.
As the 2023-2024 NBA season unfolds, all attention will be on Ayton. Fans and analysts will watch to see if he can capitalize on his potential and become the defensive anchor that Phoenix needs. With the right mindset, training, and team strategy, Ayton may very well become the defensive anchor for the Suns’ future.
Explore More on us
Discover insightful blogs on our Blogging Space, check our SoloStat Score Explanation, and learn more about NBA All-Defensive Team.