2023-05-07 08:30:33
The way of the Phoenix Suns in these Playoffs 2023 it is full of stones. From the outside, the picture does not seem so negative. Victory almost without opposition (4-1) once morest the Clippers and in the next round they are ready to draw once morest the first team from the West (2-1 before the fourth game). If we add to this the fact that they have Kevin Durant, The reading should be optimistic and positive.
And yet it is not.
And it is not due to collective performance of those of Monty Williams, whose problems to deploy a solvent and solid game have so far left mixed feelings. Beyond Chris Paul’s recent injury, much of the Suns’ problems have to do with Deandre Ayton.
One of the keys to success today lies in having a starting interior able to protect hoop at a high level and execute with good percentages on the other side of the field. At a time when the offense is dominated by the forwards, the weight of these giants in the attack scheme is rather reduced. In such a way that the ball has to spend little time in their hands and they cannot afford a moment of rest, on the contrary.
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After being a fundamental piece in the success of the Suns during their first two forays into the Playoffs, in this third Ayton’s role has been more blurred. Whether due to the arrival of Durant or chemistry, the reality is that the Bahamian His contribution has dropped considerably. going from 16.6 points with 65.2% accuracy to 14.0 with a hit percentage of 54.8% of twoincluding a grim 52.6% from free (69.8% previously).
Such is the weight loss of the number 1 of the 2018 Draft in the Monty Williams scheme that at the vital close of the third game, the coach chose to enter the “unknown” Jock Landale and its impact was felt. To such an extent that the performance of the Australian has opened the debate on who should be the reference of the Suns in the position of five facing the rest of the series once morest the Nuggets.
Jock Landale, the perfect interior for Booker and Durant
In the 22 minutes that Jock Landale played in the third game, he was able to produce 6 points on 3 of 3 attempts, 9 rebounds and 1 steal. By contrast, Deandre Ayton needed 6 shots to add 4 points, matching the rebounds, steals and adding a block. Beyond rim-facing efficiency, which is subjective and subject to context, advanced stats showed the Suns posted +19.6 of net rating better with the Australian on court compared to -7.1 for the Bahamian in the third game.
An example that, far from being an exception, seems to be the trend in this series for Phoenix:
- Ayton on court: -10.7 of net rating in 89 minutes
- Landale on court: +3.7 from net rating in 38 minutes
Why is this Australian giant managing to perform so well once morest the Denver Nuggets? Because it just needs to be offensively involved to be a player who leaves his mark on the field. Landale is used to having a more than residual role, picking up what the rest leaves him and, at most, receiving and executing. On the other hand, he is Ayton’s counterpoint in terms of intensity and delivery, giving the maximum in each action:
The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of the NBA or its organizations.
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