Suns’ Deandre Ayton is learning, not losing; Ariza out for Saturday
Nov 16, 2018, 5:08 PM | Updated: 8:53 pm
(AP Photo/Matt York)
(AP Photo/Matt York)
PHOENIX — Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton sounds like a rookie who understands the progress he is making as he adapts to the NBA.
He sees both himself and his team making adjustments after a 3-11 start.
“We’re not gonna make the same mistake again,” he said after practice on Friday. “We just gonna fight it out and learn from our mistakes and I learn every game. When I lose I say I learn. I’m not really losing, I’m learning.”
One of those learning lessons has been against Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams, who Ayton will face off with for the second time on Saturday.
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Adams missed the Thunder’s first matchup with the Suns, but Ayton had to deal with him on Monday in Oklahoma City.
The 25-year-old Adams is one of the best big men in the league. He might not be the best scorer, finisher, rebounder or rim protector, but he’s incredibly well-balanced and is great in just about every department.
Adams specializes in playing physical while doing all those things, using his strength to win on certain areas of the floor.
Ayton had a unique way of describing Adams’ presence, saying there’s a certain level of “mother nature” and extra gear of masculinity Adams reaches when there’s a rebounding opportunity.
“He’s begging for the ball not to go in so he can outmuscle you to get the board,” Ayton said. “And I hear him talking to himself saying, ‘Please please please’ multiple times over and over when there’s a rebound or he can see a rebound coming.”
Because of how great Adams is across the floor and his physicality being matched by just about no one in the NBA, Ayton knew he could belong on the floor after taking on New Zealand’s own.
“Once I played against Steven Adams — I think I can play against any center in there, in the league,” Ayton said. “He’s an effort type of guy as well. He’s a big dude but he can get real low to the ground, takes up a lot of space and he’s real smart too. It’s good to take a lot of stuff away from that dude.”
That’s exactly what Ayton does after every faceoff with another big.
“Every time I get the same matchup I’m learning,” he said. “I studied all his tendencies. I’ve studied his favorite move, his worst move, what he hates, what he don’t like, what he likes.”
The proof is there. On Wednesday in Ayton’s second matchup with San Antonio Spurs All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge, the rookie held his ground much better and seem more prepared.
Sure, he’s taking notes here and changing things there, but Ayton as a whole looks like a player who is finding himself as an overall basketball player through the start of his rookie year.
When asked about figuring out the best ways to use his physicality, that’s the similar type of point he made.
“Let me just ease myself into this league and see what I can do and cannot do,” Ayton said.
To be going through that process and averaging 16.0 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game is pretty darn impressive.
ARIZA OUT
Suns forward Trevor Ariza missed Wednesday’s win due to personal reasons and Ariza was not with the team for practice on Friday.
“We spoke with Trevor yesterday, it’s still uncertain right now,” Suns head coach Igor Kokoskov said of if he would be with the team on Saturday. Because Ariza missed the practice on Friday, he will not play on Saturday.
Kokoskov described the matter on Wednesday as something having no story behind it and a family matter.
In Ariza’s place for the starting lineup was rookie Mikal Bridges, who continues to impress with his defense and intangibles across the floor.
Ariza has had a down year, shooting only 36.8 percent from the field on 10.2 points per game.
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