By RENALDO DORSETT
Tribune Sports Reporter
rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
Deandre Ayton’s efficiency has been an integral part of the Phoenix Suns’ rise in the NBA standings.
The Suns improved to 42-16 with a 116-113 win over the Eastarn Conference leading Philadelphia 76ers last night at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Phoenix currently owns the league’s second best record, is second in the Western Conference standings and have already eclipsed last season’s record of 34-39.
Matched up against perennial All-Star and MVP candidate Joel Embiid, Ayton lost the head-to-head battle, but the Suns topped the 76ers for the second time this season.
Ayton finished with 10 points, five rebounds, two blocks and two steals while Embiid finished with 38 points, 16 rebounds and four assists.
Back in February’s 120-11 win, Ayton had only 11 points and six rebounds compared to the 35 points and 8 rebounds from Embiid.
In Ayton’s last 18 games, the third year centre is averaging 17.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 0.8 steals per game on a true shooting percentage of 71. The Suns went 15-3 over that stretch.
His advanced stats have improved across the board. In 2019-20 he had an effective field goal percentage of 54.8, field goal percentage of 66 at the rim, true shooting percentage of 56.8, offensive rating of 112.3 and a 5.2 net rating. In 2020-21, those numbers increased to a 62.8 effective field goal percentage, 71.1 field goal percentage at the rim, 65.2 true shooting percentage, 124.7 offensive rating and 17.6 net rating.
According to Jackson Frank of The Analyst, Ayton’s increased efficiency can be attributed to his ability to adapt to the Suns backcourt of All-Star guards Chris Paul and Devin Booker.
“A simplified offensive role, encouraging him to trim the fat off his shot profile and focus on maximizing his physical tools as a scorer and however else required, is laying the groundwork for a midseason progression,” he said, “Playing alongside two All-Star ball-handlers, each of whom manipulate defenses with pace, craft and scoring, Ayton provides a mammoth lob threat. He’s timing his rolls properly, floats off the ground seamlessly and corrals passes with his 7-foot-6 wingspan and a wide catch radius. Both Paul and Book can just toss the ball near his zip code and quite often, Ayton delivers. And because both are among the league’s most potent mid-range threats (each shooting north of 48% from mid-range this season), defenses are likely to creep up to deter those looks, abandoning the backline and opening Ayton for lobs.”
Ayton currently ranks No.12 in the league in double doubles with 22 and is ranked at No.10 in the league in rebounds at 10.8 per game.
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