Suns center Deandre Ayton is enjoying his first playoff experience, even though his team has lost two straight games to the Lakers, writes Rachel Gossen of Arizona Sports 98.7. Ayton led Phoenix with 22 points and 11 rebounds in Game 3 and is averaging 21.7 PPG and 12.3 RPG throughout the series.
The first pick in the 2018 draft suffered through a lot of losing before getting a shot at the postseason. The Suns began to turn things around with an 8-0 record during last summer’s restart and carried that momentum into a No.2 seed this season.
“It’s a big opportunity that we’re in the playoffs,” Ayton said. “We showed that the work that we’ve all put in, the stuff that we’ve went through, the adversity that we’ve went over, it brought us here. Now it’s just time to maintain and just play the best basketball we can play at the highest level.”
There’s more on the Suns:
- Cameron Payne has been a surprise in the series, scoring eight of his 19 points in the fourth quarter of Game 2 and 11 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter of Game 3, notes Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. But even with Payne’s outburst, the Phoenix bench has been disappointing, providing just 26.7 PPG in the playoffs after averaging 37.0 during the season. “The bench has won us games this year and I’m looking for that right now,” coach Monty Williams said. “Every good playoff team has a game or two where the bench comes in and sustains or increases the momentum.”
- Devin Booker won’t be suspended for his Flagrant 2 foul on Dennis Schröder late in Game 3, Rankin tweets. Booker was ejected for shoving Schröder to the ground on a drive to the basket. “That wasn’t a basketball play,” Schröder said, “and regular season, it’s probably a suspension as well.”
- Chris Paul is listed as questionable on the Suns’ injury report for Game 4, according to NBA writer Gina Mizell (Twitter link). Paul sat out practice today with soreness in his left shoulder and has been limited since a collision in Game 1.
Hey just for the record, DA is averaging 21.7 PPG and 12.3 RPG this series, I think you’ve got his regular season stats in the first paragraph…
DA
Not happening without Chris. The bad luck Chris has with injuries. In the playoffs is really bad luck. It’s just nuts. This was a solid chance to beat Lakers. Can’t see them winning without Chris 100%.
Bad luck? He’s in there in the paint where he shouldn’t be !! He’s 5 11 and 3/4 and needs to be out of that area. You go in there and risk whatever happens. He’s boxing out guys, setting screens, and it’s just dangerous in there for 6-foot 160.
But, allow me to mention this.., on the other hand that’s how he plays and that’s why he’s great. You have to hand it to him for giving 150%. No problem there, but unlucky with injuries.. it’s not in the case here.
My ball game changed around age 35. I stopped skying for rebounds in the paint because I got tired of twisted ankles landing on other people’s feet. And if there’s a loose ball at midcourt there’s NO WAY I’m diving after it today. Too many cut foreheads and twisted knees.
He’s thick for his size. That’s part of his gm. He’s listed at 175lbs. This particular injury was nothing. No one could avoid that. But there is truth to a small guy staying out of paint. I’m 5’7” and blew my ankle out in HS. Believe me I never met too many people better than me till then. His injuries have been mostly just bad luck. But I hear you a small guy should stay out of paint. Point is Suns ain’t winning without a healthy Chris. And that wisses me off. Suns with Chris are very capable of winning. I don’t dwell on past outcomes. This is almost a curse lol. Suns were ready to do this. Hope he’s good he deserves a chance to go to Finals .
Can’t see the Lakers winning without AD either. Assuming Davis is out for games 5 and 6 the Lakers need LeBron to score at least 50 to have a chance.
That shoulder injury ruined this series. It’s such a shame he can’t stay healthy in the playoffs.
Suns are a different team with Chris. As are Lakers without AD. But they knew AD was getting hurt all yr. He doesn’t want to play center. And he wants it his way. Well we’ll see you next yr AD. No Babies Allowed. NBA