Suns Dearly Missed Deandre Ayton's Presence vs Nuggets
The 25-point blowout loss at home leaves a familiar taste in the mouths of the Phoenix Suns organization. The blowout loss is the second straight embarrassment on a home court to end the season in the playoffs.
A major reason for the dominance the Nuggets displayed was the absence of Deandre Ayton. While the relationship between Ayton and the Suns hasn’t been the smoothest of rides, it’s impossible to deny his lack of presence made an impact in the interior in Game 6.
Although Deandre Ayton has struggled to defend Nikola Jokić in the series, Jokić's 32-point triple double came in too easy of fashion in Game 6.
Besides the Nuggets' franchise record 81-point first half, Nuggets C Nikola Jokić was toying with the miniature Suns in the paint in Footprint Center. His 32-point triple double was an impressive display of his true greatness.
Jokić scored 28 of his 32 points in the paint. Jokić also snagged 10 rebounds, and in typical Joker fashion, dished out a team-leading 12 assists. Phoenix faced death by his driving right-handed floater all night. Phoenix was outscored 62 to 46 in points in the paint. Suns center Jock Landale, who was filling in for the injured Ayton, had no answer for the Serbian.
For whatever may be felt about Ayton, his size alone can fill up holes. And while Ayton’s way with Jokić so far in the series hasn’t been much better, the feeling of domination in the paint was more intense Thursday. Perhaps no center in the league can fully face the force that is Jokić, but having Ayton on the floor at least makes the damage feel less exposing.
“I always knew how great he (Jokić) was,” said Kevin Durant. “I wasn’t surprised at all… he’ll go down as one of the all-time great centers that ever touched a basketball.”
Offensively, the Suns looked pressured. The flow was disturbed by 10 total steals out of 11 total team turnovers. The Nuggets could pressure Durant and Devin Booker easier without an inside scoring threat and without Chris Paul.
Ayton’s absence forced a more explicit game from the Suns that didn’t involve a big man screen at the high perimeter.
Ayton’s rib contusion forced the Suns to be more one-dimensional than before and caused scorers like Durant and Booker to take difficult shots without a screening big man.
For the first nine minutes of the game, the lead swung back and forth. But, for the remainder of the game, ultimately might not have mattered who was at center as the Suns were so discombobulated.
Suns and Ayton will discuss what the future looks like between the two after a frustrating way to end the season.
Ayton will now enter a dark phase with the Suns during the summer. Rumors have begun to spread like a bad disease about his departure from the team and how ugly the relationship has turned with management and current players.
Love or hate Ayton, his impact on the Suns both positively and negatively was seen this season. In a Game 6, without him on the floor the Suns surrendered their season and lost their lunch money to the bully that is Jokić.
