Deandre Ayton expands impressive races, which helps Fuel Trail Blazers’ recent success

The Portland Trail Blazers Center Deandre Ayton had the type of so -called revenge play on Saturday night against his former team that many athletes dream of.

Ayton scored 24 points on 11-of-12-shooting with seven rebounds in a 127-108 trancing of Phoenix Suns in Moda Center.

Even after the game, Ayton neglected the importance of his performance against the team that traded him before the 2023-24 season.

“I don’t care about it,” Ayton said.

Maybe Suns do. Right now they could use a player like Ayton. Blazers dominated Suns inside and scored 66 points in the paint while Phoenix succeeded 32.

Blazers sent Center Jusuf Nurkic to Suns in the Ayton agreement, who also the net forward Toumani Camara, another player Phoenix could use.

But while Camara scored 18 points with 10 rebounds, and Ayton was “DominaYton”, Nurkic did not play after being deleted from the rotation weeks ago after a solid first season with Suns.

Phoenix gave up Ayton, No. 1 election in the NBA draft in 2018 due to his lack of consistency, attention to details and intensity. These questions were also at Ayton last season with Blazers, and he continued not to live up to his $ 34 million salary this season.

Along the way, there were many solid performances against Suns when he played. He missed three of the first six meetings:

November 21, 2023, in Phoenix: Ayton scored 18 points with 13 rebounds in his first meeting against his former team. He shot 9 of 14 in a 120-107 loss.

December 19, 2023 in Portland: Ayton went 6 out of 18 from the field for 16 points with 15 rebounds in a 109-104 blazers victory.

1 January 2024, in Phoenix: Did not play in a loss of 109-88.

January 14, 2024 in Portland: Did not play in a 127-116 loss.

November 2, 2024, in Phoenix: Ayton scored only 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting, but had 13 rebounds during a loss of 103-97.

December 15, 2024, in Phoenix: Did not play in a 116-109 loss.

Then came on Saturday when Ayton added another dominant performance to his current stretch of games that helped blazers with seven of their last eight.

In his four performances – he missed three matches with a knee injury – Ayton has an average of an average of 22.3 points and 11 rebounds while shooting 71.9% off the field. He has been visible more active, vocals, intense, committed and competitive.

His performances against Miami (22 points, 15 rebounds) and Milwaukee (21 and 14) were the first time he scored 20 or more points in back-to-back games this season.

This is arguably his most impressive four-game stretch with Blazers considering the wind.

At the end of last season, Ayton composed an impressive 15-match race, an average of 23.2 points and 12.4 rebounds per year. Match. But these nights came when the team was in full state of tank with many of the team’s other key players on the wounded list.

The team went 4-11 in these games.

Ayton’s current race helps to burn the wave of victories, as the schedule is almost completely healthy and gathered as few had expected.

Teammate Scoot Henderson called Ayton one of the best forward/centers in NBA.

“I don’t even like to call him a five because he doesn’t even move like a lot of the fifths in the league,” Henderson said. “He is so fast and comes up on the floor and is so much more skilled than many guys in his position.”

Blazers -coach Chauncey Billups has repeatedly pointed out that the center has raised its game in many areas, especially on the defense, and has become a better vowel leader.

“He has really been focused and locked in,” Billups said.

Will this continue? Henderson hopes so.

“Then, then, we were locked in, we were a completely different team,” he said. “And this is where I come in and try to help him get to that level.”

When Ayton is locked inside and engaged, Henerson added that the rest of the team lives on his energy.

“When playing like that, it’s easy for everyone else,” Henderson said. “It’s easy for us to get out of the screens and play. And then the ball somehow ends up in his hands and he starts cooking. “

Ayton credit the young player’s growth and energy for the team’s improvement. When asked if they inspired him to play better himself, Ayton replied: “I’ve been here. I just waited for these boys to catch up. “

It suggests that as long as the team is fully engaged, focused and plays the right way, Ayton will also be on top of his game.

“I just think I’m the type of player,” he said. “I’m a guy who has a lot of energy and I want the best for people. So if they are on the field with me I know how to make you better. “

– Aaron Fentrress | [email protected] | @Aaronjfentrress (Twitter), @Aaronjfentrress (Instagram), @Aaronfentrress (Facebook)