According to NBA Coach Kidd, there is a fit of particular anger. And loathing that arises from repeatedly facing the same opponent. Post-victory jubilation that may be seen as either nasty or humorous, depending on your point of view, may result. NBA Coach Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks couldn’t resist hitting Hassan Whiteside. And Rudy Gobert after the Mavericks’ first-round victory over the Utah Jazz was a mess and exhilarating.
NBA Coach Kidd discussed the difficulty of defending the Phoenix Suns’ attack, tied for third in points per possession during the regular season. When a crowd of reporters confronted NBA Coach Kidd, he said, “This isn’t Gobert or Whiteside. “These players are capable of making baskets” that is according to NBA Coach Kidd.
NBA Coach Kidd was being sarcastic, but he was also on the right track
With five shooters and numerous ball handlers on the court at once, this squad is in place to face Deandre Ayton for the second time this season. Ayton averaged 18 points, and 14 rebounds on 69 percent shooting in Phoenix’s six-game Western Conference finals win against the LA Clippers last year.
The NBA Coach Kidd of Mavericks are now in the driver’s seat. When Ayton scored 25 points on 12-of-20 shooting in Game 1 of this conference quarterfinal, he proved NBA Coach Kidd’s prophecy accurate. DeMar DeRozan Ayton had to step up in Phoenix’s first-round series against the No. 8 seeded New Orleans Pelicans after Devin Booker was out for the last three games of the series.
The versatility of Ayton’s offense was a significant part of his appeal
Ayton’s versatility on offense was a big part of his appeal. When the Suns needed him to be a pick-and-pop 3-point shooter, an elbow passer, a post-up rim runner, or any combination of things. The versatile big could become just that for his team at any given time.
That all changed when Chris Paul joined the team in Ayton’s third season. And he became a high-volume screen setter who would repeatedly dunk after establishing brick wall picks for Booker and Paul. Ayton would get the ball for easy layups or alley-oops on rare occasions. But his primary role was to liberate Paul and Booker for mid-range shots. And draw in the defense, allowing Phoenix’s spot-up threats to take advantage of open 3-point opportunities.
The Clippers delivered the first significant high-stakes test in last season’s conference finals
The Clippers delivered the first significant high-stakes test in last season’s conference finals. Their anti-Jazz game plan was to play five perimeter players, switch everything on defense, pull Ayton out of the paint on the opposite end, and drive and kick the Suns into submission. They wanted to replicate this strategy. The Clippers were aware of the dangers. As for the pick-and-roll, they recognized that switching on defense was the only way to stop it, as Booker and Paul would be unable to stride into long 2s as they can against dropback centers.
He probably didn’t need any reminders of Ayton’s talent. Booker missed three games against the Pelicans because of injury, and in those games, Ayton averaged 23 points on 68% shooting. Shots like face-up jumpers, fadeaways in the post, and burrowing jump hooks were all made by him. On pick-and-rolls, he made the pogo-stick floaters in the paint appear simple. According to Cleaning Glass, Ayton has completed 60 percent of his deep 2s and 66 percent of his floaters in the playoffs.
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