FanPost

Matchup of the Week (Pending Suspension)

Posting this as I believe Ayton’s suspension will be rescinded before tip tomorrow evening, if not, best of luck Frank and Baynes.

Key Matchup of Week 1:

Highlighting the matchup(s) in the coming week that will be useful barometers for measuring the progress of #TheTimeline. As Suns fans this will give us something to pay closer attention to, some finer points to add to the viewing experience which can accompany the silence of Eddie Johnson looking for something other than Dragan Bender’s lack of aggression to discuss. Instead of blankly making assumptions based on Mikal Bridges' per 36 numbers after a hot week against the Pistons, Knicks and Nets lets go deeper than the obvious numbers - lets go to the eye test. is DA getting pushed around in the paint? Regardless of success, is Book at least putting in extra effort on defense? Is there a hitch in Mikal's shot? Is Kelly Oubre actively looking to make plays, as well as score, on his lefty drives (Is he even going right?)? Is Cam Johnson's all-around game more consistently present than the fan base expects? The idea of this is to ground us on the previous level of success, where we can/should hope to see improvements, and if those improvements are even relevant to the continual development and future success of this group. Barring a miraculous playoff run, (Of course I'm holding out hope until the team is 0-3, fan is short for fanatic after all) if Tyler Johnson scores 15 points in the fourth quarter and dominates the game to beat Minnesota on Tuesday night in April does anyone really care (Yes that is technically a real possibility)? That type of performance from Ty "Milk" Jerome, on the other hand, would be quite significant. One would have a negligible effect on the progress of The Timeline, while the other would give this rolling brothel a pleasurable milky push on the road to the postseason. This weeks Valleyboyz matchup to key in on:

Friday night (October 25) vs the Nuggets as Deandre Ayton goes to head to head with one the NBA’s premier big men, and a top 10 NBA player, Nikola Jokic. This is the ideal matchup to hone in on this week for a couple of reasons. If we are under the impression that Book and DA can be the 1 and 1A on a legitimate playoff team they need to show signs of that progression this season. Murray and Jokic are a prime comparison. Booker vs Murray nobody is concerned about, Ayton vs the Joker is another story.

1. Ayton needs to show he has the physical strength and stamina to hang with Jokic for the whole game, especially as stamina is should be running short for Joker after an extended postseason run, as well as FIBA play this summer. Has Ayton hit the gym this summer and focused on his already freakish athleticism and physical traits?

2. Jokic or Ayton did not play in the Nuggets' 132-95 January 25 win. However, Jokic went for 23-10-4 on 8/15 from the field in the Suns' Jan 12 win, went for 23-8-9 on 8/11 in the Nuggets Dec 29 win in which they won the first quarter 36-16, and went for 35-11-11 on 11/11 shooting in the Nuggets' Oct. 20 win in which they won the first quarter 30-16. All of this to say: Can Ayton slow down Jokic, especially early on in the game. Can he not allow Jokic to take complete control early on in the game as the Nuggets' offensive initiator (He averaged 7.3 assists/game last season). Ayton's defensive lapses, especially early in the season, were many and not far between. The October game last season was the Suns second game of the season, they again play the Nuggets in game 2 this season. In exactly one season to the next how much has Ayton improved on the defensive end, where he will need to not only guard Nikola in the paint, but as a 3 point threat and initiator at the top of the key or the elbow?

3. Jokic is not fast, actually quite the opposite. The man is an absolute load, a complete unit out there. The 7'0" 250 listed basketball reference has got to be about 15 pounds light, so it’s safe to say that while he has great feet, they aren't always the quickest, and his speed certainly does not top the charts. There are weaknesses to be exploited on the offensive end. And while there are an abundance of clips of the likes of Isaiah Thomas dribbling circles in and around his legs, Jokic falling behind on pick and roll defense, and getting beat off the bounce to the rim, he certainly is not a miserable defender. Ayton, drafted number 1 as a big man who can score in a variety of ways, needs to prove he can take advantage. Jokic's slower feet present an opportunity for DA to get a step and get to the line, get extra space for his jump shot (Maybe he even shoot a 3?!) and hopefully blow by the big fella a couple times with a nice spin or hard drive. Jokic, while he has his flaws is no complete slouch on the defensive end, so DA will need to work, but hopefully he can improve on the 5 points he scored in game 2 of last season. Of note he rebounded nicely with 33 and 22 point performances in the following games (Combined +10), so let’s hope he can sustain that level of offensive performance and more this time around.