Earlier in the season, Deandre Ayton played far less aggressively. At the time, Ayton said on Thursday, he was feeling his way through the offense and playing with new players. But there was more to his struggles. “My body wasn’t just my body,” he said. “People forget the humane difference of me adjusting to everything.” That included something as routine as getting proper sleep. “Just being comfortable in waking up,” he said. “I didn’t have a bed for quite some time. I was on an air mattress. Just trying to figure this out.”
Source: Oregonian
Source: Oregonian
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
DeAndre Ayton says slow start in Portland was in part due to him sleeping on an air mattress
nbcsports.com/nba/news/deand… – 1:17 PM
DeAndre Ayton says slow start in Portland was in part due to him sleeping on an air mattress
nbcsports.com/nba/news/deand… – 1:17 PM
Casey Holdahl @CHold
Pelicans 126, Blazers 107: FINAL. 28 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block for @DALANOBANTON. 25 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal for @AnferneeSimons. 20 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block/steal for @DeandreAyton. 11 points, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks for @toomany_buckets.… – 9:21 PM
Pelicans 126, Blazers 107: FINAL. 28 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block for @DALANOBANTON. 25 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal for @AnferneeSimons. 20 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block/steal for @DeandreAyton. 11 points, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks for @toomany_buckets.… – 9:21 PM
Casey Holdahl @CHold
Pelicans 102, Blazers 92: end of third quarter. 28 points, 5 assists/rebounds for @DALANOBANTON. 21 points, 8 assists, 2 rebounds for @AnferneeSimons. 18 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block/steal for @DeandreAyton. 11 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks for @toomany_buckets. – 8:47 PM
Pelicans 102, Blazers 92: end of third quarter. 28 points, 5 assists/rebounds for @DALANOBANTON. 21 points, 8 assists, 2 rebounds for @AnferneeSimons. 18 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block/steal for @DeandreAyton. 11 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks for @toomany_buckets. – 8:47 PM
Casey Holdahl @CHold
Ayton has to be shooting something like 80 percent on jumpers this year don’t look it up I don’t care – 8:45 PM
Ayton has to be shooting something like 80 percent on jumpers this year don’t look it up I don’t care – 8:45 PM
Casey Holdahl @CHold
Ayton just blocked Alvarado like a dad stuffing his kid on a Fischer Price hoop – 8:34 PM
Ayton just blocked Alvarado like a dad stuffing his kid on a Fischer Price hoop – 8:34 PM
Casey Holdahl @CHold
Pelicans 73, Blazers 68: halftime. 20 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists for @DALANOBANTON. 14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal for @DeandreAyton. 13 points, 6 assists for @AnferneeSimons. 7 points apiece for @toomany_buckets (at least for the time being), @KrisMurray24 and… – 8:09 PM
Pelicans 73, Blazers 68: halftime. 20 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists for @DALANOBANTON. 14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal for @DeandreAyton. 13 points, 6 assists for @AnferneeSimons. 7 points apiece for @toomany_buckets (at least for the time being), @KrisMurray24 and… – 8:09 PM
Will Guillory @WillGuillory
End of 1st: Pelicans 36, Blazers 33
Williamson 10 pts (5-5 FG)
Murphy 10 pts (2-4 3PT)
Ingram 5 pts
Not a whole lot of defense from either side in this one. Pels gotta do a better job of defending Deandre Ayton in pick-and-roll. He made all 5 of his shots in the 1st quarter. – 7:39 PM
End of 1st: Pelicans 36, Blazers 33
Williamson 10 pts (5-5 FG)
Murphy 10 pts (2-4 3PT)
Ingram 5 pts
Not a whole lot of defense from either side in this one. Pels gotta do a better job of defending Deandre Ayton in pick-and-roll. He made all 5 of his shots in the 1st quarter. – 7:39 PM
Casey Holdahl @CHold
Pelicans 36, Blazers 33: end of first quarter. 10 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound for @DeandreAyton. 7 points, 1 rebound for @JabariWalker. 5 points, 4 assists for @anferneesimons. POR shooting 64 percent, NOLA 67 percent. – 7:39 PM
Pelicans 36, Blazers 33: end of first quarter. 10 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound for @DeandreAyton. 7 points, 1 rebound for @JabariWalker. 5 points, 4 assists for @anferneesimons. POR shooting 64 percent, NOLA 67 percent. – 7:39 PM
Jim Eichenhofer @Jim_Eichenhofer
The first round of the 2022 playoffs version of Deandre Ayton has entered the chat. It seemed like he made 90% of his jumpers for Phoenix in that series and has started 5/5 from field tonight – 7:24 PM
The first round of the 2022 playoffs version of Deandre Ayton has entered the chat. It seemed like he made 90% of his jumpers for Phoenix in that series and has started 5/5 from field tonight – 7:24 PM
CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
Deandre Ayton gives bizarre reason for early season struggles as he adjusted to life in Portland
cbssports.com/nba/news/deand… – 5:02 PM
Deandre Ayton gives bizarre reason for early season struggles as he adjusted to life in Portland
cbssports.com/nba/news/deand… – 5:02 PM
Aaron J. Fentress @AaronJFentress
Trail Blazers’ Deandre Ayton opens up about overcoming personal struggles that led to recent success #RipCity
oregonlive.com/blazers/2024/0… – 11:09 AM
Trail Blazers’ Deandre Ayton opens up about overcoming personal struggles that led to recent success #RipCity
oregonlive.com/blazers/2024/0… – 11:09 AM
Aaron J. Fentress @AaronJFentress
Reaction to recent interview with Deandre Ayton, who discussed overcoming obstacles to become ‘DominAyton’: Blazer Focused podcast with @CraigBirnbach
oregonlive.com/blazers/2024/0… – 11:09 AM
Reaction to recent interview with Deandre Ayton, who discussed overcoming obstacles to become ‘DominAyton’: Blazer Focused podcast with @CraigBirnbach
oregonlive.com/blazers/2024/0… – 11:09 AM
More on this storyline
Ayton added that he also contended with family coming in and out of town. Finding them places to stay. He also had to consider the changes for his young son, Deandre Ayton Jr. Now, Ayton has his life better sorted out. He feels more comfortable with this team and its schemes, and his body feels good. For these reasons, he said, he has finally been able to flourish. Ayton went on runs like this before for the Phoenix Suns, who selected him No. 1 overall during the 2018 NBA draft. But his inconsistent play ultimately caused the Suns to make him available last summer. The Blazers are hoping that he can mature into a reliable dominant force. -via Oregonian / March 18, 2024
“I’m honestly going into these games, I’m trying to do everything,” Ayton told reporters Wednesday night. “Not only do my requirements, my role for this team, but do a lot more and that’s where I’m at. I’m more dominant. People like to laugh at it, but it’s the truth.” Should Ayton continue playing at this level, the only people who will be laughing will be the Portland Trail Blazers. They acquired Ayton last offseason in a trade with the Phoenix Suns hoping that the No. 1-overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft could take his game to an elite level. -via Oregonian / March 15, 2024
“I think we’ve unlocked him and we’re getting the best version of him offensively, for sure,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups told reporters. “He’s been a monster. He’s been a monster on that glass. He’s just been all over the place. Super, super efficient obviously. So, he’s been awesome. And I think our guys are just kind of following his lead. He’s given us so much.” -via Oregonian / March 15, 2024