Why the Phoenix Suns blew out the Dallas Mavericks

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Phoenix Suns Deandre Ayton Devin Booker (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Deandre Ayton

Deandre Ayton entered the Phoenix Suns’ record books with his opening night, missing out on his first career 20-point game by two points, but still recording his first ever double-double.

It took until the end of the fourth quarter, but Ayton grabbed his 10th rebound, none of which I would really say that he showed he was willing to attack his opponents to grab, but in the process finished with a 18 points, 10 boards, and 6 assists, becoming the third Phoenix Sun to record a first career game double-double: Alvan Adams with 14p/10r/8a/5s in his first career game on 10/25/1975.

Shawn Marion then replicated the feat with 14p/14r/3a on 11/2/99 (he wouldn’t record another double-double until March of that year due to early season injuries).

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I once predicted that Ayton is going to average a double-double this season, becoming the first rookie in Suns history to do so (save for Connie Hawkins who averaged a double-double in his first NBA season, although, he had been a professional in the ABA for two seasons prior.

There is a very real chance that Ayton does average a double-double, although there was one thing that I’d like to see a little bit more from him throughout the year: I’d like him to play more physical and not be worried to get a couple of fouls along the way.

Shaquille O’Neal fouled out in his first game, but grabbed 18 rebounds.

Imagine if Ayton had been physical under the boards?

Sure, he probably would have had more fouls – and we likely would have immediately hearkened back to the awful days of out of control play by Marquese Chriss, Dragan Bender, and Josh Jackson), however, there is no doubt in my mind that most of the time the referees will give him the benefit of the doubt because of his size, siding with him, and allowing contact to occur so long as he ended up with the ball.

Deandre Ayton is helping the Suns from day won (get it? ;), because he knows: it’s Time to Rise, and he’s going to be at the heart of it.

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