Phoenix Suns' Nikola Jokic problem: Is more Jock Landale, less Deandre Ayton the answer?

Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic
·5 min read
19

The Phoenix Suns are down 3-2 in their NBA Playoff series against the Denver Nuggets and the way to get back in the series is obvious, according to one NBA writer.

The team needs to play Deandre Ayton less in favor of backup center Jock Landale.

The writer, Bleacher Report's Andy Bailey, made the argument in his story after the Suns' 118-102 loss to the Nuggets at Ball Arena in Game 5 on Tuesday night, a story with the headline: "Deandre Ayton is costing the Phoenix Suns, and the solution is obvious."

Bailey turned to stats to make his argument.

And the stats are not kind to Ayton.

The Suns starting center was a minus-21 in Tuesday night's loss, tied for his series low against the Nuggets. Over the series, the Suns have been outscored by 59 points when Ayton has been in the lineup.

Landale, in contrast, was plus-five on Tuesday. The Suns have outscored the Nuggets by 27 points in the series when the backup center has been on the court.

Bailey wrote: "His basic production for the series—26 points on 11/18 FGs and 21 rebounds—pales in comparison to Ayton's—54 points on 26/45 FGs and 41 rebounds. But this version of the Suns doesn't really need basic production out of the 5 spot. Corny as it may sound, Phoenix needs the stuff that doesn't show up in the stat sheet. …What the Suns are lacking during those minutes is relentless defense, effort on the glass and opportunistic scoring. Landale is checking those boxes."

Nikola Jokic is destroying the Suns in this series, Bailey points out, but the stats favor Landale on defense against the Nuggets superstar.

Jokic is shooting 50% in the series when guarded by Landale. He's shooting 59.3% when Ayton is defending him.

More: Deandre Ayton says Phoenix Suns home crowd will power him through rib injury vs. Nuggets in Game 6

Some people think the Phoenix Suns need to play Deandre Ayton less in their NBA Playoffs series against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.
Some people think the Phoenix Suns need to play Deandre Ayton less in their NBA Playoffs series against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.

Bailey wrote: "If this persists, and the Suns come up short of their ultimate goal (which, from the moment they acquired KD, had to be a championship), they'll have some tough questions to ask about Ayton. If a Booker- and Durant-led future doesn't require a face-up 5 (it doesn't), how can Phoenix justify fully committing to the four-year, $133 million deal he signed last summer? If you can get more effort and better fit from someone like Landale, who's making less than $1 million this season, you almost have to gauge the trade market for Ayton."

Interestingly, Bailey isn't the only person to call for more time for playing time for Landale, and less for Ayton, against the Nuggets.

Others on social media had a similar reaction after Phoenix's Game 5 loss in Denver.

More: Win or go home: Phoenix Suns facing elimination without answer for Nuggets' Nikola Jokic

Should the Suns play Jock Landale more and Deandre Ayton less vs. Nuggets?

Ayton left the arena in pain after Tuesday night's game after suffering a rib injury in the game, saying that the "adrenaline will definitely carry (him)" in Game 6 against the Nuggets on Thursday.

How much playing time should Suns coach Monty Williams give him compared to Jock Landale in that game?

More: ESPN analyst's Devin Booker comment riles up Phoenix Suns fans, team announcer

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns need more Jock Landale, less Deandre Ayton vs. Nikola Jokic

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