NBA 2018-19: Rookie of the Year Power Rankings Week 11

#2 DeAndre Ayton

DeAndre Ayton

It was always going to be difficult for Ayton to maintain the level of excellence that we saw from him last week. Averages of 23.3 Points and 16 Rebounds were always going to be too difficult to maintain.

Coming off four straight 20 point double-doubles, he only managed one this time around, but boy was it incredible. Ayton set career highs in scoring with 33 Points against the Nuggets (24 in the 2nd Quarter alone) to go along with 14 Rebounds.

The scoring fluctuation has a lot to do with the aggressiveness which he doesn't show at times, like against the Magic when he shot the ball only 7 times. Considering how effective and efficient Ayton has been as a scorer, you'd like to see him demand the ball almost every possession but he gets way too passive.

It's up to the coaching staff and his teammates to ensure that Ayton stays aggressive and that they keep feeding him the ball. The Suns have had a mini-resurgence off late and if it has to continue, they'll need Ayton to be at his aggressive best, with games against the likes of The Warriors, Sixers, and Clippers coming up.