Now in his fifth NBA season, former Wildcat Deandre Ayton knows this much: the playoffs are like a whole new season unto themselves, and he's ready for it.
The Phoenix Suns big man understands the his team played a regular season that lasts half a calendar year to make a two-month run at an NBA title.
Ayton is beyond pumped about this opportunity as the Suns open their postseason in Sunday’s Game 1 of the Western Conference first round against the Los Angeles Clippers at at 5 p.m. at Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix. The Suns competed in a spirited and intense scrimmage Friday that felt like a “playoff game” to Ayton.Ayton later described the scrimmage atmosphere to convey the team’s commitment and focus heading into the playoffs.
“We learned from it, but coming back this season, I think that you can tell that everybody wants it so bad,” Suns backup big Bismack Biyombo said. “You can tell the mindset of the coaches, the mindset of players. Even today when we’re playing. Just getting up and down, you can tell that people just want it so bad and want to get this started.”
The two-time finals MVP was then sidelined 10 games, returned March 29 against Minnesota, played five games and rested the final two games of the regular season under left ankle injury management.
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