Ayton vs. Bamba has the potential to become a big rivalry

LAS VEGAS – In the 18 days since the NBA draft, Orlando Magic's center Mohamed Mohamed Bamba has used a particular visual – that of Deandre Ayton shaking hands with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver – Now, after an unbalanced loss on Monday at Ayton and the Phoenix Suns in the summer league of the NBA Resorts of the MGM Resorts, Bamba has new materials to use as fuel for his fire.

Ayton, the overall best choice, easily won the center-back encounter against Bamba, the No. 6 pick, when he scored 17 points and caught 13 rebounds in the 71-53 defeat of the Suns. the lethargic magic at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas

Bamba finished with four points, five rebounds, two shots blocked and five fouls in almost 23 minutes of work. Too often, the 7-foot, 225-pound Bamba was pinned behind the 7-foot-1, 250-pound Ayton and the fat man from Phoenix charged for it. Ayton shot six out of 10 shots, five out of five free throws and corrected five offensive rebounds.

Arrived at night, Bamba teams maintained a 4-0 record on Ayton teams in high school and at AUA. And in the run-up to Monday's clash, Bamba mischievously replied that "he's about to be five (wins)." However, Ayton had the last laugh – while and after the game.

The hands (after tonight's match) and (Bamba) were like, "You finally got one!" And I say to myself, "Yes, I've finally had one!" a. Especially when it counts, & # 39; & # 39; Aymon says with bragging.

Without a doubt, Bamba will store this memory, use it as motivation in its quest for improvement and be better prepared the next time Magic (2-1) will face the Suns (3-0 ) – which could come later this week when the summer league goes into a tournament format. Even after Monday's defeat, the young man from Magic said that he would continue to keep Ayton in his mind – just like he did since the NBA draft last month.

“ I had a lot of motivation and I mentioned that I will try to keep this state of mind of a guy like (Golden State striker) Draymond Green (who has was chosen behind 34 other players in the 2012 NBA Draft), "said Bamba.` `(Ayton) who walks on the stage and who is picked No. 1 is still my screen saver (on his laptop) To this day, and I think so, it's the motivation that will be passed on to the court.It's a good match every time we play against each of us and it really makes the point. intensity at home. "

Orlando played his second game in as many nights and for the third time in four nights.The team practiced five times in the three evenings before opening the game in the league In the summer of Friday, with fatigue being a distinct possibility, the Magic shot only 30.9 percent of the ground and made only three of s 20 three-point shots The Magic opened the game only four out of 13 with 11 points in the first quarter and they were never scored afterwards.

“ It was just the offensive part. A little tired and we lost sight of how we played in the first two games with drive-and-kick, multiple pick-and-rolls and several dribble transfers, "said Magic Pat Delany's coach . “ Obviously (the Suns) were in us and completely disconnected us from the rhythm. And I have to do a better job to help our guys run against this stuff.

Jonathan Isaac was the only player in Magic to reach both numbers, scoring 10 points despite only two of the nine field attempts. . Isaiah Briscoe, who recently signed a free agent contract with the Magic, left the game after just three minutes because of a shin.

“ I think that they had the best of us. We did not focus on that first quarter and that allowed us to go back through the game, "said Isaac, who added six rebounds, two blocks and a steal. "As we tried to fight back, it was just not enough."

As for Bamba, he had some nice moments early in the game – both times involving Phoenix striker Josh Jackson. Shortly after crushing Jackson on the panel, Bamba realized that he had the wing on the pole. Bamba demanded the ball, analyzed the situation and spun the baseline for an easy jump shot.

His only other field goal was a withdrawal jam from a lack of magic. A topic of potential concern: Bamba has not yet attempted a free throw in three games in the summer league.

Defensively, Bamba said that he had to do his defensive work earlier – as before the big opponent catches the ball – player such as Ayton. He said that he would use Monday's performance as a teaching tool and more motivation.

“ Part of (his game plan) was to let (Ayton catch the ball in the paint) and he could bypass me, & # 39; Said Bamba. "To a great extent, when he catches it, I did not really think he had a plan." He caught it, took a dribble and froze it a couple of times. it's definitely a lesson.There are guys who are much bigger than me and I have to work around it, beat myself and take my first steps. "

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