Small ball is the future of the NBA. But small ball is neutralized when the opposing center has the quickness to guard 1-5 and the size to punish mismatches. Here's how Deandre Ayton and the Suns blew the Rockets out by 36. Thread:

1. Ayton takes advantage of no rim protection

2. . Ayton operates the post-up and places a sweet pass to the cutting Kelly Oubre Jr.

3. DA powers through James Harden on the post-up. Mouse in the house.

4. Again, no vertical threat to challenge Deandre Ayton on the pick and roll. Easy dunk.

5. Here comes Austin Rivers. Unlike most teams, the Suns have the personnel to navigate any switch when Ayton is on the floor. Denial.

6. Ayton guards two players here. Cuts off Harden on the P&R and switches off to Tucker for the block.

7. Tucker impedes Ayton's progress on the alley-oop attempt here. But DA has the presence of mind to dunk it back to a cutting Booker for the and-1.

8. I love this one: the Valley Boyz lineup (best in the NBA w/ a +20.2 net rating) in action, and Devin Booker didn't need to do anything. Oubre contests Harden -> Bridges' corrals rebound and passes to Rubio -> Ricky throws up an alley-oop -> Ayton slam

9. Last example here - again, no rim protection from the Rockets leads to the easy Ayton score.

Monty Williams and staff have success using Deandre Ayton as a "cheat code" when teams go small.

Another sign of the promise for this team come the playoffs.