I feel like I've been saying why he will translate, but I also know that it hasn't been all within the same post. I'm a terrible writer so I get turned off halfway through the post when I try to bear down and put something together. There's like four drafts in my user account, a lot in response to princeinrevolt quotes that I just said F it, let it play out and they will see for themselves in time.
Anyways, Lonzo will transform the way we play. We know with Luke that Golden State is our model. Talking with Michael Lucky before, he acknowledges that they play a more motion offense instead of a heavy PNR type style. This is great, because they have players who weren't head and shoulders above one another at ISO scoring--until Durant came that is...
Ball is so great at playing to his strengths and hiding his weaknesses. His awareness and feel for the game is off the charts. He will be what Morey, and probably even D'Antoni, wishes Harden would be. A player who willingly distributes the ball to the high percentage looks, whether that be at the rim, behind the three point line, or looks leading to the free throw line.
What we know about NBA defenses is that a lot of the players already have the athleticism, length, and smarts that the college basketball teams won't showcase as often on a nightly (in college weekly) basis. But Lonzo's unselfishness and willingness to pass counters that by early passes, constant running (can't wait to see how many miles this guy runs a night on SportsVu), and smart-critical passes. Simply put, that ball never sticks and he inspires his teammates (well, we'll see about the pro's who are ego-driven with entitlement) to run the floor and equally share the ball.
I can remember Walton yanking Russell out of games because he wasn't playing fast enough for his liking--this won't be an issue with Lonzo. He
creates transition opportunities when they necessarily aren't there to begin with. I cringe when I read he doesn't have great athleticism when it comes in all different forms, speed or power. He is a speed guy and he has bounce. He creates extra transition opportunities from a)playing the passing lanes so well, b)his strong weak side rebounding ability, and c)his early passing. I can't stress that enough. Passing the ball in the air will always beat those feet moving on the ground.
People can talk about pulling up for a j going to his right, but he gets to the rim or shoots deep threes. He doesn't take those low efficiency shots. Now, he will have to go against better rim protectors in the NBA, so he must improve his floaters to keep his rim FG% impressively high like it was in college. He is very shifty while in the air and he uses his left hand quite well to finish.
He does have a drive and kick game, so I don't agree with that assessment. I would worry about his ability in pick and roll if he was a scoring guard. He passes on 74% of PNR. When he doesn't have the Ball, 1.54 PPP on cuts, active and instinctual. And his low usage puts those cuts in play a lot, again because he constantly moves the ball--quick decision maker.
Defensively is where I don't see him get any respect that he deserves. People talk about him getting abused by Fox in the last game, but it was really Bam who took out Welsh with foul trouble and Ball with his screens. Not to mention Ball pulled his hamstring and was laboring the whole time down the stretch. The only thing that got exposed that game was the lack of depth shown from UCLA bigs. Lonzo has great hands, has no problem guarding guys with his body on them (that will be more effective when he adds bulk to his 6'6'' frame), and until then he has great timing to meet them at the rim. He is a hustler and reads offenses almost as good as he runs them. He doesn't get fooled by pump fakes, always stays grounded with his feet, moves them well with his short choppy footwork. Active hands leading to those runouts. Head of snake energy on defense.
All in all, he'll change the dynamics of our offense. He'll take the ball out of our slow decision makers (Julius and to a degree Russell) and give the ball to them in positions where all they have to do is make the next pass or take the open look. He controls the tempo of the game on offense. What he does need to work on his tightening his handle, work on his floater, change his alignment on FT's, and add muscle like any other teenager. He has such an advanced feel for the game for someone his age, it's refreshing.
As always, like reports on Looney's hips, things can change, but what we know now and have seen from Ball--it appears to be a great package.
