Official Lonzo Ball Rookie Thread No. 1

karkinos · Post #541 » by **karkinos** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 2:57 pm

day 3 report was good and the optimism for kuzma and "needing to find minutes" for him is a really really good sign

Lalouie · Post #542 » by **Lalouie** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 6:47 pm

Shoulda posted here. Made a mistake. Or maybe it already has been. Anyway viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1619342

Post #543 » by **Kilroy** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 6:50 pm

I mean OK, but it's essentially the SL lineup that he has that experience with... It's not that those guys are better (other than Lonzo), just that they're more comfortable with each other...
Not buying into the Kuzma thing just yet. Every challenge Ingram had, he has coming in... He's just not as versatile so he won't be asked to do as much. He needs to work on his body and learn how to absorb contact and be durable.
More eager to see what Lonzo can do with vets in his lineups... Guys with established 'spots' and roles...
He's playing with a bunch of guys that he can just toss the ball to anywhere and they'll try to do something with it because they're young or fighting for minutes.

Post #544 » by **Slava** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:12 pm

With the all star game in LA, it wouldn't half surprise me if he gets voted in as a starter and the NBA as whole loses its ****. Can't wait. :lol:

AcecardZ · Post #545 » by **AcecardZ** » Fri Sep 29, 2017 11:16 pm

Slava wrote:With the all star game in LA, it wouldn't half surprise me if he gets voted in as a starter and the NBA as whole loses its ****. Can't wait.

Do they still have fan voting for all-stars? If they do it could get cray!

madmaxmedia · Post #546 » by **madmaxmedia** » Tue Oct 3, 2017 5:06 pm

Kilroy wrote:I mean OK, but it's essentially the SL lineup that he has that experience with... It's not that those guys are better (other than Lonzo), just that they're more comfortable with each other...
Not buying into the Kuzma thing just yet. Every challenge Ingram had, he has coming in... He's just not as versatile so he won't be asked to do as much. He needs to work on his body and learn how to absorb contact and be durable.
More eager to see what Lonzo can do with vets in his lineups... Guys with established 'spots' and roles...
He's playing with a bunch of guys that he can just toss the ball to anywhere and they'll try to do something with it because they're young or fighting for minutes.

Kuzma played 3 years in college which gives him a big step up in that first season, but that advantage disappears over time and the better player will obviously reveal themselves in 2-3 years. Although not impossible, it seems very unlikely to me that Kuzma could ever pan out to be the better player, that really only happens if Ingram somehow totally flops.

To me Kuzma looks like the more limited player but is more comfortable within that framework. No one is starting threads here about him being the future Laker PG, or his upside compared to Kevin Durant, etc. But he knows what he can do on a basketball court, while Ingram is still developing and learning and gradually expanding his boundaries. Because Kuzma is more a complementary player, I think it was also easier for him to establish a good rapport with Lonzo in summer league. Just hustle and do the right things, and Lonzo was gonna reward him and get him the ball in his spots.

So I think people need to view the early season from that perspective. That being said, who knows how Kuzma may surprise in the regular season as a solid contributor. He seems pretty efficient with his movements on the court (again, being comfortable in his skill set.)

Jack Bauer · Post #547 » by **Jack Bauer** » Tue Oct 3, 2017 5:16 pm

Kilroy wrote:Not buying into the Kuzma thing just yet. Every challenge Ingram had, he has coming in... He's just not as versatile so he won't be asked to do as much. He needs to work on his body and learn how to absorb contact and be durable.
More eager to see what Lonzo can do with vets in his lineups... Guys with established 'spots' and roles...
He's playing with a bunch of guys that he can just toss the ball to anywhere and they'll try to do something with it because they're young or fighting for minutes.

Ball+Kuz >>>>> Ball+Ingram

Reason being Ingram is a ball stopper who tends to turn the play into an iso or takes a while to survey the floor before doing something with it.

Kuzma once he gets the pass commits to his shots. There are no pauses, no holding the ball to figure out what he needs to do next, it's usually catch and go straight to his scoring motion.

Dr Aki · Post #548 » by **Dr Aki** » Sat Oct 21, 2017 9:06 am

stan francisco · Post #549 » by **stan francisco** » Sat Oct 21, 2017 9:57 am

Dr Aki wrote:

Lol

Yesterday: trade him for a chips bag. Today: Oscar Robertson comparisons.

mcscotty · Post #550 » by **mcscotty** » Sat Oct 21, 2017 12:08 pm

What we witnessed today is unprecedented. For a rookie to come in and play like that in his second game got me thinking we may have acquired a generational talent. I love his skill, poise and composure. To come into this situation with such expectations under the intense spotlight of Hollywood was not an enviable task. But he just took it all in stride and did what he does best. Nothing seems to rattle this kid. Today is a new day for Lakers fans. We've got something here and we're just scratching the surface. Kid hasn't even grown into his body yet. Just imagine him in a couple of years surrounded by the proper talent. Believe the hype. This one's for real.

Mirjalovic · Post #551 » by **Mirjalovic** » Sat Oct 21, 2017 1:27 pm

Yes he's clearly generational talent. His unflappable demeanor, calmness are perfect too. Exact opposite from D'Angelo Russell. Basketball fun again in LA.

myersia · Post #552 » by **myersia** » Sat Oct 21, 2017 6:38 pm

I gotta overreact here (through 2 games) a rookie is averaging 16 points, 10 boards and almost 7 assists. When is the last time a rookie has done that?

myersia · Post #553 » by **myersia** » Sat Oct 21, 2017 6:39 pm

Mirjalovic wrote:Yes he's clearly generational talent. His unflappable demeanor, calmness are perfect too. Exact opposite from D'Angelo Russell. Basketball fun again in LA.

So happy we don't have that guy. Watching him on the nets he has improved but he still doesn't really affect the game. He will never have the impact Lonzo has.

PLO · Post #554 » by **PLO** » Sun Oct 22, 2017 2:50 am

myersia wrote:I gotta overreact here (through 2 games) a rookie is averaging 16 points, 10 boards and almost 7 assists. When is the last time a rookie has done that?

Like, this season? link

DS17 · Post #555 » by **DS17** » Sun Oct 22, 2017 2:53 am

PLO wrote:
myersia wrote:I gotta overreact here (through 2 games) a rookie is averaging 16 points, 10 boards and almost 7 assists. When is the last time a rookie has done that?

Like, this season? link

lol.