Ball Don't Lie: The LaMelo Ball Thread

[yosemiteben]

The issue is Graham plays 10mpg more than Melo while shooting 10% lower from the field. He avg 1 less turnover than Melo. That can’t make all the difference.

They're completely different players with totally different roles, goals, and development milestones. I personally think nothing about how anyone else plays should significantly impact how we decide to use Melo, we should have a specific plan for his development and build that into our rotation patterns.

[vtime]

I don't get the hype at all... He supposed to be terrible defensively and has a terrible shot. He better be an elite playmaker or interior scorer to make up for that. Someone enlighten me, please.

The hype train is real

Please, please don't draft this kid

Which means they will

Which sucks

Bwahahahaha

[HornetJail]

I don't get the hype at all... He supposed to be terrible defensively and has a terrible shot. He better be an elite playmaker or interior scorer to make up for that. Someone enlighten me, please.

The hype train is real

Please, please don't draft this kid

Which means they will

Which sucks

Bwahahahaha

I will be happy if I was wrong about that.He's definitely a more dangerous scorer than the Ricky Rubio I was expecting. My concerns are still kinda there though, defense is awful and shot is at best inconsistent.

His performance has been well ahead of my wildest imagination though, I'm thoroughly enjoying his good nights

[Braggins]

I think LaMelo needs to get some more minutes, but I still like bringing him off the bench. I hope Monk continues to play well because I think he and Melo could end up being a more effective backcourt combination than Graham/Rozier, which could really balance the first and second units.

[vtime]

The hype train is real

Please, please don't draft this kid

Which means they will

Which sucks

Bwahahahaha

I will be happy if I was wrong about that.He's definitely a more dangerous scorer than the Ricky Rubio I was expecting. My concerns are still kinda there though, defense is awful and shot is at best inconsistent.

His performance has been well ahead of my wildest imagination though, I'm thoroughly enjoying his good nights

The other gentleman Swed was more who I was referring to. And Melo’s defense is far from awful.

[DY_nasty]

The issue is Graham plays 10mpg more than Melo while shooting 10% lower from the field. He avg 1 less turnover than Melo. That can’t make all the difference.

They're completely different players with totally different roles, goals, and development milestones. I personally think nothing about how anyone else plays should significantly impact how we decide to use Melo, we should have a specific plan for his development and build that into our rotation patterns.

unfortunately no one gets developed in a vacuum and the decree passed down from the FO is play to win every game with what you've got

even if you want to smooth over the offensive impact, defensively - graham isn't anywhere close to lamelo and never will be. further, graham's development went off the rails when he was somehow convinced that he's the long lost third splash brother.

[SWedd523]

Bwahahahaha

I will be happy if I was wrong about that.He's definitely a more dangerous scorer than the Ricky Rubio I was expecting. My concerns are still kinda there though, defense is awful and shot is at best inconsistent.

His performance has been well ahead of my wildest imagination though, I'm thoroughly enjoying his good nights

The other gentleman Swed was more who I was referring to. And Melo’s defense is far from awful.

A. I have no problem being wrong. I was very clear in not wanting Melo. I have also been very clear that I was wrong and he's played well above expectations.

Which leads to:

B. Kind of a lazy take to try and quote old, speculative stuff as if it proves any real point.

And further:

C. You're putting off serious Jeremy-Lin-Fly-By-Fan vibes

[Liver_Pooty]

I will be happy if I was wrong about that.He's definitely a more dangerous scorer than the Ricky Rubio I was expecting. My concerns are still kinda there though, defense is awful and shot is at best inconsistent.

His performance has been well ahead of my wildest imagination though, I'm thoroughly enjoying his good nights

The other gentleman Swed was more who I was referring to. And Melo’s defense is far from awful.

A. I have no problem being wrong. I was very clear in not wanting Melo. I have also been very clear that I was wrong and he's played well above expectations.

Which leads to:

B. Kind of a lazy take to try and quote old, speculative stuff as if it proves any real point.

And further:

C. You're putting off serious Jeremy-Lin-Fly-By-Fan vibes

I wouldn't worry about it. I HATED the Kemba pick at the time. Despised it. And we all know how that turned out.

[CuseMayne]

So guys...

Terry's questionable. If he can't go against the Heat tomorrow is JB gonna finally give LaMelo a start? Or is he going to continue to be stubborn and refuse to? Like when he started a Martin twin when Gordo was out instead of Miles. I think he'd take a lot of heat if he had Monk or a Martin twin start...rightfully so. Would be bizarre to go from giving Monk DNP-CDs to starting him.

[BigSlam]

So guys...

Terry's questionable. If he can't go against the Heat tomorrow is JB gonna finally give LaMelo a start? Or is he going to continue to be stubborn and refuse to? Like when he started a Martin twin when Gordo was out instead of Miles. I think he'd take a lot of heat if he had Monk or a Martin twin start...rightfully so. Would be bizarre to go from giving Monk DNP-CDs to starting him.

I’d actually prefer he start Monk in the Terry role (spot up 3pt shooter and slasher) and have LaMelo come off the bench.

I don’t want our two main facilitators playing together and leaving our 2nd unit short of a ball mover.

With a 3 guard main rotation of Tae, Monk and LaMelo they’ll all still get 28+ mins each.

Then just play Twin #2 spot mins as needed.

[Snidely FC]

Lamelo is happy in the Hive:

We have great chemistry,” Ball said via LonzoWire. “Every time we get on the court, we show the off-court chemistry that we have on the court. And that’s great for the team. It’s just everybody around the team, they love each other. We love being around each other. There’s no cliques or anything. Just everybody on the team just has fun with each other.”

[JMAC3]

So guys...

Terry's questionable. If he can't go against the Heat tomorrow is JB gonna finally give LaMelo a start? Or is he going to continue to be stubborn and refuse to? Like when he started a Martin twin when Gordo was out instead of Miles. I think he'd take a lot of heat if he had Monk or a Martin twin start...rightfully so. Would be bizarre to go from giving Monk DNP-CDs to starting him.

I’d actually prefer he start Monk in the Terry role (spot up 3pt shooter and slasher) and have LaMelo come off the bench.

I don’t want our two main facilitators playing together and leaving our 2nd unit short of a ball mover.

With a 3 guard main rotation of Tae, Monk and LaMelo they’ll all still get 28+ mins each.

Then just play Twin #2 spot mins as needed.

We have to rip the bandaid off eventually. There is no reason LaMelo should not be starting, he is our second best player behind Gordon. I would view this as a way to test if Graham and LaMelo is a viable starting duo long-term, if they are not then we get a clearer picture on how to operate from a team building standpoint long-term. Also, once Terry is back it would be a great way to test him out in the 6th man role. Monk and Terry have enough ball handling between them to be okay on the second unit for a couple games just to experiment.

Either Graham/Terry have to prove they can exist in the 6th man role or one is gone for sure if not both.

[Liver_Pooty]

So guys...

Terry's questionable. If he can't go against the Heat tomorrow is JB gonna finally give LaMelo a start? Or is he going to continue to be stubborn and refuse to? Like when he started a Martin twin when Gordo was out instead of Miles. I think he'd take a lot of heat if he had Monk or a Martin twin start...rightfully so. Would be bizarre to go from giving Monk DNP-CDs to starting him.

I’d actually prefer he start Monk in the Terry role (spot up 3pt shooter and slasher) and have LaMelo come off the bench.

I don’t want our two main facilitators playing together and leaving our 2nd unit short of a ball mover.

With a 3 guard main rotation of Tae, Monk and LaMelo they’ll all still get 28+ mins each.

Then just play Twin #2 spot mins as needed.

We have to rip the bandaid off eventually. There is no reason LaMelo should not be starting, he is our second best player behind Gordon. I would view this as a way to test if Graham and LaMelo is a viable starting duo long-term, if they are not then we get a clearer picture on how to operate from a team building standpoint long-term. Also, once Terry is back it would be a great way to test him out in the 6th man role. Monk and Terry have enough ball handling between them to be okay on the second unit for a couple games just to experiment.

Either Graham/Terry have to prove they can exist in the 6th man role or one is gone for sure if not both.

Can already tell you Melo and Graham can't or shouldn't co exist. Rozier is fine off the ball. With Graham it seems 70% of the time Lamelo has to go to the corner and just hangout. Its frustrating to watch.

[Diop]

I’d actually prefer he start Monk in the Terry role (spot up 3pt shooter and slasher) and have LaMelo come off the bench.

I don’t want our two main facilitators playing together and leaving our 2nd unit short of a ball mover.

With a 3 guard main rotation of Tae, Monk and LaMelo they’ll all still get 28+ mins each.

Then just play Twin #2 spot mins as needed.

We have to rip the bandaid off eventually. There is no reason LaMelo should not be starting, he is our second best player behind Gordon. I would view this as a way to test if Graham and LaMelo is a viable starting duo long-term, if they are not then we get a clearer picture on how to operate from a team building standpoint long-term. Also, once Terry is back it would be a great way to test him out in the 6th man role. Monk and Terry have enough ball handling between them to be okay on the second unit for a couple games just to experiment.

Either Graham/Terry have to prove they can exist in the 6th man role or one is gone for sure if not both.

Can already tell you Melo and Graham can't or shouldn't co exist. Rozier is fine off the ball. With Graham it seems 70% of the time Lamelo has to go to the corner and just hangout. Its frustrating to watch.

the end of the last game, Graham passed it to Melo to start the offence which resulted in a Graham catch n shoot 3. so it can happen.

but i agree, at the start of the game Graham will be expected to control the offence and Melo won't be featured as much

[JMAC3]

We have to rip the bandaid off eventually. There is no reason LaMelo should not be starting, he is our second best player behind Gordon. I would view this as a way to test if Graham and LaMelo is a viable starting duo long-term, if they are not then we get a clearer picture on how to operate from a team building standpoint long-term. Also, once Terry is back it would be a great way to test him out in the 6th man role. Monk and Terry have enough ball handling between them to be okay on the second unit for a couple games just to experiment.

Either Graham/Terry have to prove they can exist in the 6th man role or one is gone for sure if not both.

Can already tell you Melo and Graham can't or shouldn't co exist. Rozier is fine off the ball. With Graham it seems 70% of the time Lamelo has to go to the corner and just hangout. Its frustrating to watch.

the end of the last game, Graham passed it to Melo to start the offence which resulted in a Graham catch n shoot 3. so it can happen.

but i agree, at the start of the game Graham will be expected to control the offence and Melo won't be featured as much

Okay well then lets trade Graham this week because LaMelo is the future PG of this team so if Graham can't find a role then lets deal him so we don't lose him for nothing this offseason. I mean I would love for him to find a role and make it work, but there is no world where Graham continues to start and LaMelo comes off the bench next season.

[Chapelchilla]

I would wait until Graham has a couple more good games in row (if?) and then trade him. The writing is on the wall. Or, he should be the back up PG. But if he is playing with Monk on the second unit, that is a tiny back court.

[Liver_Pooty]

I would wait until Graham has a couple more good games in row (if?) and then trade him. The writing is on the wall. Or, he should be the back up PG. But if he is playing with Monk on the second unit, that is a tiny back court.

Playing him and Monk together is no different than starting Rozier alongside him. Rozier is obviously better defensively, though.

[BigSlam]

Can already tell you Melo and Graham can't or shouldn't co exist. Rozier is fine off the ball. With Graham it seems 70% of the time Lamelo has to go to the corner and just hangout. Its frustrating to watch.

That's not a Graham thing though, that's a game plan (coaching) thing.

[DY_nasty]

I just don't like LaMelo in dual PG lineups in general

we got really lucky against the bucks when we started ball/graham to begin the 2nd half. they were both in danger of being in foul trouble at one point and it was just wildly unnecessary to take that risk when you've got functioning options at the wing then.

[Chapelchilla]

I would wait until Graham has a couple more good games in row (if?) and then trade him. The writing is on the wall. Or, he should be the back up PG. But if he is playing with Monk on the second unit, that is a tiny back court.

Playing him and Monk together is no different than starting Rozier alongside him. Rozier is obviously better defensively, though.

Yeah, Terry plays better D and is thicker then Monk. I don't see monk as a full time starter but Terry can be.