Ball Don't Lie: The LaMelo Ball Thread

[Walt Cronkite]

Congrats to Melo!

[SWedd523]

The recent skid and poor play by Melo has made me less bullish on him missing the ASG, but seeing how absolutely salty people are acting on the GB makes me so glad he made it in.

[yosemiteben]

I'm honestly shocked he made it, really didn't think he would be a sub and thought he'd have to get in the first go around.

[Snidely FC]

I think this incident is worthing talking more about:

Watch on YouTube

It's been years since we had a guy who can get to the line at the end of a game. I think adding Harrell helps. But I also think for Lamelo to hit his superstar potential - and for this team to win close games - he needs to get calls like this. Maybe its just the heat of the moment but his reaction suggests to me that he is aware of this, and that he is in fact way more competitive than his persona led me to believe

[SWedd523]

He needs to be Angry-Melo more often. There's a time for clowning around and being fun and cute. And there's a time to be a killer.

I hate to say it like this, but you don't make it to the HOF without some Mamba Mentality

[KembaWalker]

good, hope this and Trez trade is a move away from the buddy buddy crap our teams always has. be a professional, play to win

[Robot Rock]

Similar to 2011 Cam in many ways, both in temperament and ability. So much fun to watch.

[CuseMayne]

I definitely like it as well. The past few weeks leading up to this game, there were definitely times where the guys were laughing on the bench in the midst of an ugly loss. Hopefully this is Melo realizing that each game is really important for us.

And I hate to point the finger at one guy, but it really seems like Bouknight is always just trying to be buddy buddy, lackadaisical, and almost "too cool to care about the game." In that clip Bouk's seemingly just trying to celebrate with Melo while Melo's trying to get some sort of explanation for the missed call...and then after being shoved he seems to want some sort of reconciliation with Melo to the point where he grabs Melo's arm when he's trying to sip his water...like bro know your damn place.

[SWedd523]

to me it looked like Bouk was trying to keep him away from the ref so he didn't get a tech.

Guess we see what we want to see

[CuseMayne]

Hmmmm...that would actually make sense. I hope that's the case. And you're right...I just haven't been very impressed with Bouk overall. Hopefully he makes the most of these games where Cody and Jalen are out, because we need him to fill in and produce in their absences.

[dakomish23]

Glad the kid had this outing. So much unnecessary hate just b/c of his dad.

And now he’s an all star. Very happy for you guys.

Enjoy this thread

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2032824&hilit=Lamelo#p87318873

[wilson115]

Luka was shook

Read on Twitter

[fatlever]

Read on Twitter

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[luciano-davidwesley]

Read on Twitter

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What an absolute idiot. Red flag

[Liver_Pooty]

Read on Twitter

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What an absolute idiot. Red flag

Lol its really, really, really stupid. But I don't know if I'd call it a red flag.

[SWedd523]

Coach's fault for not controlling that behavior

[LofJ]

All I see on Twitter are LaMelo fans complaining that the organization doesn't prioritize him, he doesn't get enough shots or playing time, that Borrego intentionally stunts his development, etc.

Am I taking crazy pills because I don't think any of that is true. I think he probably could take a few more shots, he definitely needs to work on attacking the basket more, and I think it would be wise to sub Rozier out before LaMelo for defense. But neither of those are egregious issues and I suspect in a year or two LaMelo will 100 percent be the captain of this team. He still has some growing up to do, both on and off the court. He's getting there, but I seriously disagree with just handing young guys everything right out of the gate. I think the organization is developing him pretty well all things considered.

[Snidely FC]

From Rod Boone's Charlotte Observer piece on the IT-Factor's impact on Lamelo:

Among the teaching sessions: Being aware of the gravity of things whenever they have the ball. Different situations call for different approaches.

“Just knowing how important the possession is … obviously we want him to push the pace,” Thomas said, “but there are times where we don’t get things three or four possessions. We’ve got to slow it down. Get us in a set that’s going to get the ball moving side-to-side, then attack downhill. So I think it’s easier for him to relate to me because I’ve been in those situations. So I’m coming from a good place and coming from a place of seeing that before and going through what he’s going to experience for the years to come.

“So I fall back on telling him, just make sure he realizes, ‘OK, let’s slow it down, let’s see things before it happens.’ Obviously, I watch from the sideline, so a lot of times when you are playing you don’t see a lot of things that somebody that’s watching from the sidelines sees. Any time I can give him a pointer or two and tell him what I see it’s only going to benefit him and benefit the team down the line.”

Besides those timeout pep talks and strategy sessions, Thomas is providing a key assist for Ball in another way that’s probably turned out even better than anyone could have anticipated. He’s been teamed in the backcourt with Ball, a surprise wrinkle that’s been effective.

Since initially unveiling that lineup against New Orleans in their first meeting of the season March 11, Hornets coach James Borrego has gone to it at least once a game. It’s something the tandem enjoys, especially Ball.

He’s all-in when it comes to being on the court with Thomas.

“I actually like it,” said Ball, who’s averaging 17.7 points, 7.2 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game in March. “It kind of takes me back to my young ways when my brother used to be on the ball. So, getting off the ball for a little, it’s definitely good.”

In part because it takes the defense’s focus off Ball. He doesn’t have to be the main facilitator. That leaves Ball somewhat out of the opponent’s immediate crosshairs because they can’t concentrate on what he’s doing from the moment the ball hits his hands.

It’s yet another thing the two can discuss in detail.

“For me, when I was in those situations, being off the ball didn’t allow the defense to load up on me,” Thomas said. “So for me, I’m telling him, ’Stay off the ball a little bit. I’ll initiate it and then you are coming full steam ahead on the backside going downhill. And that’s hard to put two guys on him or that’s hard for five guys to watch him while he brings the ball up.

“So it just shows the defense something different and makes his attack something different. That just makes him a little more dynamic just because he’s 6-foot-7, the pace he plays at with the skill set he has. I mean, he’s damn near unguardable when he’s able to do both.”

Thomas even had a film session with Ball when the Hornets were in Oklahoma City for nearly three days prior to their win over the Thunder. That was a big moment for the duo in watching action unfold in real time together.

“He’s got all the talent, so I don’t tell him anything about how to play,” Thomas said. “It’s just taking advantage of every possession, making sure we get a shot at the basket every time, limit our turnovers. One thing, he’s very special with is his pace. You can’t teach his pace. So what I try to remind him of throughout the game is to continue to push the pace, because that wears down on teams whether we are getting stops or not.”

Thomas is fitting in seamlessly and has rapidly become a part of the Hornets’ inner fabric. The speed at which it happened feels unfathomable.

But not to Ball. He had an inkling of the possibility given the Terry Rozier connection.

“I actually could because the respect was already there,” Ball said. “T-Ro knew him before. It’s better when people just have all known you before, so that respect factor is already there. So I feel like all that is there. So it’s just meshing real good.

“Great dude for sure. People like that, you just love to be around, love to soak up all the knowledge. So, yeah it’s been great.”

[Hornet Mania]

All I see on Twitter are LaMelo fans complaining that the organization doesn't prioritize him, he doesn't get enough shots or playing time, that Borrego intentionally stunts his development, etc.

Am I taking crazy pills because I don't think any of that is true. I think he probably could take a few more shots, he definitely needs to work on attacking the basket more, and I think it would be wise to sub Rozier out before LaMelo for defense. But neither of those are egregious issues and I suspect in a year or two LaMelo will 100 percent be the captain of this team. He still has some growing up to do, both on and off the court. He's getting there, but I seriously disagree with just handing young guys everything right out of the gate. I think the organization is developing him pretty well all things considered.

I agree with you, and I've also noticed those comments.

The stans are just obsessed with Melo getting stats above all else, and they don't seem to understand he's only 20. At this point he's doing great meshing with the guys and he's on a path to eventually being the leader of the pack, but no 20yr old could realistically step in and tell Rozier/Miles/Gordo 'I'm the captain now'.

The team has done a good job guiding him down the path to stardom imo, JB has given Melo a light benching a couple times this season but nothing that stunts his development.

[luciano-davidwesley]

From Rod Boone's Charlotte Observer piece on the IT-Factor's impact on Lamelo:

Among the teaching sessions: Being aware of the gravity of things whenever they have the ball. Different situations call for different approaches.

“Just knowing how important the possession is … obviously we want him to push the pace,” Thomas said, “but there are times where we don’t get things three or four possessions. We’ve got to slow it down. Get us in a set that’s going to get the ball moving side-to-side, then attack downhill. So I think it’s easier for him to relate to me because I’ve been in those situations. So I’m coming from a good place and coming from a place of seeing that before and going through what he’s going to experience for the years to come.

“So I fall back on telling him, just make sure he realizes, ‘OK, let’s slow it down, let’s see things before it happens.’ Obviously, I watch from the sideline, so a lot of times when you are playing you don’t see a lot of things that somebody that’s watching from the sidelines sees. Any time I can give him a pointer or two and tell him what I see it’s only going to benefit him and benefit the team down the line.”

Besides those timeout pep talks and strategy sessions, Thomas is providing a key assist for Ball in another way that’s probably turned out even better than anyone could have anticipated. He’s been teamed in the backcourt with Ball, a surprise wrinkle that’s been effective.

Since initially unveiling that lineup against New Orleans in their first meeting of the season March 11, Hornets coach James Borrego has gone to it at least once a game. It’s something the tandem enjoys, especially Ball.

He’s all-in when it comes to being on the court with Thomas.

“I actually like it,” said Ball, who’s averaging 17.7 points, 7.2 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game in March. “It kind of takes me back to my young ways when my brother used to be on the ball. So, getting off the ball for a little, it’s definitely good.”

In part because it takes the defense’s focus off Ball. He doesn’t have to be the main facilitator. That leaves Ball somewhat out of the opponent’s immediate crosshairs because they can’t concentrate on what he’s doing from the moment the ball hits his hands.

It’s yet another thing the two can discuss in detail.

“For me, when I was in those situations, being off the ball didn’t allow the defense to load up on me,” Thomas said. “So for me, I’m telling him, ’Stay off the ball a little bit. I’ll initiate it and then you are coming full steam ahead on the backside going downhill. And that’s hard to put two guys on him or that’s hard for five guys to watch him while he brings the ball up.

“So it just shows the defense something different and makes his attack something different. That just makes him a little more dynamic just because he’s 6-foot-7, the pace he plays at with the skill set he has. I mean, he’s damn near unguardable when he’s able to do both.”

Thomas even had a film session with Ball when the Hornets were in Oklahoma City for nearly three days prior to their win over the Thunder. That was a big moment for the duo in watching action unfold in real time together.

“He’s got all the talent, so I don’t tell him anything about how to play,” Thomas said. “It’s just taking advantage of every possession, making sure we get a shot at the basket every time, limit our turnovers. One thing, he’s very special with is his pace. You can’t teach his pace. So what I try to remind him of throughout the game is to continue to push the pace, because that wears down on teams whether we are getting stops or not.”

Thomas is fitting in seamlessly and has rapidly become a part of the Hornets’ inner fabric. The speed at which it happened feels unfathomable.

But not to Ball. He had an inkling of the possibility given the Terry Rozier connection.

“I actually could because the respect was already there,” Ball said. “T-Ro knew him before. It’s better when people just have all known you before, so that respect factor is already there. So I feel like all that is there. So it’s just meshing real good.

“Great dude for sure. People like that, you just love to be around, love to soak up all the knowledge. So, yeah it’s been great.”

IT seems like a guy who we need to keep around as he is providing some great advice and mentoring to LaMelo.

I also agree JB is not stunting LaMelo, if anything I think JB could be slightly harsher on him at times. LaMelo definitely still does his fair share of silly things out there that would see most young players shunted out of the rotation. Obviously that's not going to happen with LaMelo, but a substitution and few minutes extra benching after a dumb play every now and then is definitely still warranted.