Ball Don't Lie: The LaMelo Ball Thread

[KembaWalker]

For the record, Murray for SA had an equally crap if not worse game for SA, is 5 years older, and has an actual competent coach and isn't getting 5% of the flack that LaMelo gets

[Rich4114]

Out of all of the things we can complain about, LaMelo Ball is the last thing. Where were our two highest paid players yesterday? One was planted on the bench in street clothes as usual and the other was bricking shots left and right trying to be the hero. LaMelo wasn’t clean, but NOBODY helped him out yesterday except PJ and Trezz, but coach figured it made sense to go back to the things that weren’t working.

As others have said, LaMelo is 20 years old putting up historical accolades. We now need to figure out how to surround him with a supporting cast and guys who have an elite skill in supporting areas like rebounding or defense.

[KembaWalker]

Trust me, when LaMelo is coming up on his max or supermax or whatever we will have to pony up to keep him, I'll be the first to trash him if he keeps having these postseason performances

[amcoolio]

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[KembaWalker]

yeah I never bought a Melo jersey because it was obvious he was never staying at 2

[SWedd523]

For the record, Murray for SA had an equally crap if not worse game for SA, is 5 years older, and has an actual competent coach and isn't getting 5% of the flack that LaMelo gets

Are people hyping that guy like he has future Top 10 player potential?

You don't get to invite the hype, and the expectations that come along with it, and then complain when it's time to come due.

[SWedd523]

https://sideaction.com/nba/lamelo-ball-caught-smoking-a-blunt-in-4k-ahead-of-hornets-play-in-game/

I don't necessarily believe this was filmed yesterday, regardless, how do we feel about this?

No one should be surprised that players get high before games. I'm more annoyed about the fact that it's more evidence about the immaturity. Why would you allow yourself getting filmed?

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Literally no **** that he's smoking

Filming himself doing it shows a high level of immaturity though

[BigSlam]

https://sideaction.com/nba/lamelo-ball-caught-smoking-a-blunt-in-4k-ahead-of-hornets-play-in-game/

I don't necessarily believe this was filmed yesterday, regardless, how do we feel about this?

I couldn't give a toss if he enjoys smoking weed, just like I couldn't give a toss if he enjoys a beer.

Just don't do either before a game (which I seriously doubt happened).

[BigSlam]

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Then submit the request to the league before the deadline this year dumb-dumb.

Stop bitching about it. You've had 2 opportunities to do something about it.

[BigSlam]

I actually feel really good about Melo, even after his bad game last night.

I was thinking about it - he's putting up these numbers that would realistically have some thinking he might have hit his ceiling already. I mean, 20/7/8 on 43/39/87 are pretty stunning numbers. How much better can he get?

But there is still SO much more room for improvement:
Stop the cheap fouls.
Remove some of the questionable shots (like 8 seconds to go in the half!!).
Stop cheating on D.
Stop hunting rebounds.
Stop hunting for backcourt steals off opposing teams defensive rebounds.
Stop the needless turnovers.
Be actively engaged and play angry.
Get stronger.

Just address a few of those things and he'll be awesome, and the fact he still has the opportunity to address them means he no where close to his ceiling.

And like Fats said, once he starts to figure out how to actually impact the game for all 48 mins....look out!

[KembaWalker]

wish Jay Hernandez would teach him the Kemba head snap
that ish was worth at least 2 free throws a game by itself

[fatlever]

All of those things you're asking lamelo to stop doing seem to be completely baked into his DNA though. No pun intended on using the word baked LOL.

Is lamelo mature enough or willing enough to change these things you mention in order to take the next leap from Star to Superstar? I don't think anyone here questions his ability to be a superstar. And I don't think anyone questions his work ethic or passion. We all know he will get better, he will get stronger... but, is there a ceiling on his career as a result of some of his maturity / personality?

I think it's a fair question, but not something to be overly concerned about at this point. First of all, let's just hope and pray he sticks around long enough for a second contract with us before he inevitably tries to force the move to a bigger Market. And if he's making big money and still doing some of the stupid s*** .....

Personality wise I'm trying to think of a superstar that is the most similar to lamelo in the history of the league. The closest comparison I can think of is Dwight Howard... I don't mean that as an insult, but more as Dwight was always this guy who was joking around always looked like he was having a blast, never looked like he took life too seriously excetera. But also a guy as he grew older seem to never grow out of some of the immature habits. Will that be lamelo? He certainly is not LeBron, Jordan, Kobe like in his personality, and that's okay.

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[fatlever]

wish Jay Hernandez would teach him the Kemba head snap
that ish was worth at least 2 free throws a game by itself

Getting to the free-throw line more, the finishing thru contact, finishing at The Rim, drawing fouls, these all have to be major areas of focus in the offseason. In addition to continuing to add weight and hopefully gain a better understanding on the defensive end.

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[KembaWalker]

His interviews are actually more painful than MKGs though I'm not convinced he doesn't have some kind of speech impediment himself. I'm no speech therapist but there's something concerning about a person that 95% of their vocalization is zoomer filler phrases

[fatlever]

and it begins... ESPN wont stop until melo is in a big market. pure click bait bs

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[Liver_Pooty]

and it begins... ESPN wont stop until melo is in a big market. pure click bait bs

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Watched that live. 3 years away and it's already begun. **** ridiculous

[MPM]

and it begins... ESPN wont stop until melo is in a big market. pure click bait bs

Read on Twitter

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I hadn't watched anything other than live sports on ESPN for years until last night. Holy hell - I caught 30 minutes of pre-game and I'm far, far dumber for it. Between singing and dancing for Draft Kings, mock outrage, positioning absolutely everything as a debate, and just the utter lack of wit, insight and intellect, I felt like my brain had been raped.

I know I'm late to the game, but I now fully get the ESPN hate. All this to say, the LaMelo stuff comes as zero surprise - outside of actual games, ESPN appears to be a steaming pile of nonsensical and speculative garbage.

[KembaWalker]

i dont think its any secret that we are going to have a long road to retaining LaMelo, even on the little bit you get out of him directly its never sounded particularly good. in his post season interview today one of the few things he clearly elucidated was that he felt like he'd been lied to by the organization multiple times about his jersey number situation and that its made him pretty unhappy. you can look at the recent Slam article where he says he doesn't feel like he's really been given the keys, no big man etc. Lavar being unhappy with how Gelo gets treated on the Swarm etc.

the mass of Charlotteans on twitter handwringing about smoking a blunt arent doing us any favors either. such a lame city, always 10 years behind, just like the Hornets

[luciano-davidwesley]

I actually feel really good about Melo, even after his bad game last night.

I was thinking about it - he's putting up these numbers that would realistically have some thinking he might have hit his ceiling already. I mean, 20/7/8 on 43/39/87 are pretty stunning numbers. How much better can he get?

But there is still SO much more room for improvement:
Stop the cheap fouls.
Remove some of the questionable shots (like 8 seconds to go in the half!!).
Stop cheating on D.
Stop hunting rebounds.
Stop hunting for backcourt steals off opposing teams defensive rebounds.
Stop the needless turnovers.
Be actively engaged and play angry.
Get stronger.

Just address a few of those things and he'll be awesome, and the fact he still has the opportunity to address them means he no where close to his ceiling.

And like Fats said, once he starts to figure out how to actually impact the game for all 48 mins....look out!

And take pride on defense. You have the tools.

[Liver_Pooty]

i dont think its any secret that we are going to have a long road to retaining LaMelo, even on the little bit you get out of him directly its never sounded particularly good. in his post season interview today one of the few things he clearly elucidated was that he felt like he'd been lied to by the organization multiple times about his jersey number situation and that its made him pretty unhappy. you can look at the recent Slam article where he says he doesn't feel like he's really been given the keys, no big man etc. Lavar being unhappy with how Gelo gets treated on the Swarm etc.

the mass of Charlotteans on twitter handwringing about smoking a blunt arent doing us any favors either. such a lame city, always 10 years behind, just like the Hornets

I don't think anyone really cares about him smoking a blunt. Him videoing himself smoking it like he's a 13 year old is more annoying than anything.

His brother is just awful.

I don't know what else the organization can do to make him feel like he has the keys if he truly feels that way. Hopefully we get a big man in the offseason.