Can we have real talk about LaMelo Ball

Marvin Martian · Post #41 » by **Marvin Martian** » Yesterday 3:03 pm

How is Lamelo talented? He has no post game, no mid range game outside of a floater, and is afraid of contact. Not to mention, not a great defender or rebounder despite being 6'6

He is a 5'10 la fitness guy trapped in the body of an NBA SG

strokerace · Post #42 » by **strokerace** » Yesterday 3:03 pm

Have any of you watched any of his interviews? It's not that he has a low BBIQ. He has a very low IQ in general. I am surprised that he can find his way to the court every day.

sikma42 · Post #43 » by **sikma42** » Yesterday 3:06 pm

strokerace wrote:Have any of you watched any of his interviews? It's not that he has a low BBIQ. He has a very low IQ in general. I am surprised that he can find his way to the court every day.

Weird that Lamelo can see passes and angles that people with very high basketball iq can’t see. I wouldn’t be surprised if Lamelo actually has a high bball iq and high off the charts spatial awareness.

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UcanUwill · Post #44 » by **UcanUwill** » Yesterday 3:08 pm

strokerace wrote:Have any of you watched any of his interviews? It's not that he has a low BBIQ. He has a very low IQ in general. I am surprised that he can find his way to the court every day.

Yes, but I imagine a lot of great players were not very inteligent. Like was it Shawn Marion who was amazed how many countries there were in Olympics? Problem with Ball is that he is 24, but if you just judged his character, you would think he is 14.

UcanUwill · Post #45 » by **UcanUwill** » Yesterday 3:15 pm

sikma42 wrote:
strokerace wrote:Have any of you watched any of his interviews? It's not that he has a low BBIQ. He has a very low IQ in general. I am surprised that he can find his way to the court every day.

Weird that Lamelo can see passes and angles that people with very high basketball iq can’t see. I wouldn’t be surprised if Lamelo actually has a high bball iq and high off the charts spatial awareness.

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There is BBIQ there, but then you see shots he takes where he looks like dumbest guy ever. I really think he just does not care, if he cared he would actually be high IQ playr, but he only cares to look good, so he takes fadeaway 3s, I doubt he cares for anything else or care what people say to him, he is highest paid player on that team and children like his game, why should he listen to anybody? He has to be first 30 ppg scorer in the NBA who would probably be benched completely if he played in Europe under Euro coach. He is unprecedented case, Hornets is just a clown franchise they enabled all this, and we have Hornets fans here who defend that guy when he makes mockery of their teams efforts. I feel bad for their coaches.

Lamelo was one of the most unpleasant, spoiled people to ever play in my country, People excused him that he was 16, like 16 year olds do not have basic manners and respect for others? Him and his shoplifter brother is great inside in what hope they grow up in. I could let it go but 8 years later, he has not grown at all, guy laughs all the way to the bank.

balrog27 · Post #46 » by **balrog27** » Yesterday 3:29 pm

I dont think I've ever watched a full game of melo playing, only highlights lmao.

thelead · Post #47 » by **thelead** » Yesterday 3:42 pm

His real issue is his low IQ/maturity. There is so much talent trapped in that unparented 10 year old brain.

Post #48 » by **Capn'O** » Yesterday 4:09 pm

It's weird because his brother is the opposite. Great glue guy.

Frank Dux · Post #49 » by **Frank Dux** » Yesterday 4:19 pm

thelead wrote:His real issue is his low IQ/maturity. There is so much talent trapped in that unparented 10 year old brain.

This. I’ve been watching him since he was in 8th grade. What always struck me about him is how naturally gifted he was. I don’t use this term often, but he was pretty much a basketball prodigy who was mishandled throughout high school.

Lavar did him a serious disservice moving him around so much through his formative years. Should’ve never messed around in Lithuania after pulling him out of Chino Hills. Then there was the JBA stint, and then the move to Spire all while still in HS. Seems like any time there was any adversity, Lavar moved him instead of sticking it out. Lavar will claim LaMelo’s development was a success- as he’s getting supermax money. But I think under the guidance of someone else, LaMelo could’ve been a special player in the NBA.

1993Playoffs · Post #50 » by **1993Playoffs** » Yesterday 4:33 pm

I had high hopes for him (and JA and Zion) so disappointed

Post #51 » by **Senor Chang** » Yesterday 4:39 pm

I have been calling it since the draft in 2020 that Haliburton would have the better career and so far ive been right about that. Lamelo is like Zach Lavine. Super talented but for some reason he doesn’t win.

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Post #52 » by **tsherkin** » Yesterday 4:41 pm

Mr Peanut wrote:That's a laughable statement. The Cade All-Star, All-NBA 3rd team, 7th in MVP voting and leading his team to the playoffs last season should've put the Cade vs LaMelo debate to bed.

Detroit's roster is much better... and there is still the difference in health which I noted

The Hornets were the 24th-ranked D and the 2nd-worst O in the league last year, but in the 47 games Ball played, they were actually winning more even with the dearth of any talent around him.

It isn't a laughable statement. It's valid to make a pro-Cade argument, and availability is still a very relevant consideration, but it's worth noting that there is a large difference in roster/organization quality between the two and that health is the larger difference between them individually.

MMyhre · Post #53 » by **MMyhre** » Yesterday 4:57 pm

He was rank 15 to 39 in the league in 4 advanced stats in 24-25 on offense. I think he looks good, he just isn't that serious about the game? Thinking Basketball said he had a +8 on/off difference in one of their metrics, so he clearly adds enough positive offensive impact despite his shot selection and defense.

It's also not like the Hornets have a world beater team, he was with Sexton, Kalkbrenner, Knueppel and Bridges for most of the last game. Two rookies, a decent role player and an offense only sixth man with poor defensive impact.

If Miller stays healthy they can make the playoffs off their offense, and use players like Diabate for defense. The problem is all 3 of their main scorers are bad defenders, so they need to lock in. Will they? Not sure. And I haven't seen Kalkbrenner play so I don't know how impactful he is, but he is too slow on the perimeter to be decent all around.

thelead · Post #54 » by **thelead** » Yesterday 5:02 pm

Frank Dux wrote:
thelead wrote:His real issue is his low IQ/maturity. There is so much talent trapped in that unparented 10 year old brain.

This. I’ve been watching him since he was in 8th grade. What always struck me about him is how naturally gifted he was. I don’t use this term often, but he was pretty much a basketball prodigy who was mishandled throughout high school.

Lavar did him a serious disservice moving him around so much through his formative years. Should’ve never messed around in Lithuania after pulling him out of Chino Hills. Then there was the JBA stint, and then the move to Spire all while still in HS. Seems like any time there was any adversity, Lavar moved him instead of sticking it out. Lavar will claim LaMelo’s development was a success- as he’s getting supermax money. But I think under the guidance of someone else, LaMelo could’ve been a special player in the NBA.

It’s quite sad. He really has the talent to be an MVP-level player.

Pointgod · Post #55 » by **Pointgod** » Yesterday 5:05 pm

DusterBuster wrote:He legit might be the best worst player I've ever seen.

He's so insanely talented, but has the BBIQ of a **** brick. He can do almost anything on the court, but is so **** lazy and selfish that it negates literally every single shred of talent he has.

Convince me I'm wrong that he's not the least winning player I've ever seen in 30 years of watching the NBA. Give me a reason why any team should want him.

The Hornets - IMO - should trade him for a used washing machine and a 2032 4th round pick tomorrow if they can so their franchise can move on. I don't care what points he can put up, those points absolutely cannibalize any semblance of a team game.

Me trying to come up with anything to defend Lamelo….

canada_dry · Post #56 » by **canada_dry** » Yesterday 5:35 pm

Yeah hes not serious.

The shot selection and decision making late in games continues to be a joke.

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Marvin Martian · Post #57 » by **Marvin Martian** » Yesterday 5:36 pm

thelead wrote:
Frank Dux wrote:
thelead wrote:His real issue is his low IQ/maturity. There is so much talent trapped in that unparented 10 year old brain.

This. I’ve been watching him since he was in 8th grade. What always struck me about him is how naturally gifted he was. I don’t use this term often, but he was pretty much a basketball prodigy who was mishandled throughout high school.

Lavar did him a serious disservice moving him around so much through his formative years. Should’ve never messed around in Lithuania after pulling him out of Chino Hills. Then there was the JBA stint, and then the move to Spire all while still in HS. Seems like any time there was any adversity, Lavar moved him instead of sticking it out. Lavar will claim LaMelo’s development was a success- as he’s getting supermax money. But I think under the guidance of someone else, LaMelo could’ve been a special player in the NBA.

It’s quite sad. He really has the talent to be an MVP-level player.

This has to be trolling

DaPessimist · Post #58 » by **DaPessimist** » Yesterday 5:44 pm

Incredibly immature, which can lead to impressive and entertaining moments on the court, but will never lead to team success. There's still a chance he matures into an adult and becomes a real basketball player though. Give it a few more years.

davidv2001 · Post #59 » by **davidv2001** » Yesterday 5:48 pm

jbk1234 wrote:At some point the Hornets need to hire an assistant coach that LeMelo actually respects and will listen to. Make LeMelo part of the interview process with the final candidates and hope for the best. If that doesn't work, it's probably time to move on.

The Hornets should start by adding a few veterans to their roster that can help teach all their young guys how to play winning basketball. Miles Bridges, an injured Grant Williams, Collin Sexton and Mason Plumlee are the veterans on that roster. Bridges is a scumbag off the court, and while Sexton plays really hard, he’s not someone I would look to for veteran leadership.

DusterBuster · Post #60 » by **DusterBuster** » Yesterday 5:51 pm

Pointgod wrote:
DusterBuster wrote:He legit might be the best worst player I've ever seen.

He's so insanely talented, but has the BBIQ of a **** brick. He can do almost anything on the court, but is so **** lazy and selfish that it negates literally every single shred of talent he has.

Convince me I'm wrong that he's not the least winning player I've ever seen in 30 years of watching the NBA. Give me a reason why any team should want him.

The Hornets - IMO - should trade him for a used washing machine and a 2032 4th round pick tomorrow if they can so their franchise can move on. I don't care what points he can put up, those points absolutely cannibalize any semblance of a team game.

Me trying to come up with anything to defend Lamelo….

I'll try to argue against my own point...

For one, I give credit to those who place a significant amount of blame on the Hornets roster. I'll even take some blame that I didn't know just how god awful their roster truly was until I making this thread.

Like, it's a truly trash roster, they're maybe 4 players deep before that roster just goes into absolute g-league territory. What exactly is that FO doing? It'a almost impressive how little they have collected.

So, I give some credit to those faulting the roster, it's a tall order to do much with a roster THAT bad.

But my rebuttal is that I've seen it done before. The ones that are truly great can lift up sub-par or even just flat out bad rosters.

Someone mentioned it earlier... He's an influencer masquerading as a basketball player. He's playing his game to the highlight clip TikTok generation vs actually to win games.