Lonzo Ball

[No-Man]

Seriously I get the, spectacular passer, big Guard out of Cal,but whoever that really thinks that the Kidd comp makes sense outside of that surface needs to check their way of thinking

[Supreme-]

did someone just compare him to a poormans rajon rondo?? LOL

he has steph curry range, can play defense, B+ athleticism, and his bb iq is off the charts.

yes, his numbers didnt look great against kentucky, but he outplayed fox down the stretch. huge steal followed by a dagger three.

havent seen him really attack the basket, but i have no qualms that he will be able to at the next level

So we should ignore the entire game and state that Ball outplayed Fox down the stretch because Malik Monk threw a ball at his leg and he hit a three? I'm not saying that De'Aaron Fox is better than Lonzo Ball, but Hamilton and Leaf won that game for UCLA.

where did i state that we should ignore the entire game? and monk threw the ball at his leg? go re-watch the play, he read monk like a book. paint whatever narrative you want, he made the big plays that contributed to uclas win

[ItsThatEasy]

One major thing I have noticed about Ball is the offense doesn't play to his strengths much. How often do you see them run the PNR? Not much. Its mostly dribble handoffs. I think his biggest stretch will come late season when defenses crack down on them and they're forced to run more PNRs because he's the perfect player to run them.

Why do you think that more P&R's will benefit Ball? The few occasions I've seen him do it he nearly lost his handle and his lack of a pull-up jumper makes him easier to defend. Don't think that UCLA will change their playstyle this season, they will continue to outrun their opponents and use off-ball screens to score in the half court.

Lack of a pull up jumper? Maybe from midrange but he's money from deep. And I think the PNR will benefit him because his biggest positive is the angles he sees on his passes. Here's the closest I can find to stats about his PNR possessions:

Paired with Leaf, UCLA can either pick and pop (50 percent on 18 attempts), or let Leaf roll to the rim (1.18 points per roll, according to Synergy Sports).

I'm not sure exactly what his overall numbers are but it fit what I've seen - mainly that the Ball-Leaf PNR is nasty even though it's not ran often.

Without a decent pull up he won't be a PnR stud, no matter how good his 3 ball is.

[gaspar]

One major thing I have noticed about Ball is the offense doesn't play to his strengths much. How often do you see them run the PNR? Not much. Its mostly dribble handoffs. I think his biggest stretch will come late season when defenses crack down on them and they're forced to run more PNRs because he's the perfect player to run them.

Why do you think that more P&R's will benefit Ball? The few occasions I've seen him do it he nearly lost his handle and his lack of a pull-up jumper makes him easier to defend. Don't think that UCLA will change their playstyle this season, they will continue to outrun their opponents and use off-ball screens to score in the half court.

+1

I highly doubt that a guy who doesn't (can't?) penetrate and can't shoot off the dribble will be a great PNR guard in the NBA.

[E-Balla]

Why do you think that more P&R's will benefit Ball? The few occasions I've seen him do it he nearly lost his handle and his lack of a pull-up jumper makes him easier to defend. Don't think that UCLA will change their playstyle this season, they will continue to outrun their opponents and use off-ball screens to score in the half court.

Lack of a pull up jumper? Maybe from midrange but he's money from deep. And I think the PNR will benefit him because his biggest positive is the angles he sees on his passes. Here's the closest I can find to stats about his PNR possessions:

Paired with Leaf, UCLA can either pick and pop (50 percent on 18 attempts), or let Leaf roll to the rim (1.18 points per roll, according to Synergy Sports).

I'm not sure exactly what his overall numbers are but it fit what I've seen - mainly that the Ball-Leaf PNR is nasty even though it's not ran often.

Without a decent pull up he won't be a PnR stud, no matter how good his 3 ball is.

He has a decent pull up jumper from 3. That stepback 3 has gone in regularly and it's not wise to go under on his screens. I think y'all need to watch him more because he's looked great on PNRs when they do run them.

[ItsThatEasy]

Lack of a pull up jumper? Maybe from midrange but he's money from deep. And I think the PNR will benefit him because his biggest positive is the angles he sees on his passes. Here's the closest I can find to stats about his PNR possessions:



I'm not sure exactly what his overall numbers are but it fit what I've seen - mainly that the Ball-Leaf PNR is nasty even though it's not ran often.

Without a decent pull up he won't be a PnR stud, no matter how good his 3 ball is.

He has a decent pull up jumper from 3. That stepback 3 has gone in regularly and it's not wise to go under on his screens. I think y'all need to watch him more because he's looked great on PNRs when they do run them.

Even Steph is forced into the mid-range pull up every now and then. His step back 3 should not be the strong suit of his scoring PnR game. He hasn't shown the ability to hit the floater or mid-range jumper consistently and his finishing in traffic isn't all that great either. As of now he's either hitting a deep 3, cutting or scoring in transition. Scoring wise half court game is simply not NBA ready. People had the same complaints about Simmons in the half court, though he was much better finishing through contact and showed flashes of a post game.

[E-Balla]

Without a decent pull up he won't be a PnR stud, no matter how good his 3 ball is.

He has a decent pull up jumper from 3. That stepback 3 has gone in regularly and it's not wise to go under on his screens. I think y'all need to watch him more because he's looked great on PNRs when they do run them.

Even Steph is forced into the mid-range pull up every now and then. His step back 3 should not be the strong suit of his scoring PnR game. He hasn't shown the ability to hit the floater or mid-range jumper consistently and his finishing in traffic isn't all that great either. As of now he's either hitting a deep 3, cutting or scoring in transition. Scoring wise half court game is simply not NBA ready. People had the same complaints about Simmons in the half court, though he was much better finishing through contact and showed flashes of a post game.

Steph isn't really forced into midrange 2s often he takes them when open because he makes them. That said I get what you mean but as deep as he shoots you have to blanket him and that's blow by layup central unless the D collapses and he's a great drive and kick guy. If his stepback 3 is legit everything else opens up scoring wise. If not he needs to learn how to get creative with his handles or get his shot off. One major positive is that he knows how to draw fouls when in the crowded paint (just like Simmons did).

[Duke4life831]

Ball definitely needs a floater. That to me is the glaring hole in his offense right now. Its definitely a shot that I dont have to big of doubts that he can add to his arsenal. The only guy in this draft I think is going to be a better PnR PG is going to be DSJ, hes an elite PnR player.

[EMG518]

Starting to think he may wind up going #1.

There is literally no way he goes ahead of Fultz.

I don't know, he looks like he could be a game changer. I would never say never.

[Kolkmania]

did someone just compare him to a poormans rajon rondo?? LOL

he has steph curry range, can play defense, B+ athleticism, and his bb iq is off the charts.

yes, his numbers didnt look great against kentucky, but he outplayed fox down the stretch. huge steal followed by a dagger three.

havent seen him really attack the basket, but i have no qualms that he will be able to at the next level

So we should ignore the entire game and state that Ball outplayed Fox down the stretch because Malik Monk threw a ball at his leg and he hit a three? I'm not saying that De'Aaron Fox is better than Lonzo Ball, but Hamilton and Leaf won that game for UCLA.

where did i state that we should ignore the entire game? and monk threw the ball at his leg? go re-watch the play, he read monk like a book. paint whatever narrative you want, he made the big plays that contributed to uclas win

Oh sure Lonzo Ball did the right thing, but to me it was more a display of Monk's flaws as a playmaker than a great read from Ball. Everybody saw that Monk was going to bounce pass that ball three seconds before he actually did that.
Well, because two good plays from Ball don't negate the concerning signs he showed during that entire game. The only times he drived to the rim, he was defended by Derek Willis or Bam Adebayo and even then he was very hesitant. I'm not sure why two/three good plays in the last 8 minutes is outplaying someone and worth mentioning when he had a disappointing game.

I'm coming off a as a huge "hater", but I'm not. I love Lonzo Ball. He's the kind of player that makes everybody better with his BB IQ and an absolute winner. Although, so far he's not showing me he's close to first pick worthy like some guys here mention. To me he's a complementary player instead of player you build around.

[SelfishPlayer]

That Kentucky game was very telling. When he went up against NBA level athletes they were capable of crowding him preventing his unorthodox pull up and step back 3's. But it also revealed that he is unwilling to be a diva by forcing the issue, instead allowing the game to come to him. As for the Jason Kidd comparisons, I haven't seen Ball throw one handed passes off of the dribble with his non shooting hand like Kidd. From what I have witnessed Ball pretty much passes with his shooting hand or both. The ability to pass with either hand made Kidd a threat for the assist at all times from all angles without the need to first put the ball in his dominant hand or both.

[madmaxmedia]

Funny there have been a lot of articles blowing him up the last week or so, but he has not shown a lot the last couple of games.

[peachbucket]

That Kentucky game was very telling. When he went up against NBA level athletes they were capable of crowding him preventing his unorthodox pull up and step back 3's. But it also revealed that he is unwilling to be a diva by forcing the issue, instead allowing the game to come to him. As for the Jason Kidd comparisons, I haven't seen Ball throw one handed passes off of the dribble with his non shooting hand like Kidd. From what I have witnessed Ball pretty much passes with his shooting hand or both. The ability to pass with either hand made Kidd a threat for the assist at all times from all angles without the need to first put the ball in his dominant hand or both.

This is a really great point about the J Kidd comp. I will have to watch Ball more closely. Could Magic or Nash make the pass off the dribble with their off hand?

[Bakomagic]

That Kentucky game was very telling. When he went up against NBA level athletes they were capable of crowding him preventing his unorthodox pull up and step back 3's. But it also revealed that he is unwilling to be a diva by forcing the issue, instead allowing the game to come to him. As for the Jason Kidd comparisons, I haven't seen Ball throw one handed passes off of the dribble with his non shooting hand like Kidd. From what I have witnessed Ball pretty much passes with his shooting hand or both. The ability to pass with either hand made Kidd a threat for the assist at all times from all angles without the need to first put the ball in his dominant hand or both.

He's made those passes in three of the seven games I've seen this year. Off the dribble left hand pass across the court to shooters in the corner.

Watch the Lonzo Ball Highlights from the Portland, Cal State Northridge, and Kentucky games.

He can make any pass you need him to make he is a generational talent when it comes to passing. There are limiys to his game but passing is not one of them.

[Bakomagic]

Funny there have been a lot of articles blowing him up the last week or so, but he has not shown a lot the last couple of games.

He had 19,7,and 4 in a blowout win against mich

And 13, 10, and 7 in a even bigger blow out game against UCSB

Shooting 4-7 from three then 3-6 from three. He's been pretty consistent all year doesn't put up huge scoring numbers but anytime UCLA needs a big bucket he gets a layup or hits a step back jumper from deep.



But I do agree The Hype for him lately has been crazy.

[bigboi]

That Kentucky game was very telling. When he went up against NBA level athletes they were capable of crowding him preventing his unorthodox pull up and step back 3's. But it also revealed that he is unwilling to be a diva by forcing the issue, instead allowing the game to come to him. As for the Jason Kidd comparisons, I haven't seen Ball throw one handed passes off of the dribble with his non shooting hand like Kidd. From what I have witnessed Ball pretty much passes with his shooting hand or both. The ability to pass with either hand made Kidd a threat for the assist at all times from all angles without the need to first put the ball in his dominant hand or both.

He's made those passes in three of the seven games I've seen this year. Off the dribble left hand pass across the court to shooters in the corner.

Watch the Lonzo Ball Highlights from the Portland, Cal State Northridge, and Kentucky games.

He can make any pass you need him to make he is a generational talent when it comes to passing. There are limiys to his game but passing is not one of them.

Generational? Exaggerating. D'angelo Russell was once a generational passer on this board too smh

[Bakomagic]

That Kentucky game was very telling. When he went up against NBA level athletes they were capable of crowding him preventing his unorthodox pull up and step back 3's. But it also revealed that he is unwilling to be a diva by forcing the issue, instead allowing the game to come to him. As for the Jason Kidd comparisons, I haven't seen Ball throw one handed passes off of the dribble with his non shooting hand like Kidd. From what I have witnessed Ball pretty much passes with his shooting hand or both. The ability to pass with either hand made Kidd a threat for the assist at all times from all angles without the need to first put the ball in his dominant hand or both.

He's made those passes in three of the seven games I've seen this year. Off the dribble left hand pass across the court to shooters in the corner.

Watch the Lonzo Ball Highlights from the Portland, Cal State Northridge, and Kentucky games.

He can make any pass you need him to make he is a generational talent when it comes to passing. There are limiys to his game but passing is not one of them.

Generational? Exaggerating. D'angelo Russell was once a generational passer on this board too smh

It less of an exaggeration and more of a prediction. We won't be able to determine if a player is/was a generational talent until well into his professional career. You can't exaggerate something that can't be proven right or wrong.


do you feel that D. Russell passing ability compares with Lonzo Ball's ? I don't think it's close.

[TKainZero]

Ucla has some really exciting players

Ball of course
TJ leaf has been playing fantastic as well
Hamilton I fell in love with last season
Even holiday will probably be drafted

Ucla all the way

[Jaisy]

Lonzo is a type of player that team will be build around him. Mavs should draft him. He is a game changer and he is showing up a leadership since hes been in high school.

[jonjames]

He's made those passes in three of the seven games I've seen this year. Off the dribble left hand pass across the court to shooters in the corner.

Watch the Lonzo Ball Highlights from the Portland, Cal State Northridge, and Kentucky games.

He can make any pass you need him to make he is a generational talent when it comes to passing. There are limiys to his game but passing is not one of them.

Generational? Exaggerating. D'angelo Russell was once a generational passer on this board too smh

It less of an exaggeration and more of a prediction. We won't be able to determine if a player is/was a generational talent until well into his professional career. You can't exaggerate something that can't be proven right or wrong.


do you feel that D. Russell passing ability compares with Lonzo Ball's ? I don't think it's close.

I think they are pretty much on the same level. Russell has impeccable timing on his passes and can really thread the needle between defenders. lonzo ball has a more pass first mentality and makes the game look easy. He looks like he's a couple of plays ahead of defense always looking ahead for the easy baskets for his teammates.