Rookie Play, Highlights & Discussion

[pro24]

I'm going to go against the consensus here and predict that Lamelo will indeed be a top ten player. His greatest assets are what many of you criticize him for. He's very laid back, relaxed, so no moment will be too big for him, he will bounce back better from failures. He's very unique/ gifted the way he processes the game. He's like a Salvador Dali on the court and as he reigns that in and also gets physically stronger, into the 220 lbs, he's going to be a monster.

[NO-KG-AI]

Props.

Lonzo went for 29/11/9 or sometning in his second pro game, so I probably wouldn’t start boasting yet.


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[PlatinumState]

Im suprised how efficient he's been. Shooting 45% from 2, 53% from 3 and 83% from the line for the season

[Ayt]

Can we crown him as the GOAT Ball or do we need to wait?

[lautreamont]

Some people think he will be another Jason Williams but his ceiling is obviously higher than that. It all depends on how hard he works to improve his game.

[TheSheriff]

Im suprised how efficient he's been. Shooting 45% from 2, 53% from 3 and 83% from the line for the season

Before last night, he was rather inefficient, shooting 33% with a 50% FT%. He has taken six free throws in his career. If he misses his next free throw he becomes an 71% career Free throw shooter.

[TheSheriff]

Has he been called the GOAT yet by a teammate yet? If not he is still lagging behind Payton Pritchard.

[art_tatum]

Im suprised how efficient he's been. Shooting 45% from 2, 53% from 3 and 83% from the line for the season

Before last night, he was rather inefficient, shooting 33% with a 50% FT%. He has taken six free throws in his career. If he misses his next free throw he becomes an 71% career Free throw shooter.

That's why these games don't really say much, sample size is too small. You have to rely on the eye test. We will get a better idea of lamelo statistically half way through the season

[kiwinbafan05]

Can we crown him as the GOAT Ball or do we need to wait?

Hell no. LaVar is the GOAT Ball; he can beat Michael Jordan one-on-one.

[PrinceH]

I like him better than Lonzo already, he's more bouncy, plays with more freedom, sometimes when Zo plays he looks like a robot out there

[KingDavid]

This is about a rookie, so I'm going to merge it to the appropriate thread. Understandable thread after all the overreaction to previous poor shooting. Good on LMAO to turn it around.

[XTC]

Y’all told me LaMelo Ball was garbage...

Kid CLEARLY has an IT factor to his game. He’s raw AF, but you can see what makes him special and why he’s potentially a future allstar.

[Hornet Mania]

The best part about Ball's performance last night was that he was having a positive impact even before he started scoring. He was fighting for offensive rebounds and tipping the ball out to create extra possessions, being pesky on defense and he kept the ball moving so others could shine as well. Then his shot started falling and it got really fun.

I wasn't a fan of the pick but if he can keep doing the little things, keeps up the relentless effort and his shot continues to be solid he's going to be a lot better than many expected.

[lamscott]

The best part about Ball's performance last night was that he was having a positive impact even before he started scoring. He was fighting for offensive rebounds and tipping the ball out to create extra possessions, being pesky on defense and he kept the ball moving so others could shine as well. Then his shot started falling and it got really fun.

I wasn't a fan of the pick but if he can keep doing the little things, keeps up the relentless effort and his shot continues to be solid he's going to be a lot better than many expected.

Questions. Lonzo came into the league weak af. Like he wold miss layups because he was getting bumped off. I haven't watched Lamelo enough, but is that the same?

Lonzo's rebounding has also been good as well.

Lamelo seems to be a better Lonzo with less defense, better passing,way tigher handles, and an "it" factor.

[KembaWalker]

Lamelo and lonzo are so different as players that it's not worth the effort to compare them

[whatchaknow]

The best part about Ball's performance last night was that he was having a positive impact even before he started scoring. He was fighting for offensive rebounds and tipping the ball out to create extra possessions, being pesky on defense and he kept the ball moving so others could shine as well. Then his shot started falling and it got really fun.

I wasn't a fan of the pick but if he can keep doing the little things, keeps up the relentless effort and his shot continues to be solid he's going to be a lot better than many expected.

Questions. Lonzo came into the league weak af. Like he wold miss layups because he was getting bumped off. I haven't watched Lamelo enough, but is that the same?

Lonzo's rebounding has also been good as well.

Lamelo seems to be a better Lonzo with less defense, better passing,way tigher handles, and an "it" factor.

I actually like both the ball brothers, I think lonzo has been drug through the mud all because of his dad and being picked number 2. I still think he’s capable of being the 3-4 best player on a good team. With melo the only thing I worry about is how much he will value possessions. I love the flashy passes but he’s played such a bad style of basketball before he got to the league. So hopefully his bbiq will be high and he will value winning basketball. He’s just so smooth I think people will see him and think he doesn’t play hard but I haven’t seen that to be the case. Just hope he keeps working and we keep phasing out his dad lol

[Hornet Mania]

The best part about Ball's performance last night was that he was having a positive impact even before he started scoring. He was fighting for offensive rebounds and tipping the ball out to create extra possessions, being pesky on defense and he kept the ball moving so others could shine as well. Then his shot started falling and it got really fun.

I wasn't a fan of the pick but if he can keep doing the little things, keeps up the relentless effort and his shot continues to be solid he's going to be a lot better than many expected.

Questions. Lonzo came into the league weak af. Like he wold miss layups because he was getting bumped off. I haven't watched Lamelo enough, but is that the same?

Lonzo's rebounding has also been good as well.

Lamelo seems to be a better Lonzo with less defense, better passing,way tigher handles, and an "it" factor.

You've got a good read on him, imo.

He's so skinny right now it's comical how easily he gets pushed around, he fights hard on the boards and gets ragdolled regularly but I love the effort and the fact he doesn't get discouraged and keeps at it.

His lack of weight/strength also makes his drives less effective than they theoretically will be when he adds mass and muscle. He has good finishing ability, significantly better than Lonzo (who I also like as a player fwiw), and soft touch but finishing through contact is tough for a skinny teen regardless of skill. Getting vet calls will also help him, he got fouled on four drives that I could count last night but only got two calls. I don't point that out to complain, but simply as an example of another factor that may make him more efficient with time.

His defense is worlds better than I expected. Lonzo is much further ahead, and was better as a rookie too, but Melo's effort is high and his instincts are great. He gets tons of deflections and he does seem to have a high IQ in terms of knowing what the offense is trying to do, but his eagerness to help attack the ball gets him out of position at times. The weight/strength deficiencies crop up here too, if a big guard can get him 1-on-1 he's toast because he just gets bodied into whatever spot the offensive player wants. I'm actually very optimistic about his eventual defensive potential given his high effort, I was expecting him to be one of the worst defenders in the league and that surprisingly does not appear to be the case even at age 19. If he keeps fighting and gains experience with organized team defense he can be a plus player on D.

His handle is definitely tighter than Lonzo's, their passing ability is probably a wash but Melo just has more pizzazz and endless confidence. Lonzo can sometimes fall back and seem uncertain, Melo seems to never doubt himself for a moment even when had awful games like his first outing. IMO he's a better passer, but only because he keeps the pressure going and never falls back. His first step is better than Lonzo's as well, or at least it has looked that way thus far. He hasn't had too many issues getting in the paint and he has some nifty entry passes to cutters when he gets in among the trees in addition to kick-outs.

The shooting is the crazy part, at least to me. I expected him to be putrid, and Lonzo certainly was at first. Only four games in Melo has been a solid shooter. Small sample size is a valid reason to be wary of early returns but I am now cautiously hopeful he might really become decent in that aspect sooner than we thought.

I also co-sign what whatchaknow said about the key being his work ethic, attitude and just distancing himself from the BBB hype machine. I was pleasantly surprised by Melo from the jump in this regard. I expected a diva with a big ego who would buck coaching, but he actually comes off as a good kid who lives in the gym and has great comradery with his teammates. He's definitely one of the most sociable Hornets, big smiles, high fives and generally seems happy for the success of others. If he can keep his head on straight and keep grinding to smooth out his deficiencies I will be so happy to have been wrong about him.

[amcoolio]

LaMelo has what it takes to be a lead guard. Assertive, not afraid to shoot or make the risky pass. Very communicative on the floor, on offense he'll call out teammates to get them in the right spot while he's dribbling. With 3 years of NBA conditioning he should be a much better player because he's crafty enough to draw fouls and finish with either hand around the rim with good touch

[DreamTeam09]

His balance is totally non-existent and he shoots from a crouched position, but his swagger and height makes up for a lot

[Clocian]

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