Ball Don't Lie: The LaMelo Ball Thread

[LofJ]

In the offseason LaMelo needs to focus on improving his footwork. Whether it's off the dribble, catch and shoot, maneuvering around screens, squaring up, etc., better foot placement will help him be a lot more consistent. That in addition to just getting stronger will do wonders for his game.

[Chapelchilla]

I'm way more confident in him taking 3s right now than I am Graham thats for sure

I am not. One game does not maketh the man!

And Melo's form changed on every 3PA that he took last night - from shortening he release from shot to shot, to sometimes shooting it from an almost crouched position, to kicking his legs out sometimes and not others to sometimes landing forward and sometimes landing back.

I agree. He was super on last night but the weird angles, bad form and jankiness of the jumpers do not lend themselves to consistently hitting those Js.
Still, it was a great game by Ball. Glad we picked him, the potential for greatness is there.

[Hornet Mania]

His form is ugly and inconsistent, but the fact he can get it to fall (at least thus far) is very encouraging. With the exception of his last three yesterday that he airballed even his misses have been close. If he was clanking everything badly, which was what I expected tbh, it would bode poorly for his potential to become a respectable shooter. I'll take the ugly makes for now and hope they are a good omen for when he eventually settles into a reliable shooting motion.

[Rays Pompadour]

The good with him is that he isn't in love with shooting. He loves to shoot. That's a different thing. His game is all around and eventually it'll come to him, rather than he go to it. That's the makings of a franchise-type player. Not coronating him; just recognizing the signs.

Oh, and set shots are your friend, Melo. Quick release, high arc...best when you have your feet beneath you. Right now, Ball is using his flailing legs to balance himself mid-shot. That's a bad, bad habit, but fixable. Some coach needs to tie that boy's shoelaces together.

[JMAC3]

I have been preaching this for weeks that he can make shots even if it doesn't look pretty, he has been doing this his whole life as a sniper from outside. His form is going to tighten up the longer he is in an NBA program. Just look at Kemba's shot from day 1 (different release points, leg kick outs, ball height) but he eventually became one of best shooters in the league.

If you want a guy who is going to have a militant technique and only take great perfect wide open threes then he will most likely be a catch and shoot three and D guy. Melo is never going to be that, because that limits his potential as a guy who is a threat to score at a moments notice. Desmond Bane is a guy who has the same shot every single time but he also going to be a guy that 90% of his triples are assisted and off the catch. That and that fact he is 22 years old and has been working on his shooting every single day in college for the last 4 years is a good reason why his form is so repeatable.

I can not think of many 18/19 year old prospects who came into the league as primary ball handlers and just happened to have a picturesque shot to go with it... it is going to take time.

[SWedd523]

Let's not call whatever he does from long range being a sniper lol

[iconoclastism]

I kept hearing some posters here saying just give Lamelo time. Majority of the top draft picks came from traditional route from High School-College-NBA playing in highly structured and coached teams since they were in their tweens. LaMelo is a bit different. His dad pretty much controlled the Chino Hills team and LaMelo was able to get away with pretty much anything and any bad habits were not corrected. Just go watch the 92 point Chino Hills game and watch all the teammates (cough peons) setting him up.

For LaMelo to thrive with the Hornets, he basically has to be the number one option with other players cater to his "creative" shots. His bad habits will not go away that easily. He has never been coached properly. Lonzo is a much solid player and even he didn't live up to his No. 2 pick. You can tell Lonzo came from a more structured coaching background. Being the oldest son, he started with little hoopla until all 3 Ball brothers game notoriety and LaMelo got to lay Steph Curry chucking 25% FG just as long as it looked cool. No defense whats so ever. Since when did you see him play defense? What made you think he will start to do so after "giving him time".

I feel, at best LaMelo can be a 6th man coming off the bench to provide a spark here and there. He is more likely to fizzle out at the end of his rookie contract and get MLE level contract as a role player. Definitely not even half of Kemba's level.

[amcoolio]

I kept hearing some posters here saying just give Lamelo time. Majority of the top draft picks came from traditional route from High School-College-NBA playing in highly structured and coached teams since they were in their tweens. LaMelo is a bit different. His dad pretty much controlled the Chino Hills team and LaMelo was able to get away with pretty much anything and any bad habits were not corrected. Just go watch the 92 point Chino Hills game and watch all the teammates (cough peons) setting him up.

For LaMelo to thrive with the Hornets, he basically has to be the number one option with other players cater to his "creative" shots. His bad habits will not go away that easily. He has never been coached properly. Lonzo is a much solid player and even he didn't live up to his No. 2 pick. You can tell Lonzo came from a more structured coaching background. Being the oldest son, he started with little hoopla until all 3 Ball brothers game notoriety and LaMelo got to lay Steph Curry chucking 25% FG just as long as it looked cool. No defense whats so ever. Since when did you see him play defense? What made you think he will start to do so after "giving him time".

I feel, at best LaMelo can be a 6th man coming off the bench to provide a spark here and there. He is more likely to fizzle out at the end of his rookie contract and get MLE level contract as a role player. Definitely not even half of Kemba's level.

I saw him play defense yesterday

Who the **** cares what LaMelo did in high school, this isn't high school, this is the NBA, and he's older now, and much better.

[SWedd523]

I kept hearing some posters here saying just give Lamelo time. Majority of the top draft picks came from traditional route from High School-College-NBA playing in highly structured and coached teams since they were in their tweens. LaMelo is a bit different. His dad pretty much controlled the Chino Hills team and LaMelo was able to get away with pretty much anything and any bad habits were not corrected. Just go watch the 92 point Chino Hills game and watch all the teammates (cough peons) setting him up.

For LaMelo to thrive with the Hornets, he basically has to be the number one option with other players cater to his "creative" shots. His bad habits will not go away that easily. He has never been coached properly. Lonzo is a much solid player and even he didn't live up to his No. 2 pick. You can tell Lonzo came from a more structured coaching background. Being the oldest son, he started with little hoopla until all 3 Ball brothers game notoriety and LaMelo got to lay Steph Curry chucking 25% FG just as long as it looked cool. No defense whats so ever. Since when did you see him play defense? What made you think he will start to do so after "giving him time".

I feel, at best LaMelo can be a 6th man coming off the bench to provide a spark here and there. He is more likely to fizzle out at the end of his rookie contract and get MLE level contract as a role player. Definitely not even half of Kemba's level.

I agree with almost none of this.

For all his warts as a young guy, most of what you're saying hasn't manifested into reality.

While he hasn't been a lockdown defender and you see glimpses of him gambling and having low awareness at times, he's been a very pleasant surprise on the defensive end at appears as if he could potentially become an average to slightly plus defender in the future. That's a pretty huge accomplishment considering how down most (including myself) were on his defensive outlook pre-draft.

His game doesn't say "6th man" to me at all. He doesn't appear to be a highly aggressive shooter/scorer (another surprise if I'm being honest), and appears to thrive more in a motion heavy team oriented attack. In fact, I'd like to see Devonte moved to the bench into the 6th man role because it seems to fit him and the roster construction better than having Ball there.

From his play early in the season, I'd say his future outlook appears to be much brighter than fizzled rookie/future MLE nobody guy. He's shown more spark early in his career than really any other modern Bobnet. He will be limited until/if his shot develops, but in that world, he has a similar impact to a guy like Ben Simmons (worse defense though)

[countryboi]

I would love to see Melo a pull up to his game, right now he is pretty much all spot up anything else is mess.

[LofJ]

LaMelo has already made 4 times as many 3 pointers as Ben Simmons has in his entire career in just four games. He isn't a non-shooter like Simmons, there isn't a comparison there in the slightest.

He's got work to do to become a more consistent, reliable shooter but he has good touch. As he becomes stronger and hopefully improves his shooting foundation I could see him becoming an above average jump shooter in time.

[Chapelchilla]

I kept hearing some posters here saying just give Lamelo time. Majority of the top draft picks came from traditional route from High School-College-NBA playing in highly structured and coached teams since they were in their tweens. LaMelo is a bit different. His dad pretty much controlled the Chino Hills team and LaMelo was able to get away with pretty much anything and any bad habits were not corrected. Just go watch the 92 point Chino Hills game and watch all the teammates (cough peons) setting him up.

For LaMelo to thrive with the Hornets, he basically has to be the number one option with other players cater to his "creative" shots. His bad habits will not go away that easily. He has never been coached properly. Lonzo is a much solid player and even he didn't live up to his No. 2 pick. You can tell Lonzo came from a more structured coaching background. Being the oldest son, he started with little hoopla until all 3 Ball brothers game notoriety and LaMelo got to lay Steph Curry chucking 25% FG just as long as it looked cool. No defense whats so ever. Since when did you see him play defense? What made you think he will start to do so after "giving him time".

I feel, at best LaMelo can be a 6th man coming off the bench to provide a spark here and there. He is more likely to fizzle out at the end of his rookie contract and get MLE level contract as a role player. Definitely not even half of Kemba's level.

All of that word soup sounds like you are trying to convince us to disbelieve our eyes.
The Hornets are not “catering” to Ball. He is coming off the bench and earning his PT.
Dude had been hustling all over the court and sharing the rock. So far he looks like a work in progress who could be amazing.

[Robot Rock]

I kept hearing some posters here saying just give Lamelo time. Majority of the top draft picks came from traditional route from High School-College-NBA playing in highly structured and coached teams since they were in their tweens. LaMelo is a bit different. His dad pretty much controlled the Chino Hills team and LaMelo was able to get away with pretty much anything and any bad habits were not corrected. Just go watch the 92 point Chino Hills game and watch all the teammates (cough peons) setting him up.

For LaMelo to thrive with the Hornets, he basically has to be the number one option with other players cater to his "creative" shots. His bad habits will not go away that easily. He has never been coached properly. Lonzo is a much solid player and even he didn't live up to his No. 2 pick. You can tell Lonzo came from a more structured coaching background. Being the oldest son, he started with little hoopla until all 3 Ball brothers game notoriety and LaMelo got to lay Steph Curry chucking 25% FG just as long as it looked cool. No defense whats so ever. Since when did you see him play defense? What made you think he will start to do so after "giving him time".

I feel, at best LaMelo can be a 6th man coming off the bench to provide a spark here and there. He is more likely to fizzle out at the end of his rookie contract and get MLE level contract as a role player. Definitely not even half of Kemba's level.

Kemba had leoluvinliberal. LaMelo has iconoclastism. I like it.

[countryboi]

LaMelo has already made 4 times as many 3 pointers as Ben Simmons has in his entire career in just four games. He isn't a non-shooter like Simmons, there isn't a comparison there in the slightest.

He's got work to do to become a more consistent, reliable shooter but he has good touch. As he becomes stronger and hopefully improves his shooting foundation I could see him becoming an above average jump shooter in time.

I think he has a shot that you can build on, it could be reworked a bit but he can shot 33-35 from 3 with the form he has now.

[KembaWalker]

I kept hearing some posters here saying just give Lamelo time. Majority of the top draft picks came from traditional route from High School-College-NBA playing in highly structured and coached teams since they were in their tweens. LaMelo is a bit different. His dad pretty much controlled the Chino Hills team and LaMelo was able to get away with pretty much anything and any bad habits were not corrected. Just go watch the 92 point Chino Hills game and watch all the teammates (cough peons) setting him up.

For LaMelo to thrive with the Hornets, he basically has to be the number one option with other players cater to his "creative" shots. His bad habits will not go away that easily. He has never been coached properly. Lonzo is a much solid player and even he didn't live up to his No. 2 pick. You can tell Lonzo came from a more structured coaching background. Being the oldest son, he started with little hoopla until all 3 Ball brothers game notoriety and LaMelo got to lay Steph Curry chucking 25% FG just as long as it looked cool. No defense whats so ever. Since when did you see him play defense? What made you think he will start to do so after "giving him time".

I feel, at best LaMelo can be a 6th man coming off the bench to provide a spark here and there. He is more likely to fizzle out at the end of his rookie contract and get MLE level contract as a role player. Definitely not even half of Kemba's level.

Kemba had leoluvinliberal. LaMelo has iconoclastism. I like it.

Ready for tsherkin to rise from the grave to tell me how LaMelo will never be as good as Brandon Knight

[James Gatz]

Melo's shot is always going to be funky. What I'd hope he/team would work on is making his lower body more consistent. Depending on the shot he lands a step forward or backwards. Kicks his leg sometimes and other times does not. He has good natural touch so with more consistent base I think he can be a solid shooter.

I'm much more worried about his finishing at this point. He's shooting 30% at the rim and 53% from 3. I expect both to regress/progress to the mean but he won't be an efficient scorer till he puts significantly more weight on. He's 19 and has time, but it will a point of attention through out this season and next offseason.

Defensively I wasn't incredibly worried predraft but he's surpassed my expectations. The bad, he gets blown by fairly regularly and is probably better suited guarding 2s than 1s. The good, his team defense has been solid/good with some excellent moments. He gets lost sometimes but he is actively communicating and stunts/checks well.

Overall, what has stood out the most is his effort on both ends. This guy clearly cares and doesn't view himself as too good to go hard after rebounds/loose balls. Also his flash plays will bring joy as we traverse another losing season.

[Hornet Mania]

I kept hearing some posters here saying just give Lamelo time. Majority of the top draft picks came from traditional route from High School-College-NBA playing in highly structured and coached teams since they were in their tweens. LaMelo is a bit different. His dad pretty much controlled the Chino Hills team and LaMelo was able to get away with pretty much anything and any bad habits were not corrected. Just go watch the 92 point Chino Hills game and watch all the teammates (cough peons) setting him up.

For LaMelo to thrive with the Hornets, he basically has to be the number one option with other players cater to his "creative" shots. His bad habits will not go away that easily. He has never been coached properly. Lonzo is a much solid player and even he didn't live up to his No. 2 pick. You can tell Lonzo came from a more structured coaching background. Being the oldest son, he started with little hoopla until all 3 Ball brothers game notoriety and LaMelo got to lay Steph Curry chucking 25% FG just as long as it looked cool. No defense whats so ever. Since when did you see him play defense? What made you think he will start to do so after "giving him time".

I feel, at best LaMelo can be a 6th man coming off the bench to provide a spark here and there. He is more likely to fizzle out at the end of his rookie contract and get MLE level contract as a role player. Definitely not even half of Kemba's level.

Kemba had leoluvinliberal. LaMelo has iconoclastism. I like it.

Ready for tsherkin to rise from the grave to tell me how LaMelo will never be as good as Brandon Knight

I thought LaMelo Ball/Malachi Flynn was the official reboot of Kemba/Knight

[Goudelock]

All of that word soup sounds like you are trying to convince us to disbelieve our eyes.
The Hornets are not “catering” to Ball. He is coming off the bench and earning his PT.
Dude had been hustling all over the court and sharing the rock. So far he looks like a work in progress who could be amazing.

Hello, I come in peace! I've watched all of the Hornets games so far, and I was wondering if Hornets fans are happy with how coach Borrego is handling LaMelo's playing time?

I think he's doing a decent job, because like you said LaMelo is having to earn his time. At least during the Maverick's game, when he was cooking in the second-quarter, he rode LaMelo. But in the OKC game's second half, Ball wasn't great so he didn't get a lot of fourth quarter PT.

But that's just my opinion, and I don't follow the team nearly as closely as you guys do. Do you think Ball should be getting 30ish minutes a game and be allowed to sink or swim through his mistakes?

[BigSlam]

Hello, I come in peace! I've watched all of the Hornets games so far, and I was wondering if Hornets fans are happy with how coach Borrego is handling LaMelo's playing time?

Yes.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[yosemiteben]

Yeah, we're generally good with it. Even more happy that LaMello seems to be responding well to it rather than acting frustrated.