Ball Don't Lie: The LaMelo Ball Thread

[BigSlam]

Could not care less if LaMelo is awarded RoY.

I’d rather him have the best overall career out of his draft class than the best rookie season.

I have a money bet on him winning.

LaMelo better win RoY this year or I will burn this town to the ground then!!

I gotcha bro

[BigSlam]

Interesting statement by JB re: LaMelo:

"He scares me too, but I love him. I think he's fearless. I think he's got great confidence. He’s got to make the right play though”.

[Rich4114]

Interesting statement by JB re: LaMelo:

"He scares me too, but I love him. I think he's fearless. I think he's got great confidence. He’s got to make the right play though”.

He makes a lot of the right plays. Doesn’t he understand the kid will make mistakes along the way and that’s part of his growth? Does he realize how the team plays when he’s on the court as primary ball handler? He certainly turns it over but what he does outside of that outweighs it and raises the level of everyone else. Don’t be such a ***** JB

[James Gatz]

Interesting statement by JB re: LaMelo:

"He scares me too, but I love him. I think he's fearless. I think he's got great confidence. He’s got to make the right play though”.

He makes a lot of the right plays. Doesn’t he understand the kid will make mistakes along the way and that’s part of his growth? Does he realize how the team plays when he’s on the court as primary ball handler? He certainly turns it over but what he does outside of that outweighs it and raises the level of everyone else. Don’t be such a ***** JB

The coaches job is to win games for his team. Of course he's going to be scared of someone who has made risky passes that are not always smart. For our franchise, it's better if LaMelo plays through everything but for JB he needs to win games. If we only win like 25ish games this year even more people will be calling for his head.

I'm not JB is 100% the guy but I don't think he's done a bad job so far. He's done a solid job with our young guys including Graham and PJ. I also think not rushing LaMelo to be a number 1 option is a smart thing for his career. It's fair to be a little annoyed with his reliance on Biz or the Martin Twins but again it gets back to the coach knowing what to expect from those guys when they get minutes. Monk has shown to deserve more time but Monk could lose you a quarter where as Cody/Caleb likely would not.

[yosemiteben]

I'm sticking with my approach that the biggest risk to Melo's career is lack of discipline and poor decision making. I 100% agree with not letting Melo just do whatever he wants and taking a "play through mistakes" approach. This is not a kid that lacks confidence, I'm not worried about him becoming scared of getting yanked and playing too timid. I'm much more concerned about him playing like this is Chino Hills 2.0 and him jacking terrible shots and attempting stupid lobs and assists. He's too good to waste possessions like that.

[Rich4114]

I'm sticking with my approach that the biggest risk to Melo's career is lack of discipline and poor decision making. I 100% agree with not letting Melo just do whatever he wants and taking a "play through mistakes" approach. This is not a kid that lacks confidence, I'm not worried about him becoming scared of getting yanked and playing too timid. I'm much more concerned about him playing like this is Chino Hills 2.0 and him jacking terrible shots and attempting stupid lobs and assists. He's too good to waste possessions like that.

While he’s certainly been a little reckless and over the top, he’s not turning it over at some alarming rate. How many times do we see Devonte get lose in no mans land and give the other team the ball back with a turnover or bad shot? The point I’m making here is the positives LaMelo brings to the floor outweigh the bad and I’m willing to trade a few bad passes if it means we get more of the good.

[BigSlam]

How many times do we see Devonte get lose in no mans land and give the other team the ball back with a turnover or bad shot?

Considering Tae is averaging only 1.4 turn overs a game, I'd say not that often?

Why do some posters feel the need to rip other players in order to try and prop up the player they love? Why not just speak to the player who you love and their strengths independent of other players?

While he’s certainly been a little reckless and over the top, he’s not turning it over at some alarming rate.

2.5 turn overs in only 24MPG isn't fantastic - especially when the majority of his turn overs are from forcing things or trying to be too flashy.

And if you apply that per 36 rule that some subscribe to it'd be more like 4 turn overs a game.

Spoiler:

(for the record, Tae at per 36 is still only 1.4 turn overs a game - because he is already actually playing 34MPG).

[Rich4114]

Well he had 1 turnover tonight in the most minutes of his career so far!

[magicman1978]

Not to compare him to Magic, but using Magic as an example as he's my favorite player. Magic as a rookie turned the ball over a lot. He had a higher turnover rate and a significantly lower ASST/TO rate than Melo. He came into the league a year older than Melo. Westhead never yanked Magic for making mistakes - he let him play through them. I think that's more important for a creative player like Melo. You don't teach a player like that by telling him not to make mistakes - you don't see what he sees. There's going to be turnovers he makes as a younger player still getting used to the speed of the game and learning what works and what doesn't.

You start making general statements like you have to take better care of the ball and you could potentially start taking away what makes him different. Melo seems confident enough not to get rattled or start questioning himself, but I think I've seen enough from this kid to think they should just let him play his game. Let him learn and grow - if he's making obvious mistakes, coach him on those specific things, not by taking him out of the game, but watching some video with him. Ask him what he saw - why did he make that pass you think he shouldn't have? This kid is going to become your franchise player. Go all in with him, invest in the future even if it hurts you a bit this year.

[yosemiteben]

Melo is a **** stud. I'm telling you, if he plays disciplined he is going to own this team for a long time.

[Bassman]

Greatness is a real possibility for our Lamelo Ball. Here is a highlight reel from his January 30th game. This stuff doesn’t happen with rookies unless they have IT!

Watch on YouTube

[amcoolio]

[GoBobs]

He has some great skills and he could be really great. The way he played tonight there is nothing to complain about.

If we look at the season as a whole though he is shooting 28% from 3 on 4 attempts per game. He needs to get that at least up over 30%. He is shooting 70% from the ft line and he needs to get up to the 80% range. If you want to be a star in this league you need to get your true shooting percentage in at least the 57% range.

He has star potential, unlimited potential, because he has things you can't teach that most of the guys in the league will never be able to do. He isn't a star yet though. He played like one tonight and I hope he has some more games like that.

[SWedd523]

I'm sticking with my approach that the biggest risk to Melo's career is lack of discipline and poor decision making. I 100% agree with not letting Melo just do whatever he wants and taking a "play through mistakes" approach. This is not a kid that lacks confidence, I'm not worried about him becoming scared of getting yanked and playing too timid. I'm much more concerned about him playing like this is Chino Hills 2.0 and him jacking terrible shots and attempting stupid lobs and assists. He's too good to waste possessions like that.

While he’s certainly been a little reckless and over the top, he’s not turning it over at some alarming rate. How many times do we see Devonte get lose in no mans land and give the other team the ball back with a turnover or bad shot? The point I’m making here is the positives LaMelo brings to the floor outweigh the bad and I’m willing to trade a few bad passes if it means we get more of the good.

Have you considered the possibility that different guys may require different approaches?

[Liver_Pooty]

Yeah, I'm not a Graham fan but the guy is wonderful at not turning the ball over. Now if he could ever find a midrange game..

[BigSlam]

LaMelo’s shooting splits in last nights game:

7 x 2pt FGA’s
3 x 3pt FGA’s
9 x FTA’s

He was stupidly efficient hitting on all but one of his 2pt FGA’s, all but one of his 3pt FGA’s and making all his FTA’s but how awesome was it to see him focus on attacking the paint and taking high % shots and earning trips to the line and not taking volume 3pt FGA’s.

He also racked up a casual 9 assists.

Just reinforces that he should have the ball in his hands as the lead guard at all times - and not play off the ball as a spot up shooter/resident of the shame corner.

[Snidely FC]

Lamelo quickly becoming must see TV

[Hornet Mania]

Just reinforces that he should have the ball in his hands as the lead guard at all times - and not play off the ball as a spot up shooter/resident of the shame corner.

100% agreed. At this stage the way to maximize Melo is to get the ball in his hands and let him create opportunities for his teammates.

It makes even more sense when you consider how much better Graham/Rozier are as spot-up shooters compared to Ball and how they pound the ball while hunting their shot. Ball keeps it moving and I love that about him.

[predators]

The only game Borrego’s has really benched Ball was against Chicago where he had 5 TOs in a half and clearly didn’t have it that night. I kind of think Borrego did him a favor that game by taking him out.

I don’t know why some crazies have issues with his PT. He’s likely gonna get 30 + minutes while rosier is out. If he can consistently get to the line and finish like last night, he’s gonna be star.

[vtime]

The issue is Graham plays 10mpg more than Melo while shooting 10% lower from the field. He avg 1 less turnover than Melo. That can’t make all the difference.