It's blatantly obvious seeing a lot of the criticisms about Lonzo that a lot of these people haven't even seen him play. Either that or they're just idiots when it comes to basketball. I've heard stuff like "he only passes so much because he can't score". He's "slow and unathletic." "Can't shoot." "Can't run pick and roll." Literally none of these things are true. Ball passes when the floor is opened up. He pushes the ball in transition and is able to find open shooters or hit rim runners. He makes excellent decisions in the half court. He reads defenses. He doesn't telegraph passes. They make him score he can do that. He can pass when they take away his shot. When he's open he can and will shot effeciently. Nice step back J. We all know he's gonna have to work on that shot, but that doesn't mean there is any validity to these criticisms.
Balls teams are 66 - 5 the last 2 years. Chino Hills is not a basketball mecca and really has no business in a California State championship game, let alone winning it. UCLA was 15-17 the year before he got there. I give Leaf the credit he's due because he can play, but he wasn't a bigger reason than Ball. Anyone can see that. The kids a winner.
Is Lonzo trancendent? Maybe, maybe not. Depends on your definition I guess. When I think of that term I can't help, but think of players like Kobe, LeBron, Shaq, MJ, Magic, etc. I know this though. The kid is very, very good. The leadership qualities, the basketball IQ, the maturation, work ethic, and his overall impact on the game is undeniable.
Have never had, and don't know if there's even one near me. On list of things to check on Internet today. Maybe deserves to be on my short list of places I can get a certain craving for at any point in random hungry mood like In-n-Out and Tommy's chili burgers. I like El Pollo Loco. How does it compare for your hungry taste buds on full alert wanting chicken?
actually, i thought russell's was higher. if russell can only net that return, clarkson probably isn't movable. also, i'm still convinced that russell's off court problems were more serious than clarkson's, which are just normal partying kid stuff.
Russell netted us a valuable player who is also expiring and a 1st round pick and dumped a contract. Jimmy Butler got an injured lottery pick, a lottery pick, and bust lottery pick. Clarkson has to be valuable to somebody for either a heavily protected 1st or at least a couple 2nd rounders. I have no doubt about that. If we could move Mozgov, there's no untradeable contracts. I agree with that, but it doesn't matter. Clarkson still doesn't match the players that Magic and Pelinka have stated they desire. I would be mildly surprised if Clarkson was still here by the start of the year.
Yeah. Pelinka said he doesn't want ball stoppers. They also are clearly trying to change the culture. I think Clarkson is gone.
He shot only 33% from 3 last season and he's a liability defensively; that's the completely antithesis of what Ball needs next to him. Ball needs a Danny Green, Klay Thompson, Avery Bradley next to him; Clarkson just doesn't fit with what we're attempting to build here...
Sort of fun watching the first two players we took in the draft playing against each other. Some easy notes: - Lonzo pops again as a kid making great decisions most of the game. He also comes through late in the game when the team needs it. - Kuzma looks... okay. I just don't honestly see the great appeal. I see some skill and versatility, but I'm just not sold... - That being said, diving into the numbers I think Kuzma would look pretty similar to TJ Leaf if Kuzma were on the Bruins. TJ is a better shooter, but he had Lonzo setting him up. TJ is younger, but their numbers, even their measurables, are extraordinarily similar: Leaf- 6'9.75" , 222 lbs, 6'11" wingspan, 8'11" standing reach, 29" standing vert, 34.5" total vert. Kuzma- 6'9.5", 223 lbs, 7'0.25" wingspan, 8'11.5" standing reach, 27" standing vert, 34" total vert. Leaf stats: 16.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.1 blocks, 61.7 FG%, 46.6 3PT%, 67.9 FT% Kuzma stats: 16.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.5 blocks, 50.4 FG%, 32.1 3PT%, 66.9 FT% Don't get me wrong, Leaf's a more efficient guy and I think he would be with or without Ball (but especially with Ball), but you can see they're similar players. I think management wanted to get a young guy here with Ball who had a similar skill set. I'm not sure exactly where Kuzma fits into the rotation, but he's a guy that I think Ball can get on the same page with fairly quickly.
LVBD .... take your blinders off. What you got against that WIN record over the past 2 seasons in top echelon basketball competition for his age group? You got nuthin' .... that's what.
