DRAFT TALK Thread: Looking Like Lonzo

He did not outplay Ball both times. You can box score those games if you want, but Lonzo Ball controlled the first game and Fox controlled the second.

I've done extensive breakdowns on the two players and specifically those two games. The key to both kids is their competitive levels. Lonzo Ball went into Fox's house and beat him with relative ease. Fox came back stronger the second time and fought much harder to win a team game. I'll also say this for at least the second time, but Monk was the star of the second Kentucky/UCLA game, not Fox. Fox did outplay Ball, no doubt, but that was in large part because Monk was lights out and was pulling up from long range demanding a ton of attention defensively and that took the top off the game. Fox exploited that opening expertly and Ball faltered. But to try to characterize it as Fox vastly outplaying Ball is not a good enough look at the way that game played out.

 

Jesus can't we just enjoy keeping our pick for 24 hours? We're already bickering over Ball vs Fox? 24 hours ago we almost didn't have a top 3 pick.

On a different note, really tired of hearing ESPN personalities say the C Bags should screw us over by threatening to take Ball #1 making us trade them the 2 and something else good to get him. That's not happening, they want Ball they can have him and we would take another good player.

 

Again, to me, given their size & abilities, both Ball & Russell are capable of being adequate defenders. You don't need a shut down PG defender to be successful. Team defense is much more important.

Just look at the remaining 4 starting PGs in the playoffs: Kyrie, Isiah, Steph, & Parker (before he got injured). Not a single even decent defender in that bunch. Doesn't seem to be stopping their teams from having success.

 

It's worth mentioning two facts here:

First, most people did NOT think Ball controlled the first matchup vs. Fox.
ESPN mentions Ball and Fox both in the final two paragraphs, listing the "other guys who did stuff."

Pac-12.com discussed Leaf and Hamilton at length.

SB Nation called it "not the best game" from Ball and discussed how the team is much more than Ball. It then dedicated a section of the article to the heading "De'Aaron Fox made himself some money." It includes this line, "Fox outplayed Ball throughout the afternoon, showing off his blazing speed, dogged defense, and impressive playmaking instincts along the way. Fox finished with 20 points and 8 assists and did well to slow down Ball with his defense."

Second, it's all moot. I want us to draft the guy who brings it in the workout and smashes the other one.