I'm specifically remembering him short arming one in the first game. He was blocked once last night at the rim. He did have a nice looking layup away from the defender with his left hand and then the concession dunk late.
We discussed him passing up shots in the game day thread a bit. There were several times he passed on lay ups. He needs to take those. He’s going to have to develop those aspects of his game.
Marshall was a good passer. He never was a floor general. Last night there was an instance where he totally didn't know what to do and got a shot clock violation. Other time he dribbled and got himself trapped. Lonzo, so far, has done neither and appears to be much more of a leader/general than Marshall, 6 years his senior, is or ever was. Come on, T.
I don't know what "floor generals" are. Is it quantifiable? Marshall handed out 7.3 assists (vs. 2.9 TO) per 36 minutes as a rookie. Then he stepped it up to 11.0 vs. 3.5 as a sophomore. Those are elite numbers. Come on, Z
I just rewatched the highlights, and the short arming his shots was the thing. He doesn't extend on most of his layups. It's a really weird thing to see in the NBA these days because you have to extend in order to make the shot past defenders.
Not everything in basketball is quantifiable. If that kind of numeric impact was enough, he would not be playing for his life in Summer League for his 4th (?) team... Floor general is subjective, but to me: 1. one that doesn't assist-hog and makes a non-lateral play 2. one that knows when to pass and when to shoot and when to continue to feed the hot hand 3. one that directs offense even when he doesn't have the ball That's my opinion. You'll be hard-pressed to find someone else, IMO, that would support you on this Marshall thing.
It is strange. I think he'll improve as he continues to adjust. I wish he'd just taken a couple of those layups he had. I appreciate a guy moving the ball but he needs to take those shots. Especially since on one of them he passed out to Blue who wouldn't know a pass if it smacked him in the face.
I said Marshall would be a floor watching him in college, but I am comfortable saying he's much better than Marshall already. The comparison came from an ability to move the ball well and knock down an awkward long ball. However, Lonzo is already better at getting into the paint, playing defense, and has a more natural feel as a lead guard. Like you said Marshall didn't even keep track of the clock in summer league. At this stage for him, even at 25, that's unacceptable. Lonzo turning the corner is a concern, but Marshall can't even get to the corner right now let alone turn it into the lane.
I actually agree with the Marshal comparison as his floor. I do think Ball will be much much better than Marshal, however, I seem to like Marshal's game more than most here. Wish we never got rid of him.
I would say Lonzo has deceptive speed. He's not John Wall but Lonzo has great handles and shiftyness that will get him to the basket
And that's fine too. But being more aggressive offensively would open up his passing game so much more.
Damn, Marshall as his floor? I don't remember much of his time w/us. Lonzo looked great offensively yesterday; he's going to have this offense running super-efficient. He just needs the parts around him, and I think he'll be fine. I've heard from many (even his detractors) say his passing his transcendent. That will translate easily. I could see that. And sure he could work on his weaknesses - midrange, handles, space creation techniques, but he's never going to be a John Wall "type" of point guard. That's never going to be his game, and that's fine because that isn't we we're looking for with him. He's had 1 good SL game - however, the pgs, and wings in the league are bigger, faster, longer, more athletic, and that's where he's probably going to struggle at various times this season. He's never going to be an "elite" shot-maker, he's never going to be a great "isolation" player - he'll be super efficient, but that's because he picks his spots wisely. He'll probably have 2 more games. Let's see if he can correct that jumper before SL is over...
he's gotten near the hoop several times, it's what happens when he gets there that's troubling. and i think this was true in college, too. late career jason kidd had the same issue: he didn't trust that he could finish over a defender, and eventually everyone just started playing him to pass and you'd see the same things we've seen in sl from ball: hang in air searching for an outlet, looking backwards while there's no one at the rim 3 ft from you. i think that's psychological more than physical for ball, though.
It's Summer League, though. I think turning that corner in the NBA is going to be a little more difficult. Not saying he can't, because he just might, but he will struggle this season at various times turning that corner...
I guess I have a different view of floor. I use the definition as "a lower limit," like number six on Merriam-Webster. And it's possible that Ball is a decent but unorthodox three point shooter, high assist rate, high ast/to ratio, poor defender. And it's possible he will not make his teammates noticeably better. That's a floor.
