That funky release worked just fine in college. And his looks are open looks. I'm sure some of it is fatigue, but dude. He is missing the basket in every which way. And is he poised or is he just quiet? Just because he doesn't show a ton of outward emotion and looks cool as a cucumber doesn't mean the inside of his head isn't screaming.
Truth be told he hardly jumps on his J anyway, like DLO, and unlike Kuzma. But yeah one inch off of your left shoulder to launch is .... maybe not what a shooting coach would hope for. Thanks again LaVar for that. Need to remember to do that at least once a week. Why? Whyyyyy??
I think he's poised, but he's still thinking way too much on his jumper. His mechanics lack consistency. I don't care if he shoots from behind his head, it doesn't really matter as long as it goes in and it's consistent. Right now it's not going in and he's trying too hard to make it happen. Just get in the gym and take 1500 jumpers. They don't have to be threes, but that'd be a plus. Make sure you jump, land, and finish your arms and hands in the same place every single time. Do it over and over and over again.
I think last night's game in particular was a gut punch because if he'd even been decent, we probably would have won, and it could have been a big fun night watching our young developing talent go head to head with one of the most promising young teams in the league. Instead, as much fun as the game was at times, I spent way too much of it stressing over Ball, as I'm sure many of you did, too.
The Yips. It can happen to the best of athletes. Nothing to do with being mentally weak or lacking confidence.
Yeah. The loss wasn't near as bothersome to me as the utter uselessness of our #2 pick. Even if we would have won that game I still would have thought to myself, "We won, but we won with a couple guys that possibly won't even be on the floor next season."
yeah it really sucks seeing other teams' high picks like KAT, Simmons, Embiid, Porzingis, etc come in and immediately start playing to their potential while our guys (randle, russell, ingram, ball) pretty much stink up the place and leave everyone wondering if they're busts or not i'm not saying lonzo or ingram will be busts but it just sucks that we've had all these high picks in recent years and we've still yet to see anything positive. kuzma has been the only one who has actually made an immediate difference
@Savory Griddles , that is lesser talent at the collegiate level, so he really never had to alter his shot trajectory to get it over the defender. With athletic, more physical wing players, Zo's going to have a tougher time getting that shot off with ease. I also notice that alot of guys are being overtly physical with him (or maybe he's just not packing enough, so gets pushed around easily), but that takes a toll on you over the course of the game and that is probably why he's missing open jumpers as well. He definitely needs to get stronger (primarily core strength), but that jumper is flawed and can't live in this NBA IMHO. I honestly feel he needs to deconstruct it. He can still have some residual funk to it as he improves the mechanics, but that catapult release needs to go.
It was the worst game I've ever seen from Lonzo. And yeah his shooting sucks. But this is one game only. He's averaging 6.7 boards and 7.2 assists a game while playing much better D than anyone expected. Personally I think the drama with his brother has taken a toll on him and we saw it last night. Remember he's a kid who has only just turned 20. He's under huge scrutiny with guys Stupid A Smith calling him a bust or critiquing him night after night in the public spotlight. His bro just got severely busted in an international incident the whole country saw and is calling for his head on. Lonzo's a family first kid and his family just took a beating yesterday at the press conference. Add in probably some self-inflicted pressure of trying to play up to or better than rookie of the year competition Simmons and he just had a meltdown. It can happen. He'll be back and he'll improve. Probably even next game.
+1 on your last point. Embiid looked like a franchise player his rookie year when he only played 30 some games. Same thing with Simmons this year. You can’t really say the same thing for D’Angelo Russell (when we had him), Ingram, Ball, and Randle.
Stephen A. Smith looks like the kid who got picked last in pickup games and now is taking it out because now he sits behind the BSPN desk and talk crap all day because it's what he is, crap.
This is the same guy that was dead silent after Lonzo's triple double? Why are you clicking on his garbage? This is nonsense and he's a shill. Stop supporting him.
Hire this man as an assistant/point guard coach. Zo needs a vet in the worst way. KCP preaches defense, but is too soft spoken and can't really help Zo offensively. Magic has way too many hats to wear to be that constant presence Zo needs. We need to get Zo a vet presence.
Ball could learn something from Simmons, dude cant shoot a lick but doesnt force shots like taking 5-6 3s a gm, he knows what hes good at and sticks to it. im sure scouts know simmons weakness by now but dude still scoring with relative ease...hell even ingram has adjusted n plays mostly thru his strengths, which is attacking the paint, havent seen him chuck up multiple 3s in a while
I agree. I love Lonzo but kid, stop forcing the issue. Shooting 25% on threes and he jacks up another 6 last night? No. Stop it. Whoever on that staff is saying keep shooting is just wrong. Be aggressive, yes, take it to the hole. But jacking up early shot clock threes with no one rebounding? Stop it now. Be smart, pick your spots, be the floor leader and lay off those threes.
As bad as last night may have looked on television, believe me it looked worse in person. I'm still not really worried, its been all mental and still is. But it just disappointing that he isn't finding other way offensively to try and get himself into better rhythm.
Go to the cup and become a scoring threat. As a result, the defense will collapse and you open up your 3 point shooters (try not to laugh you guys). He has to do this. As of right now, LA is ranked 25th in field goals made off an assist (Dubs are 1 ie the offense we are mimicking, Philly is 2 ie Ben is doing what Zo is supposed to do). You simply ain't utilizing your transcendent passing guard correctly if that's the case. Anyways, I love how Kuz is defending his guy right now and he even went in on Deng...You a rookie bruh, you ain't supposed to be this savage yet! That boy is a SOD for real haha!
Kind of like that time we were playing @MIA and Kobe had a terrible shooting game. After the game Kobe stay behind and got up shots at MIA's arena for 2-4 hours that night.