Learning how to shoot is much easier than teaching someone how to be fast or tall. LOL If we draft Fox, I'm not concerned about his shooting. He can make layups, right? Because his speed and ability to break down a defense allow him to get to the basket.
ESPN had a profile on his shot last night. It takes 2/100th of a second longer to get off than Klays does. The problem I see with his shot is he can't shoot it going to his right. He just can't. If he goes right, he's going to the basket.
That is an expensive 6th man, that is also ball dominant and is one of the few pieces that the Lakers have that other teams will want.
Here are the splits btw... Fox Nov. 2-15 .133 Dec. 2-13 .154 Jan. 3-13 .231 Feb. 3-12 .250 Mar. 7-16 .438 Ball Nov. 18-38 .474 Dec. 18-45 .400 Jan. 17-40 .425 Feb. 12-34 .353 Mar. 15-37 .405 Ball makes more 3's than Fox takes. It's safe to say Fox is a poor shooter, and Ball is much further along in that department.
Yeah, but no one doubts that. Ball is a better shooter. But who wins the other important areas - and by how much? Btw, is 1/50 of a second a long time in the NBA? Things we don't know.
My point is, do we really want a player that can't spread the floor, with Ingram's shot still questionable? Russell would be the only perimeter threat, unless we're planning on benching Fox until he's ready. I feel Ball is ready to start next to Russell from Day one.
If Ball turns into Jason Kidd 2.0, the Lakers will be winning titles within 3 years. Ball's defense is my only concern. This is a great 4 min video explaining his deficiencies and strengths on D. I hope he has the work ethic to improve. If he can improve on his on the ball defense just slightly, the Lakers may have the next mega star PG. http://lakerfilmroom.com/lonzo-ball-scouting-report-defense/
Nah he said he was going to work hard on his defense this year. Like last year. Was only referring to having multiple guys who can handle the ball and like it in their hands a lot thought.
The time to start accelerating rebuilding by trading picks for vets is when you feel you have a real stout foundation to build upon. No one is quite sure that the Lakers have that foundational piece yet to build around. Is Brandon Ingram a superstar in the making? Is D'Angelo Russell ? Is Julius Randle anything more than a goodf role player? Is Clarkson anything special? We don't know honestly. And until we're sure of that, the Lakers are better off keeping this pick and participating the crap shoot, sand see what sticks to the wall. Once the foundational piece is identified, youngsters can start flying out the door for a more established player to round out the roster.
This. We wouldn't be able to compete with teams that are already contending anyways. Let the kids develop, then determine which assets are worth building around and moving for other players. We're in no rush to get bounced out by the Warriors for at least 2 years.
If you watch that highlight video that's been posted, Ball is really good at creating space for his jumper with a step back, in addition to having really good range. While I do think defenders will figure out this is how he gets shots, since he's so quick off the dribble, it opens up the lane if he just give them a pump fake on the step back.
If you really pay attention to Harden, he doesn't go right either, unless he utilizes the step back to create space and give him time for a shot. Lonzo does this a lot as well if he tries to get shots of the dribble.
Most left handed players can't go right. Lonzo is right handed, but can't shoot going to his right. I've never seen that in my life.
it's common to be better at pull up jumpers going to the off hand. i know i'm much better pulling up after going left--i feel like it has something to do with the natural gathering motion (guide hand is already on the side of the ball going up), though i'm not sure that's lonzo's issue with his funky a** shot. i think jason terry was notoriously better going to his left for that little midrange jumper. anyway, my issue with ball's shot is that he always has to bring it way down, and his elbow angle is going to create all sorts of problems moving laterally, probably forever. all these young guys shooting the push shots have that problem (see russell and sometimes even harden), but lonzo's odd release exacerbates it. the real problem with ball is that he really hasn't shown much in terms of killing on the pick and roll. if i were drilling him pre-draft, it's all we'd do. i'd throw nine kinds of defense at him, see if he can punish folks for going over or under screens. just not a lot of footage there. huge concern in the modern nba for a pg.
Clarkson is a 6th man in my opinion so I don't see a logjam. Not to mention Ball isn't exactly Ball dominant. He's a PG but he moves the ball quickly and knows how to move without the ball as well. Very rarely in college did he pound the ball the way Randle, Russell, and especially Clarkson do. That's at least half of Ball's appeal: his unselfish style should rub off on our other kids and encourage offensive movement.