That's a good point, but I still think Lonzo's value can higher than Jason Kidd. Just as Kidd was called "the engine" of his team, I think Lonzo is much more than just a glue guy. In a few years I believe he will become the core of our offense and defense.
Expecting big things from this guy with more playing time. BI will attack and Kuzma will attack... but I want to see Zo and Bron develop a high-IQ telepathy between themselves. Between the two there's both devastating speed and strength all wrapped up in high IQ and (potentially) good defense. Other than that it's just plain entertaining seeing them play off each other.
Don't know exactly what is so funny. Young is averaging 18/7...he has played 10 games in the NBA and was advertised as a guy with high bust potential. Ball is averaging less than 9/5. He is also not a rookie and according to some here has almost no holes in his game. Nobody knows how the future turns out...but we know the presence.
I’ve watched both play this year. It is laughable to suggest Trae Young is a better player. For his 18/7, Trae is shooting worse on more attempts per game, significantly lower 3P%, higher usage (25 vs 15%), and averages 4 TO to Zo’s 1.5 The comparison of 18/7 to 9/5/5 without context or additional numbers is lazy. Maybe Trae could be better than Lonzo someday, but that day isn’t here.
I was all for Rondo being the starting PG after that left jab to CP3's face, but now that he's on hiatus, I hope for the massive success of Ball, because he's potentially the future at the position. But Bongo is already licking his chops.... as the old man and future face of the franchise lol But he reminds me a bit of Ball, and I bet they could both play together. Just ballers with great court vision and awareness, but don't HAVE to have the ball to be effective. I hope he continues to develop quickly.
I didn't say Young is better. I just chose a random - not very good player - to get a point across...Lonzo isn't a star and isn't going to be one. You can go and find stats in Lonzo's favor...Young was just a random name. Fact is...Lonzo is an average NBA player. Its time his fans here get used to the reality. I'd bet there are at least 10-15 teams in the NBA that wouldn't even trade their upcoming first rounder for him. That's his fair value. Lonzo was a #2 pick. Do you know any team that would trade their #2 pick for him? I don't.
In other teams game threads he is universally panned. Lots of talk about him being a bust. I don’t personally believe that but that’s the overall impression from other teams fans.
Ok you didn't say Young is better, your exact words were "he isn't even better than Trae Young." Lonzo is in elite territory for 3 guard skills: defense, passing, rebounding. His biggest weaknesses --and they are glaring-- are the lack of any midrange and finishing at the rim. I don't have time to look it up right now, but IIRC his finishing numbers at the rim were very good in college. He needs reps and to continue adjusting to finishing with contact, but that is something that can be fixed. The midrange will be more of a challenge, but to just assume it can't be improved is silly for a kid who just turned 21 and was recovering from surgery in his first offseason. This year's 3p% is obviously a limited sample size, but if he can shoot 38% for his career, that's pretty darn good if you're taking 5-6 per game. We'll see if he can keep it up, but again, the kid shot well from NBA range in college. I'm not saying Lonzo is definitely the next Jason Kidd, but I've seen enough flashes that I see the potential to be a star caliber player. If I'm overvaluing Lonzo by simply saying there's a chance to be a star, then okay, I'll continue to overvalue him.
I'm with you all the way wallangong. He excels in the things we need most for the position. That's why I hope we keep him and he continues to develop. I am beyond confident that he will. He is the most valuable of our young players for our future, IMO. And it's not really close. If you sign KD or Kawhi those guys are world's better than their counterparts here in BI and Kuz.
It's hard to say what he will become presently. What I do know? When he plays well, we are a better basketball team. I think he suffers from more of the mental side of the basketball side than anything else, imo. If he stops getting in his own way, he'll be fine.
Fair enough. I don't know the future either so I can't say you are wrong and I'm right. The same way you have seen flashes, I have seen red flags. Glass half full or half empty. I can live with that. I don't care about any stat particularly and I want lonzo to be the next Magic so I hope you are right and that the Lakers are successful. We all wish him the best I guess as we do for every Laker as long as they wear our jersey.
I want to preface this by saying he is a good rebounder, defender and passer. But “elite for his position” is a bit of an interesting point. The value of defence grows proportionally with height. For example, Gobert’s impact is always going to be much more profound on defence than that of Lonzo - even though they could both be elite defensively for their positions. Big men are just more impactful for defence and that’s why they usually win all the DPOY awards. This holds true for rebounding too, you can be elite at rebounding for a PG. But when compared to the elite big men rebounders you’re just average. Lonzo is elite at passing in transition, I haven’t seen proof yet that he can make easy shots in half court situations or run the pnr really well (mainly because he isn’t a multiple threat to drive and shoot so they just play the screener). He also doesn’t drive much because he doesn’t want to go to the line. So far his 3pt has been hitting, but there are worrying signs - he airballs all the time. Consistent shooters don’t AirBall that much - their shots are always on line and usually miss a little long or little short. So what you end up at is a good rebounder, good defender, good passer, ok 3pt shooter and a great decision maker (his one elite strength in my opinion). And that leads me to think he is a great glue guy, he can do a little bit of everything and fill up the stat sheet and have nights where he goes for 10-7-7-3-1. The only way I see him becoming a star is if he develops a 40% 3pt shot and a 75%+ FT. This will open up the driving lane for him and if he can finish well, he’ll all of a sudden become a threat in pnr’s and be able to create easy shots in half court and really impact the game on a star level.
He's already at 38% from three this year. Do you really think he can't gain another 2%? He was at 31.8% last year. That seems to be a very encouraging improvement wouldn't you say? Especially since he did not have an off season to work on his shot.
He shot 30.5% last year, so it is a big improvement. But also, he had hot periods of shooting last season too. When you break down his games, he has 4 game out of 14 games where he is shooting 60% or higher (a few games where he hit 100%), he has 6/14 games where he is shooting 30% or less (with 3 games where he didn’t make a single three pointer 0/13) and he had 4 games where he shot in the 40’s. So it is encouraging but at the same time he is as streaky as they come. So I’m not ready to accept the improvement and extrapolate it to him being a 40%+ career 3 pt shooter. His constant airballs alone are worrying.
I think we should all process the idea that this could have happened to us... Be happy it didn't! Just keep bringing that big D with those big Balls, and there will always be an opportunity to shoot your shot.
I see you... Zany man you. Bonga could be a more well rounded version of Barbosa...just a few gears lower speed wise. After badly missing on his first trey, cans the next two and even hit a midrange J going left. Ball plays under control on his shots granted the very few he attempts, he isn't that terrible. At least given what I see what Fultz is up to.
What the hell? Why on earth would any coach have him moving the ball side to side on the way up to his release. This guy is so messed up in the head now it's amazing.
