Friday, December 1, 2017

Is Lonzo Ball a bust?

Is Lonzo Ball a bust?


By: Zack Adams 

12/1/17

Image result for lonzo ball

(Photo Courtesy of For the Win - USA Today Sports)

Lakers point guard and the #2 overall pick in this past summer's NBA Draft was highly touted coming out of UCLA because he was the second pick overall, but because of his dad, Lavar Ball and his mouth. That is one of the sole reasons probably 80% of his critics, or "haters" dislike the rookie. Yes, his dad speaks a lot of blasphemy and talks out of line.

"I can beat Michael Jordan one on one"  

Like come on Lavar, you know good and well that you are wrong but it is simply that Lavar is a genius. That is what many fail to see and are too ignorant to realize. For example, when Lonzo went from the Big Baller Brand shoe in game one of his Summer League career and then change to Nike and suddenly played better, all eyes were on the brand, the Big Baller Brand then. Lavar Ball seeks attention so he will continue to run his mouth, promote his brand and his three boys. Like Lavar Ball is still in a feud with the President of the United States, Donald Trump. A father from Chino Hills, California is getting his name tweeted and spoke by the President of the United States. It's just crazy. A marketing genius is what Lavar Ball is nonetheless, but the pressure he is putting on his son is not so smart and his performance through 20+ games is showing that.

So with all of this being said, is Lonzo Ball a bust? Through 21 games, Ball averages nine points, seven assist, and seven rebounds per contest. While at UCLA, he averaged 14.6 points, eight assist, and six rebounds per contest. Now, everyone is questioning what exactly is going on with the 20 year old? The bigger question coming into the league was Lonzo's shot. Yes, he does have an ugly form, one of the ugliest all time and his stats are proving it's struggles. Zo is shooting 31% from the field and 25% from three. That is one of the poorest shooting performances in a 20 game stretch in NBA history. But the kid is only a rookie. Not only is his father putting all over this pressure on him by saying Zo is already better than Stephen Curry (a 2x NBA Champion and 2x NBA MVP) so the Warriors "fan base", real fans or bandwagons, want to see him fail along with Ball Family haters, but Ball is trying to learn the NBA game and style, to be a great point guard in the league. All of the background noise and a rookie trying to learn the game just isn't healthy for someone struggling the way he is. No, Lonzo is not a bust. He has played twenty games in the league and speaking of Stephen Curry, here are his numbers vs Lonzo's through 20 games in the NBA.

Stephen Curry - 11.0 PPG / 4.9 APG / 3.3 RPG / 45% FG / 38% 3pt / no triple doubles
Lonzo Ball - 9.0 PPG / 7.2 APG / 7.0 RPG / 31% FG / 25% 3pt / two triple doubles

When the two met Wednesday:
Curry - 28 pts (13/28 in OT), 7 assist, 5 rebounds -- 127-123 OT win
Ball - 15 pts (did not score in OT), 10 assist, 2 rebounds, one cut above the eye -- 123-127 OT loss

Like Steph said, no one really judged him through his first 20 games so why are you judging Lonzo? Oh yeah, because you all hate his dad. But seriously, Lonzo is a rookie and his whole career being a success or a bust cannot be decided through 21 professional games. Magic Johnson, the President of basketball operation for the Los Angeles Lakers, drafted Lonzo at number two. Magic is one of the greatest point guards in NBA history, the position Lonzo plays. If one of the best had faith in his to turn around his franchise, let the kid develop and maybe in two to three years, talk about him being a success or bust. Lonzo has a bright future ahead of him and just needs some belief. The Lakers take the court again tomorrow night at 9:00 est in Denver to play the Nuggets. Last time the two teams met, it was Nov. 19 and Lonzo recorded a triple double (11/11/16) in the Lakers 127-109 win.

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