Ball Giveth and Ball Taketh Away, a Lot.

Was reading some of the reasons given by fans here for the Pacers loss. And of course there are many reasons for a loss in any sport, just as for wins. But I would like to address a constant on this team in so many losses and that is Lonzo Balls abysmal offense. He can't shoot threes, even though he loves to try. He can't drive to the basket, he has no mid range shot. And most alarming of all for his future development of a shot, he can't even hit from the charity stripe. He shoots a lower percentage than Dwight Howard. And something funny has developed, because we no longer really expect offense from him, because he's such an adept passer, floor general and rebounder he really seems to elude a lot of criticism for his horrific offense or his culpability in losses. When you read posts about losses, Ball is never in the forefront. He has managed to find a way to slip through the cracks, silently. But this is a grave oversite. Ball is one of the big four on this team. He is an entrenched starter. He is one of the main cogs on this team, now and for the very far future. If he can play to the level expected and demanded of the second pick in the draft and the anointed face of the franchise. We view his lack of offense, and excuse it as normal now. We have been trained to do it. But it's not normal. It is totally abnormal for the kind of vital star he is supposed to be. I will say that in tonights game, he and his total lack of offense, which really hurts the team in so many ways was the number one factor in the outcome. And it's....

Very similar to Rondo?

Agree to a certain point SPQR. But he was never supposed to be good offensively coming in , he was always going to be a project at that end. Hell, his defense has been a pleasant surprise. He was drafted for things you said you love about him. His greatest strength is making players around him better, think the better the cast around him is ,the more effective he'll be.

Magic said it earlier, he's had a better 1st season shooting wise than BI did, so hopefully he'll have the same improvement or better that BI has made.

Disagree about him being the main problem tonight, think that was lack of effort on defense by whole team, but especially didn't like Randle's effort on that end at all. Also IT, imo is really starting to throw this team out of sink on both ends.

But agree that he has a lot of things to work on in the upcoming years, not going to say off-season, because think it will take more than 1 off-season to make improvements at different areas.

As far As where he was picked, there's been very few players the last few years that have lived up to being a high pick in draft coming into league. Imo

Kkennon,

Yeah, but there is a difference with BI. Two of them. First off, Ball has that abortive thing he calls a shooting motion. I was taking about Ball with Lakerfrommass and we were comparing him to Derek Fisher, who was a bad shot his first few years but then became a very steady shooter and scorer who actually helped the team in many games. Fisher was a scoring project too when he came into the league but he always had a very nice looking stroke.

Here is the second, Ball can't even shoot free throws, when he is standing still. That is a huge red flag. How will he become a good shooter if he can't even hit standing still? Not saying he won't, but man, those two things are very big problems when trying to envision him become a good scorer. He has more than the average bear to overcome.

I understand your comments about all the reasons we lost tonight and I agree. But if I were to single out one player, it's Ball. I stand by that firmly. You know, it's not just the lack of scoring from a starter who has his hands on the rock all the time, but it makes it so much easier for teams to defend us when they know Ball can't shoot threes, can't shoot free throws, doesn't have a mid range jumper and can't drive to the hole.

You have to careful with Ball. He stinks so much on offense that we expect it now, we give it a pass, because, it's Ball. Remember, this is not some role player. He is the starting point guard. He has his hand on the ball more than any other player. And he killed this team tonight and he does it with regularity.

Think him driving to whole will get better as he gets stronger. Another PG comes to mind that couldn't do anything if those things very well coming into league , and still can't to some degree, but has help lead a team to championship, and had good career. And that's Rondo. And again ,don't think Lakers drafted him to be a scorer, put better players around him or players around him continue to develop, and I think he'll be very effective running offense. But again, agree he needs to improve on some of those things, and think he will.

As far as FT's , hopefully he'll get back to shooting the 67% he did in college, or even better the 80% he did in high school. Fingers crossed!! Lol

What I don’t like to hear is how people say don’t change the shot because Reggie Miller, Kevin Martin or Shawn Marion had unconventional forms. The difference is those guys did a lot of catching and shooting or spotting up. Ball will have the ball in his hands as a point guard and getting off that hideous shot off the dribble will always be an issue.

I hope he does change his shot and I think it will take a couple of seasons to get comfortable with it but he won’t be able to do more than do step backs and spot up if he continues with that form imo

It is the off hand that messes up his shooting form. The fingers on his left hand should be straight up and down. Ball's fingers are pointing left. Which makes him shoot screwballs. I say fingers, but obviously the wrist is bent leftward and it should not be.

Amputation?

Lmao !!!

Honestly, I would make him tape his left wrist so that he cannot bend it. Then make him shoot. That left wrist is bent too far left. That is why the ball comes off his right hand and he has no control over where the ball goes.

All so noticed his feet aren't facing forward a lot of the time.

I would change that left hand. That is the MAJOR issue.

I don't think Daddy Ball will allow that, Baptist.

http://www.playsportstv.com/basketball/basketball-shooting_the-non-shooting-hand

Can anyone get that above to link to Zo through Facebook or twitter?